“I told them that I was kind of leaning toward playing defense, because they asked what I wanted to play. So I told them and they said that’s what they want me as,” said McNeill, who’s ranked by 247Sports as the No. 84 offensive tackle in the 2021 class. “(Tennessee liked that) I was very athletic. I could play anywhere on the defensive line — defensive end, defensive tackle, nose guard.
“They said they would play me anywhere, and they said I was going to get playing time fast and I could see the field fast.”
McNeill said he first informed Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt, defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley and first-year outside linebackers coach Shelton Felton of his decision on “Thursday or Friday.”
“They were fired up,” McNeill added. “They were excited.”
He hasn’t been to Tennessee’s campus, but he likes what he has learned about the program so far despite the Vols’ 2-6 record this season.
“I did a virtual tour. I saw videos that they had. I did a lot of stuff like that,” McNeill said. “They’re growing, getting bigger, because you know they’re not happy. Their season’s not going well, but they’re trying to build — have a good class this year and try to build.”
It also didn’t hurt that former Tennessee linebacker Anthony Sessions is on Peachtree Ridge’s coaching staff.
grats young man