Leon Mackey enjoyed his learning experience at Neyland Stadium Thursday night.
The defensive lineman from Hargrave Military Academy was on Tennessee’s campus as the Virginia-based prep school played UT’s junior varsity squad. The JV Vols won 37-20.
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Mackey walked off the field saying he hadn’t played a very good game. Still, he took a positive from the defeat.
“It was a learning experience playing against some quality competition in the nation,” he said. “It developed me as a player mentally and physically just knowing things I’ve got to get better at.”
The level of competition Mackey faced is what he believes helped him the most. Three of the Vols’ scholarship offensive linemen played on Thursday: Ramone Johnson, Darius Myers and Jarrod Shaw.
“It’s real good because the SEC is the best conference so the quality of players they recruit is very good,” he said. “I just feel it helped me to be able to know where I stand as far as my ability and the things I need to work on.”
Mackey said UT is on top of the list of schools he’s considering. He’s also looking at Virginia Tech and North Carolina State.
Mackey said he’s impressed with UT’s coaching staff, especially defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks and ends coach Steve Caldwell.
“I know they can develop me into a better player or a great player that I want to be through hard work,” he said.
Mackey, who’s being recruited by defensive backs coach Larry Slade, said he’s also drawn to UT because of its strength and conditioning program.
“That’s what I’m looking for, a program that’s going to push me beyond my limits that I never knew I could be pushed beyond,” he said. “It’s just all about getting better. That’s what they talk to me about, getting better every day.”
Mackey said he spent time Thursday touring UT’s campus, which confirmed his thoughts of favoring the Vols.
“I love it,” he said. “It’s beautiful. I don’t even know what to say.”
Mackey, who transferred from Christiana High in Newark, Del., to Hargrave for his senior year, said he spent time talking to UT coach Phillip Fulmer Wednesday night. Mackey said Fulmer brought up the two sides’ mutual interest.
“They know I like them a lot and I’m very interested in UT,” Mackey said. “(Fulmer) said just keep working hard. It’s all about getting better.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 14
yeavols#228407 writes:
JIM LEAVITT of SOUTH FLORIDA!!! COACH!! COACH!!! COACH!!! JIM LEAVITT BEAT WEST VIR U and AUBURN ranked ...UNKNOWN TEAM and COACH...WOW..That's what we need
vol4jesus writes:
yeavols the article was about a recruit, not a non-existent coaching opening. Mr. Mackey we want and need you if you continue to develop as Coach Fulmer said.
dowdpat#654244 writes:
Jim Leavitt is not going anywhere. He was born and raised in St. Petersberg. He doesn't have to travel more than 30 minutes to recruit a top 20 team. This program can be the next Miami or FSU and dominate a weaker Big East every year.
yeavols#228407 writes:
LOL vols4Jesus..I know what the article is about..Now let's get down to business..we need a list of potential coaches..let's move on
andy112382#209793 writes:
Leavitt is praised as his team beats Auburn and WVU while he coaches another team, but you know if he was our coach, a large chunk of people that post on here wouldn't focus on a win, they would focus on how many turnovers the team had (USF and WVU looked very sloppy, especially in the first two qtrs) and say how fundamentally flawed we were. If you don't believe that is how a lot of the people on here would be, just go back into the archives and check out what they say even on the positive articles for our Tennessee Vols. Point is, the ones who were first to complain about Fulmer would complain no matter who was here.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Anywho.......I would pick Petersen over Leavitt or Rich, and he would be most likely of those who we could pull away condering Leavitt is where he grew up and Rich is at his alma mater.
yeavols#228407 writes:
a win is a win is a win? guess not..
vol4jesus writes:
move on.....post in an article dedicated to that subject or at least comment on the article. Don't be like other unnamed posters who will use any article,any sport to blast away at Coach Fulmer.
BigOrangeVol29 writes:
Funny how a story about a recruit that likes the University turns into a fire Fulmer message board. I'm not a fan of Fulmer right now, but we need all the guys like Mackey and Coples that we can get our hands on.
Txvol57 writes:
Strenght and conditioning program? We have one of those? Oh, yeah! that glorified cheerleader on the sidelines with the towel..he's the strenght and conditioning "coach" right?
I guess Johnny Long pushes guys to their limit because that's why our offensive line is always over weight, slow, and can't run block.
I guess thats why our recievers can't beat press coverage or get separation.
and I guess that's why our defensive line cant stop the run and they get manhandeled by opposing offensive lines! Great job Johnny Long!
volgrog#210164 writes:
Wow, Govols57. Way to run off a recruit who is as likely as anyone to read what the KNS said about him this weekend. You are doing a great job improving this program; I'm glad we've got fans like you!
Txvol57 writes:
volgrog,
I call'em like I see'em. Do you disagree with my statement? Do you really think that Johnny Long does a great job of getting our players faster and stronger? Why does it take 2 to 3 years (at Tennessee) to get players (according to Fulmer) to be "ready" to play SEC football? Why is it that only 1 strength record has been broken since Johnny Long took over in 1999? Here is a quote from Robert Ayers from the Tennessean a few days ago:
"I wasn't putting the effort in the weight room. I wasn't coming out to practice everyday and trying to get better. I'm doing a lot better now with that than I did last year."
So you tell me, do you think he is the only one who is not putting the effort into the weight room? Whose job is it to make sure that each and every player is putting the effort and getting bigger, stronger and faster? When Stuckey was here did you ever hear a player say "I wasn't putting the effort in the weight room"? Don't you think there is a reason our linemen are always over weight and slow? Don't you think there is a reason our defensive line can't get beat blocks and get to the quarterback?
There is a video of Johnny Long on UTSPORTS.com talking about how hard everyone has worked and how he was implementing different exercises and how this is the best shape the team has ever been in.
His idea of being in shape is the closest thing to garbage!
Another example is J.T. Mapu, he has been back for 2 years now trying to get back to where he was when he got here. That Johnny Long program is really effective!
movol77 writes:
L. Mackey...Pay no attention to the children who post backyard blabber around here. Most of them are washed up journalists, undercover FL & AL fans or former Boy George groupies. You won't find these guys controling any football decisions other than on a game system in their den.
UT is the place to be!
Txvol57 writes:
sjt18,
Are you serious? What games have you been watching? Difficult to tackle? Our running backs can't get past the line of scrimmage, they are getting gang tackled because they can't go anywhere. Our offensive lineman are not fast. The only one that can move is McNeil because he is under 300lbs. And, lets say for s****z and giggles that you statement is correct. Lets say that they did trade too much weight for speed. They still aren't strong enough to open holes for running backs. Yes, I agree that Foster takes 3 days to hit the hole but if you haven't noticed Coker, Hardesty (when healthy) and Creer can't go anywhere either.
I remember when the Denver Broncos won the super bowl in 1998 without having an offensive lineman over 300lbs, but they were strong and fast. I remember 2 years ago people were bragging that the UT offensive line averaged 330lbs and we went 5-6. Every lineman that we have today is over 300lbs (excluding McNeil) and they still can't open holes. They are constantly over matched when it comes to the run game. Why do you think we have had the lowest average in rushing in the SEC the last few years? Our lineman are fat, slow, and weak, look at the tape..and I put all of the blame on Johnny Long.
Go back and look at the game films back in the 90's at guys like Kevin Mays, Bubba Miller, and Jayson Laymen. Stuckey was the strength coach and those guys never had a problem opening holes. They dominated defenses'. I can't say anything else except that your statement might be the most retarded thing I have ever heard.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.