McNeil makes right calls

Tennessee center Josh McNeil is proving there's no innate contradiction between youth and on-field leadership.

"It's not odd," the redshirt freshman said, "because I played center my whole life."

McNeil has started three games for UT since wrestling the job away from opening game starter Michael Frogg. Once the change was made, UT's other offensive lineman fell in line.

"When I got the job," McNeil said, "they were like 'look you're the center, you're the man in the middle, you make the calls, you take over and you control this huddle.'

"That's what I've tried to do. I've tried to take the approach of leading my guys out there. Every week, hopefully, they have a little more confidence in me."

The Vols (6-1, 3-1 SEC) will expect that Saturday at South Carolina (5-2, 3-2). Kickoff is 7:45 p.m. (TV: ESPN).

McNeil is used to being the quarterback of the offensive line. He was the top-rated center in the country before signing with UT in 2005. McNeil was forced to redshirt last season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

"I came up here with all these big plans and goals for myself (then) I blew out my shoulder," McNeil said. "It was a really tough time for me."

McNeil said the tough times changed him -- and his attitude.

"I think I'm a completely different person," he said. "When I got here I thought 'I'm the No. 1 center in the country.' I had to be humbled a little bit, honestly."

In some ways, McNeil was destined to be UT's starting center. It all started when UT coach Steve Caldwell walked into Collins (Miss.) High School on his first visit to recruit McNeil in spring 2004. McNeil's outfit was tough to forget.

"Actually I had a cut-off T-shirt that my brother got up here when he was at football camp," McNeil said. "I was wearing a Tennessee shirt the first time they ever came to see me."

McNeil's brother, Chris, played center at Mississippi State. Josh, however, had far more options as a prospect. One was Southern California. Even though the Trojans were riding high as two-time national champions, Caldwell wasn't worried when McNeil made his official visit to Los Angeles.

"Josh McNeil doesn't fit in with Southern California," Caldwell said with a grin. "I kind of had a feeling that wasn't going to work."

Caldwell had a good read on McNeil, who was much more a county boy than a prima donna. Some have even called McNeil a throwback.

"Very much so," Caldwell said. "He's one of those good ol' dirty offensive lineman in my mind. Whatever it takes to get the job done, that's what I like about him."

Offensive line coach Greg Adkins said he's pleased with McNeil's line calls, snap consistency and mobility. As far as fundamentals, the redshirt freshman center still has some progress to make.

Still youth has its advantages. Namely, McNeil has a chance to nail down one of the most challenging positions on the field for the next three years.

"Certainly it's a real good thing," Adkins said of the possibility that McNeil could be a long-term starter. "The stable of an offensive line is the center position, in my opinion. That guy is a hard guy to find.

"He's on track to do that right now. He has only touched a part of what I think he's going to be able to do in the future."