Tennessee center Josh McNeil is expected to undergo surgery on his knee, possibly as soon as Wednesday, according to a source close to the situation.
The senior is to be evaluated to determine the extent of damage to his knee. If the damage is too severe, McNeil’s season — and possibly his career — could be over.
If the injury is not as severe, McNeil could return but it is unclear when that might happen. McNeil’s pain endurance after recovering from the surgery would be the determining factor as to when he could return to the field.
UT and McNeil, who redshirted in 2005 following shoulder surgery, could opt to apply to the NCAA for a sixth season of eligibility if he’s ruled out this year.
McNeil, who has a string of 35 consecutive starts, was locked in a battle for the starting center position with senior Cody Sullins, a former walk-on. Sullins started Saturday’s scrimmage with the first team before yielding to McNeil, who ran first team in the second half of the scrimmage.
Coach Lane Kiffin said McNeil missed Monday’s practice to see a specialist. McNeil has been limited in practice for well over a week.
“I want to say eight or nine days ago (McNeil) came down weird on it and kept playing through it,’’ Kiffin told the News Sentinel on Monday. “It was really an issue for him Saturday.
“We sent him for some more tests. You can’t just send him for an MRI because he’s had so much damage (in the past) you can’t really tell anything.
“We’ll see what the results say when they come back and hopefully we’ll have good news and he’ll be able to play for us.’’
Sullins younger brother, Cory Sullins, would be a candidate for second-team center if McNeil’s season is over. Cory worked with the second team Monday. Guard Jacques McClendon would be an emergency back-up, according to offensive line coach James Cregg.
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Comments » 36
rckytpfn#211158 writes:
Oh no - hang in there Josh!!
Ironcity writes:
Good luck Josh. I hope we see you again in a uniform at UT.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
Ouch! That's not good! Get better big guy!
HollySpringsVOL writes:
Get well soon, Josh!
MidTennVol writes:
Just awful news. I'm a fan of this young man, as well as a fan of tough practices and competing for every position. But are we seeing the costs now with all these injuries?
If so, are the costs worth it?
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
We are screwed. Inexperienced Center + Jon Crompton + Wounded Receiving Corps = Catastrophe
PoochPuntOn3rdDown writes:
Yep, let's just forfeit and meet up with guys that were going to play football for the Vols this year, so we can all go get our nails done. At least that will help take their minds off of quitting...
I went back and read all the bluster about Clawson being the next coming of Norm Chow at this time last year on these same message boards. Seems we often get it wrong when predicting the future success or failure of this team....
VolunteerLifer writes:
NoMoreWooAFterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
"We are screwed. Inexperienced Center + Jon Crompton + Wounded Receiving Corps = Catastrophe"
Wow. Thanks for that optimistic assessment. What does the pessimist side of you say?
kyvol98 writes:
With or without Josh, we will be fine.
I hope it is with him after he fully recovers, though. I don't think this had anything to do with the physical nature of practice. Just a freak injury.
I believe, some may say I am drinking the Kool-aid, but I have a good feeling about this year.
Jon Crompton will do just fine too.
thevoice writes:
Hate to agree on this one, but I saw this coming as well. Watch out for the botched snaps guys. JC ought to be devoting 4 hours a day with his hands between Sullin's legs. Taking snaps that is.
PS I'm a "no woo" guy either. I hate it. It's embarrassing to be a part of and lowers my IQ.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Some might say McNeil has had an up-and-down career, but he was EASILY the most-experienced guy on the whole squad, and, as leader of the O-line, one of the most important. I won't say it's the end of the world, but this can't be good news. Best of luck with the 6th-year appeal, Josh, if you want it and it becomes necessary.
PoochPuntOn3rdDown writes:
Most Alabama fans would....
TommyJack writes:
Bad news. Good luck, man.
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
Is that you Vicki? Thought so...
VolunteerLifer writes:
thevoice wrote:
"PS I'm a "no woo" guy either. I hate it. It's embarrassing to be a part of and lowers my IQ."
And here I thought that was all due to your gene pool. Question is: Lowers it to what?
BlueTickLady writes:
Last year everyone whined about how out of shape we were, how we used a green shirt to much, how the starters did not practice hard enough in spring and fall camps, and that was the reason given why we did not win come game day. Oh yeah, don’t forget that the players gave up because it was too much effort to “play every down”.
This year they have been worked very hard and now that we have had some bad injuries we should be using green shirts this year, should not have 1st team players in practice scrimmages, and should in fact not have them practice so hard because they might be injured?
We got to make up our minds and stick with it.
I for one would rather have players out there that give it all they have till the last play is blown dead, and if we end up with fewer players on game day then at least the players we still have will be in shape and ready to play.
