TAMPA, Fla. -- Penn State defensive tackle Jay Alford got a pleasant bit of news Friday morning.

As the Nittany Lions players met with the media for the only time this week, a writer informed him that he'd be lining up across from true freshman Jacques McClendon, who will make his first start at guard for No. 17 Tennessee in Monday's Outback Bowl (TV: ESPN, 11 a.m.).

Alford, who led the Nittany Lions with eight sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, kept his cool, but his eyes lit up just a little.

"I didn't know that," said Alford, a third-team All-American with more 40 starts to his credit. "It's a bit funny, going against a guy who doesn't have any experience.

"When you said true freshman, it works out well, I guess because I have a lot of experience. With him being a freshman, it's a bit much coming just out of high school and starting a big game like this."

McClendon, though, isn't your typical freshman.

The former Chattanooga Baylor standout has played in 11 of Tennessee's 12 games this season, albeit as a reserve for Anthony Parker at right guard.

When Parker had knee surgery after the Kentucky game, McClendon suddenly became a starter.

In the intervening 10 practices in Knoxville and five so far here in Tampa, he's had plenty of time to prepare.

Those 15 practices have been almost like a shorter version of fall camp for the Vols.

Twice they've scrimmaged, and full pads were the norm until Thursday.

That can only help a player like McClendon, says senior tackle Arron Sears.

"It definitely helps them," he said. "Being out in full pads like we were the last few days so he can see the speed of the game."

UT coach Phillip Fulmer has placed McClendon off-limits to the media, as is customary for true freshmen.

While the 6-foot-3, 325-pound McClendon, who turned 19 earlier this month, hasn't been able to talk about his progress, his coaches and teammates have.

And the reviews have been good.

"I expect him to play well," offensive line coach Greg Adkins said. "He's going against a very good football player. We'll try to help him out some, as much as we can.

"But we're going to call ball plays. I expect him to execute and perform well."

Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe has noticed a change in McClendon's intensity during bowl practice.

"It takes a freshman a little while, but he's improved physically because of that," Cutcliffe said. "He's much quicker, his understanding of what we're trying to do has made his fundamentals better."

McClendon is one of the Vols' strongest players already, but he's still a freshman.

Sears remembers how different that first start can be.

"It's really tough," he said. "When I was a freshman, I was thinking, 'I'm big, I'm strong, I'm fast, I can do all this stuff.' The speed of the game is so much different from high school."

Cutcliffe hopes to see McClendon, who projects to be a starter from now on with the departure of senior David Ligon, take that first step against Penn State.

But he's also wants to make sure McClendon guards against the usual freshman ups and downs as well as Alford.

"He's going to get high and he's going to get sloppy when he's tired," Cutcliffe said. "He's got to fight through that, and he has a big responsibility in this game. I'm happy for him. I think it's going to be exciting for him, but it's going to be a big challenge."

And the first big step in what Sears sees as a big career.

"That boy has so much potential because he's so strong right now," said Sears, an All-American and winner of the Jacobs Award, given to the SEC's best blocker. "He can move as good as anybody. Once he gets the techniques and all the mental stuff, he's going to be great. An All-American."

Whether or not McClendon reaches that level remains to be seen.

Before he can become an All-American, though, he'll get his chance to stop one.