McBride beefing up for more work

He eats lots of steak. He loads up on spaghetti. He eats as much protein as his stomach can handle.

McBride is trying to gain the 10 pounds he lost since the preseason.

"I never get sick of always having to eat," McBride said Tuesday. "It's just eating right. I don't want to put a lot of junk food in my body and gain the wrong type of weight."

While McBride has lost weight, he appears to have gained a starting job.

With the knee injury sustained by starting left tackle Jesse Mahelona against Mississippi on Saturday, McBride and Tony McDaniel are listed as probable starters for Saturday's game against Alabama at Neyland Stadium.

McBride will likely get his first start at Tennessee.

"McBride will probably start for us and of course all of them will play a lot," Vols defensive coordinator John Chavis said Tuesday.

"We'll roll them and get those guys in and try to keep them as fresh as we can."

McBride, recruited as a defensive end, also practiced at defensive tackle before the season opener. He played 35 to 40 snaps against UNLV, the majority of those at tackle.

He is still listed as the No. 2 left end behind Parys Haralson.

Both McBride (6-4, 260) and McDaniel (6-7, 300) are sophomores.

What McBride lacks in bulk, he makes up with quickness.

"I think McBride is a proven player," Chavis said. "He's strong, great agility, really good quickness off the ball, plays with great pad leverage.

"Tony is still learning to play the game. He's getting better and better and better, but there's a lot of great potential there. We've got to keep his pad leverage where it needs to be. He needs to be more consistent. Sometimes he'll get it cranked up and when he does, he's very difficult to block. But we've got to see that on a consistent basis."

In the spring, McBride earned the Andy Spiva Award given to the most improved defensive player.

His best game was the October loss to Auburn when he had nine tackles, including two tackles for loss.

He had three tackles against Georgia two weeks ago and two against Mississippi last week.

"I have a lot more to learn at defensive tackle, and also at defensive end, but I'm getting there," McBride said.

McBride, of Camden, N.J., made his official visit to Tennessee on Oct. 26, 2002, the day the Vols lost to Alabama, 34-14.

He recalls the Alabama fans singing in the stands after the game. It didn't turn him off the Vols.

"It was a real fast, physical game," he said. "I'd never experienced a college game like that one before. I loved the atmosphere."