The fact of the matter is if recruiting had been properly done the last several years then we would not have the 2 year gap for some of the positions that we have now. Hope the freshman can step up both this year and next. We are going to need them.
CLK was handed some players that were out of shape, some that had bad attitudes and/or bad habits. He weeded them out, and what remained appears to have worked hard during the off-season. I hope that will translate into some great wins on the field.
I love what I am hearing so far, but am realistic enough to know you can’t get blood from a stone without divine intervention. So will I will be sending up my prayers for a good season, but will not be picking up that stone to toss at CLK.
And I agree – no more woo after good ole rocky top
SEC__Headgear writes:
Well I for one will not stand by and let anyone mislead or use the media.
We should all live to support the media, especially coaches and FROSH.
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
I hate it for Josh, but we are fortunate to have Cody playing at the same level as Josh, and Cody backing that up.
DamnMan, I doubt if the Outland Trophy really means at rats anus to Josh right now, or any of the other players, it is far down the road. They are playing to start, then playing to win against WKY, then UCLA, etc, ect. The individual trophies are fine, but they are still won by a team effort. NC Rings are far finer than anything else in College Football. (However,,,Berry for Hiesman)!
And lastly I'll take eLane and our Coaching Staff over anything else in the SEC/NCAA/NFL.
To Woo, Or Not To Woo, that is the question? As long as the Vols are winning does the woo really matter. I've heard there is a new book coming out, "Tebow hears a Woo!!! Writen by Lane Kiffin,,PUNCTUATED by Eric Berry"!
deadheadvol writes:
I like the common sense attitude you have bluetick, we need more like you, Go Orange
ChattaVegasVol writes:
O no! The sky is falling,the shy is falling!!! Some people kill me. . .in case you have not been paying attention,Sullins worked 1st team all spring WITH Crompton. Not to mention most of this pre season. Some how im not too worried about the snaps!!!
Madkels writes:
Are you referring to the same media that backed a socialist for President? I thought so. Who cares. We'll pull for the Vols and judge the season at it plays out.
VolCrazy94514 writes:
Hopefully he'll be fine. Without him, we don't have an "anchor" on the "O" Line. Plus he is our most experienced lineman. I don't know if I'm ok with Sullins playing center if McNeil can't go. This better be the last of all our injuries.
SEC__Headgear writes:
It was pretty obvious to the casual observer that Sullins would play a lot and likely start. UT can not afford more depth issues, especially O line. You my friend might consider getting worried about depth instead of snaps.
bigorange61 writes:
You've proven many a time you are easily confused. There's no humor in this story, DC.
mbradshaw1#655539 writes:
I thought that the media was supposed to lie in the mainstream except for FOX. I guess it's only lying if you are a conservative.
Go Vols!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ChattaVegasVol writes:
Lets just play already, let the chips fall where they may. Go Vols!!!
TommyJack writes:
ES & D
SEC__Headgear writes:
Tee it up, lets go with who we have. I'm with you CVV. Can't wait to see the product. I expect to see guys who know the game and get themselves in position to make plays. Anything less is a disapointment regardless of class or scholarship status. Knowing how to play and giving an all out effort is the basic change we are looking for.
dvols writes:
we might need to start selling beer at neyland...
LaneTrain writes:
Man, this isn't good news. He's the QB of the offensive line. With that said, somone else has to step up.
UGA had 24 season ending injuries last year (including 3 LT's) and still won 10 games but the one spot you can't afford to have too many injuries is OL.
Razzle writes:
How could it be any uglier than last year?
SEC__Headgear writes:
Hard to believe the financials have come to that. I would like to see continued enforcement on the smuggled contraband even if that means having to buy a $7 beer at the stadium. No way to get drunk on $7 beers with a 20-minute wait.
LaneTrain writes:
“I want to say eight or nine days ago (McNeil) came down weird on it and kept playing through it,’’ Kiffin told the News Sentinel on Monday. “It was really an issue for him Saturday.
Am I reading that right? They let him do more damage after seeing the he got injured? Why not err on the side of caution???????
LaneTrain writes:
20 minute wait? you must be in the fast lane.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Oh, please! I am a sixth-generation Tennesseean, have two degrees from UT, have a brother-in-law who played football there, AND I'm a bluegrass musician and I can't STAND the "woo"! That's a pretty exacting definition of fandom that you're pushing. Now if somebody claiming to be a Vol fan said they didn't like the color orange, that would be a different matter(;-P)!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Outstanding post, all the way through! In the military, there is a saying, "More sweat in training, less blood in battle." Sometimes you get blood in training, too. Football is a "survival of the fittest" enterprise; possible injury can occur in every workout, practice, or game. People who play it have to be both mentally and physically tough. Just like Gideon's army in the Bible, our numbers may be few this year at some positions, but the ones we have left will be tough and tested, and WILL NOT QUIT! GO VOLS!!!
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