McBride tackles another challenge

Sophomore defensive lineman Claude Maurice "Turk" McBride became the latest tough guy to step up in the interior defensive line during the Vols' 17-13 win against Alabama last Saturday.

"It sounds like a bully name,'' McBride said, asked about his nickname. "It's a family nickname; I don't know how I got it. I'm a junior, and they called my dad, 'Turk,' too.''

UT will again count on McBride this Saturday when the No. 11 Vols (6-1, 4-1 SEC) play at South Carolina (5-2, 3-2) at 12:30 p.m.

"I feel a lot more comfortable inside,'' said McBride, a Parade All-American at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, N.J. "Last week was the first week I worked with the defensive tackles. I love it down there. I have quickness over the guards and center.''

McBride, a 260-pound converted end, made the most of his first start by forcing a fumble in the Tide backfield on Bama's second play from scrimmage that resulted in UT's first touchdown. McBride finished with seven tackles and also recorded a sack.

"When the guard pulled, the center was supposed to block down on me,'' McBride said. "I'd seen it a bunch of times on film.''

Opponents reviewing tape of UT's defense are probably just now beginning to figure out who's wearing the No. 90 jersey for the Vols. As a freshman last season, McBride wore his old high school number, 15.

Of course, that was when McBride was lining up as a 230-pound wide receiver.

Plenty has changed for McBride since his days at Woodrow Wilson, and not just on the football field.

Growing up in a rougher part of Camden, McBride admits he was nearly pulled into the darker parts of his social environment.

"People I hung around didn't use the best judgment,'' McBride said. "My junior year in high school, I had to turn the tables.''

McBride remembers the craziest time of year in his neighborhood was "Mystery Night'' -- the night before Halloween.

"The worst things would go on when it got dark,'' McBride said. "I was walking with two of my friends and they stuck somebody up. I thought they just wanted to stop and talk. I was like, 'What are you doing?' ''

McBride said once he realized he had a future in athletics -- and his friends realized it -- things changed.

"They were like, 'Turk has a chance to make it,' '' McBride said. "If something was going on, they'd tell me don't come around here at this time. They didn't want me guilty of anything.''

Still, McBride said, it was hard to stay focused.

"I saw it (violence) at my high school every other week,'' he said. "We had security guards and metal detectors. It was more like a jail than a high school.''

McBride very nearly didn't escape with his academics in order. It took him more than one attempt to post a qualifying score on the SAT before he could enroll at UT.

McBride played as a true freshman, but sparingly.

"I didn't even think I was big enough to play defensive end when I came in,'' said McBride, who weighed 240 pounds upon arriving at UT. "I just try to eat a lot of pasta to gain weight.''

McBride laughed when recalling how he developed into a deep threat in high school, hauling in more than 20 passes against cornerbacks he out-weighed by nearly 100 pounds.

UT assistant Trooper Taylor -- then an assistant at Tulane -- recruited McBride to play tight end for the Green Wave. Florida also expressed interest in McBride as a tight end.

McBride said he narrowed his choices to the Gators, Ohio State and UT before choosing the Vols.

Former UT safety Rashad Baker, a senior at Woodrow Wilson during McBride's freshman year there, was instrumental in the Vols' recruiting efforts.

Still, McBride said Baker couldn't prepare him for the culture shock that awaited him in Knoxville.

"It's just real slow, and then there's the southern hospitality and the accents are different,'' McBride said. "I'd never been to the South in my life, except when I was little I visited my uncle in Atlanta.

"Sometimes it's hard just knowing what they (people) are saying. My roommate is Eric Young, and he's from Union, S.C. I'm like, 'What are you saying?' ''

This week, Young and the Vols' upperclassmen are telling McBride he'd better tighten his chinstrap come game time against the Gamecocks.

"I didn't play one snap against them last year,'' McBride said. "I was there, and I saw it was very physical.

"The last few weeks we've faced some pretty good offensive lines; I think South Carolina might be the best.''

That could mean another inside job for "The Turk."