'16 TN ATH Darel Middleton (Tennessee signee)

#1,876
#1,876
The junior college defensive tackle signed with Tennessee on Dec. 19, during the Early Signing Period, but made his way back to Knoxville for an official visit this weekend. “Just to get away from school,” said a laughing Middleton, a Oak Ridge, Tenn., native who ended up going the junior-college route, landing last at East Mississippi Community College. “But honestly,” Middleton said, “I needed to sit down with coaches, talk about my grades and so on and make sure I’m on track to get out in May.”

There was good news on that front. “I’m definitely set to enroll in May,” he said. “I’ve got a couple classes to knock out, but other than that, I’m definitely set to enroll.” Middleton said the weekend visit “was good” and that the talks surrounding his grades were positive. There was plenty of food, too. “Just really ate a lot,” Middleton said of the visit this weekend. “Got together, bonded, talked. It’s really a family thing, so it was family.”

Middleton stuck with his hometown school after getting attention late from other SEC programs. “The hardest, really, (was) Alabama and Florida,” Middleton said. “Once I got the offer from Tennessee, it was Alabama, Florida and Louisville — everybody started coming at me.” Middleton didn’t take any other official visits and said he didn’t need to. “Just because it’s home and I feel comfortable with the staff (at Tennessee),” he said. “I ain’t feel as comfortable with that staff since I committed last time, so I felt comfortable.”

“I would say I’m a lot more physical, my motor is a lot better,” Middleton said. “Technique-wise, it can get a lot better, but it’s already gotten a lot better since I went to JUCO." He’ll help fill a big vacancy on Tennessee’s defensive line, with the ability to lineup at either defensive end or defensive tackle depending on situation and scheme. “Big-time opportunity,” Middleton said of what awaits him with the Vols. “We’ve got some guys coming in, but I’m looking to make a big impact really soon.” That’s exactly what Jeremy Pruitt and his coaching staff are looking for. “We need you to get in here and ball,” Middleton said of the message from his future coaches. “We need you.”
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Vols4us said:
What a comeback story this could end up being. From a very troubled, talented youth to eventually playing for his home school where he always wanted to be. Good luck to the young man. Glad to see it all turn around and hope he crushes.
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This is going to be great human-interest story during our CFB playoff run.
 
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#1,879
#1,879
Vols4us said:
What a comeback story this could end up being. From a very troubled, talented youth to eventually playing for his home school where he always wanted to be. Good luck to the young man. Glad to see it all turn around and hope he crushes.
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I hope you're right. He definitely sounds more mature.
 
#1,880
#1,880
Do Juco programs have weight training in the offseason? If so are kids allowed to participate after their second year playing at a juco school? We need all the help we can get next year and he said the DL coach commented how he hasnt been lifting.
 
#1,881
#1,881
VolInDayton said:
Do Juco programs have weight training in the offseason? If so are kids allowed to participate after their second year playing at a juco school? We need all the help we can get next year and he said the DL coach commented how he hasnt been lifting.
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Where did you hear he has not been lifting.
 
#1,887
#1,887
Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly hoping to be wrong, but I don't get a good gut feeling that this kid will ever be a noteworthy contributor.

Seems like he's just always been the biggest guy on the block, and got by on that. Interview sounded like he still needed work in the classroom and needs work in the weight room..... so it sounds like as much as he tweets about this and that, he's not really taking care of business. Doesn't seem self motivated. And you're not going to excel in the SEC if you're not self motivated.

JM(HW)O
 
#1,888
#1,888
HoleInTheRoof said:
Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly hoping to be wrong, but I don't get a good gut feeling that this kid will ever be a noteworthy contributor.

Seems like he's just always been the biggest guy on the block, and got by on that. Interview sounded like he still needed work in the classroom and needs work in the weight room..... so it sounds like as much as he tweets about this and that, he's not really taking care of business. Doesn't seem self motivated. And you're not going to excel in the SEC if you're not self motivated.

JM(HW)O
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I think that's a pretty common thing but that's where coaches separate themselves is the ability to motivate them. Some kids don't respond but not every good sec player is naturally self motivated. Some need help from coaches and teammates.
 
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#1,889
#1,889
Sleegro said:
I think that's a pretty common thing but that's where coaches separate themselves is the ability to motivate them. Some kids don't respond but not every good sec player is naturally self motivated. Some need help from coaches and teammates.
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Agree. Most players are not Derek Barnett. Usually it is a journey to becoming a responsible adult who then realizes he/she has to work hard to achieve what they want. They need mentors who prod them along, which is usually a coach.

Middleton wanted to be a Vol since a little kid. He will now be one. We will see if he really wants to play by whether he works for it or not. He won't play if he doesn't. Rocker will let him know all about it every day he is there.
 
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#1,890
#1,890
VolInDayton said:
It does take a ton of motivation to work out at the level you should be for D1 football.

The thing that worries me is we are taking a JUCO player who didnt EE and needs to still grow into the position as he is a former TE.
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To be fair, he played DE in high school too. And was about 250 as a senior. Made some of the most athletic plays I can imagine a guy his size making. If he's motivated, he could be special.
 
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#1,891
#1,891
Bump, Now get your Azz in the Weight Room, dont be playing around because if you do not show strength you will be passed up by those that give their all.

In response to that last interview. Where he said Rocker noticed he had not been lifting Right.
 
#1,899
#1,899
Yeah I don't think he really does much while here tbh. Which is why I stated in the Green thread that I wished we had pushed for him over Middleton previously.

For as much as Middleton tweets about doing the right thing, I dont' feel like he really has taken to being a defensive lineman. I think he still wishes he played offense. He tweeted after the Chaney hire something to the effect of wishing he was back at TE. It was likely tongue in cheek but i think their might've been some truth behind that.

Kid has the size and length to be a good defensive lineman, but if is heart or head isn't in it .... if he doesn't have that natural instinct to want to go out there and smash heads, (a mentality it seems Savion Williams has in spades it seems) then it's going to almost impossible for him to reach his potential. Interested to see if this coaching staff can push his buttons and motivate him.
 
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#1,900
#1,900
I think it's premature to make a judgment about what kind of player he's going to be to the point of wishing we had picked someone else. He's a huge person, a Tennessee native, and an athletic individual who other big schools had interest in. Plus, he is actually going to be on the team, so I for one wish Middleton success. I tend to think he'll follow Gooden's example, improve over the year, and contribute when he's ready.
 
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