The past four months have been hard for Josh McNeil.

Sure, the future is mapped out as bright, and exciting. But the present has been tough to endure as the Tennessee offensive lineman signee has waited to finally, officially become a Vol.

"I’ve been working out really hard because I know playing in the SEC, you’ve got to have size as well as strength," McNeil said of his preparations since signing with UT on Feb. 2. "I’ve just been busting my butt trying to get stronger,"

"We’re planning to do a lot of great things this year. We’ve got a lot of key players returning. I’m really excited to be a part of the Volunteer family because I know we’ve got a chance to do a lot of great things in the future."

"I get up every day and workout about two to three hours per day. I usually run about a mile per day. I’m just trying to get bigger, stronger, faster."

By all accounts, the center from Collins, Miss., has done everything he can to play as soon as possible. McNeil spent his spring break in Knoxville, knowing that center is a primary area of concern for the Vols in 2005.

"If I can’t handle it, I know the coaches won’t put me in there," the 6-foot-4, 292-pounder said. "But, I think, as hard as I’ve been training and I’m going to study the playbook real hard, I feel like I’ll give myself the best opportunity to play and I’ll be ready."

"I was up there during spring break and got to look at the playbook, sitting in meetings and things like that. I got a basic understanding of it. It’s going to take a little time, but I think I should have it figured out by the season’s time."

McNeil has hurdles to clear in order to contribute this fall. Mentally, he’ll have to handle UT’s line calls and audibles. Physically, he’ll have to handle SEC defensive lineman who won’t pity an 18-year-old opponent.

"I think it’s a little bit of both," McNeil said when asked which will be the tougher challenge, physical or mental. "Just getting used to going out there every day and hitting against SEC-caliber guys.

"Studying the playbook is not that hard, but once you get out there and have 300-pounders flying around everywhere, you get a little confused," he said. "I’m just interested in seeing how I’m going to do when everything is put into action. Hopefully I’ll do real well.

"I had to call the signals (in high school), but it’s nothing like it is in college, trust me. It’s completely different. There were probably only about two or three calls in high school. In college, you’ve got about 20 or 30. It’s not even in the same league. There is no comparison.

"I think if I had to start and I wasn’t really ready mentally, I have (junior offensive guard) Rob Smith and (senior offensive guard) Cody Douglas beside me. They’ve got a real good understanding of the offense and could help me out with some aspects of the offense.

"I’ve got my quarterback to help me out, too. So, I think they could help me out if I had to get in there and didn’t know the whole offense."

McNeil said he is bench-pressing 385 to 390 pounds and is squatting "about 530." His strength should only increase this summer. He is one of a handful of players enrolling for the first session of summer school. McNeil moved to Knoxville this weekend.

"I think me going to summer school, especially both sessions, is going to be a tremendous advantage," he said. "I’m going to have a whole summer in the workout plan, be around all the guys, and getting into the playbook, ? just getting out there working with the guys as far as pass protection techniques."

McNeil has struck up a strong relationship with Smith. McNeil said the two outdoorsmen talk four to five times a week.

But Smith isn’t the only budding friendship in Knoxville. Relationships already are months old among UT’s 2005 signing class.

"Jonathan (Crompton) and I get along real well," McNeil said. "Really a lot of the guys at that All-American Bowl (in San Antonio), Raymond "Game Time" Henderson, Demetrice Morley, just all those guys at the All-American Bowl, we really get along real well.

"Just as a class coming in, we have a chance to do something special because we all get along real well and we come from winning programs, so all we expect to do is win."