LaDarrell McNeilKNOXVILLE - LaDarrell McNeil was all but written off as Tennessee's starting safety.
The play of the junior from Texas instead has been one of the Volunteers' surprises this season.
With some talented incoming freshmen at his position, McNeil, a two-year starter for Tennessee, at one point this offseason looked like he was out of the mix, but the 6-foot-1, 215-pound hard-hitter has played perhaps the best football of his career this season.
"I think that he's a lot more comfortable in our system," secondary coach Willie Martinez said following Wednesday's practice. "He's playing with a lot of confidence. LaDarrell's been a very physical player, but he's been more consistent in understanding what to do, and you can see that.
"He's reacting quicker; he's not hesitant. He's always been a physical player, and he's a guy that obviously has an unbelievable impact on our defense from his physicality and the way he plays the game from a speed standpoint, always around the football and plays with a lot of passion."
Through five games in 2014, McNeil is Tennessee's fourth-leading tackler with 28 stops, and he's added an interception against Oklahoma and fumble recovery against Arkansas State to his resume this season.
As a sophomore, McNeil finished with 54 tackles, but his struggles, particularly with open-field tackling, were noticeable.
"He's been faster this year," fellow safety Brian Randolph said. "I'd say his confidence level went up this year. He's started making some plays, and he goes out there to play his heart out every single game.
"He did a good job not listening to all the clutter out there, all the naysayers and stuff like that. He knew he's good, so he just kept that in the back of his mind. He's worked hard every day."
McNeil and freshman Todd Kelly -- both former four-star recruits -- have rotated in at the safety spot opposite Randolph, and the competition has helped both, Martinez said.
The Vols like how both are playing, and head coach Butch Jones called McNeil a "pleasant surprise" on Monday.
"I think it goes back to the confidence level of understanding our defense," Martinez said. "Being in two or three systems, it can be tough for anybody. When you play safety, and you've got to make calls and you've got to check defenses, you have to be comfortable with that.
"Now he's just seeing the formation, he knows the down and distance and he has an idea of what we want from him and how to execute the defense, but also have an idea what the offense is about to do based off the call."
Maggitt making moves
Curt Maggitt, Tennessee's junior linebacker/defensive end, has made a greater impact in the last two games, compiling three sacks and four tackles for loss against Georgia and Florida.
That's a welcome sight for defensive coordinator John Jancek and the rest of the Vols.
"Curt had a big sack in the last ball game," he said. "He was actually trying to force the fumble -- I don't know if you guys happened to see that -- but he was doing a really good job of trying to get the ball out. He plays outside linebacker for us. He plays defensive end.
"He's very active, and you watch him on film, he's got energy, he plays hard, he's an unselfish player and I'm pleased with Curt."
Maggitt said following Tuesday's practice that he feels like he's playing the best football of his career, and it comes after he played through two injury-riddled seasons and missed all of last season following a slow recovery from a torn ACL.
Jones said Maggitt told him Monday it's the "freshest and best" he's felt in his career, and playing between 30 and 40 snaps per game, Jones believes, is keeping him fresher.
"I'm not sure if it's because it's SEC play or what," Maggitt said. "I don't know, I'm just trying to go out there and [play with] effort. I'm playing as fast and as hard as I can."
Status updates
Freshman tailback Jalen Hurd (shoulder), freshman receiver Josh Malone (shoulder) and cornerback Michael Williams (head) all practiced in non-contact jerseys again on Wednesday.
Tailback Marlin Lane (ankle) returned to practice after sitting out on Tuesday and is questionable for Saturday's game.
On the SEC teleconference on Wednesday, Jones praised Lane's leadership of Tennessee's younger running backs.
"He's really helped mentor them on the field," he said. "Marlin has been slowed with some nagging injuries, so he hasn't even been playing up to full strength. In terms of the classroom, the locker room and on the field, he has really, really done a great job with the younger players, and they've done a great job gravitating to him as well."