LaDarrell McNeilKNOXVILLE – Tennessee’s defense spent last week before the open date searching for a solution to what has caused the Volunteers to allow big play after big play this season.
Part of the formula being tried includes LaDarrell McNeil.
While Tennessee needs the other 10 players around the freshman safety to limit those devastating long runs and recognizes McNeil is making his first career start Saturday night in a hostile environment at 19th-ranked Mississippi State, the Vols’ coaches are looking forward to unleashing their most prized high school signee from February’s class.
“We’re going to see how ready he is,” safeties coach Josh Conklin said after practice Wednesday. “I think he’s ready to go. We’ve tried to get him as prepared as we can.
“It’s another week that he’s approached it the right way, and he’s worked really hard to get in the extra [work] in the mornings after meetings … watching film and studying.”