Kahlil McKenzie played his best game so far, Jones says

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Tennessee defensive tackle Kahlil McKenize played the best game of his short career against Georgia, according to Butch Jones. And with the season-ending injury to fellow freshman tackle Shy Tuttle (broken fibula and torn ligament in his ankle), the Vols are going to need even more production from the true freshman.

“With our limited depth at the defensive tackle spot, we’re going to need that from him,” Butch Jones said of McKenzie as he addressed the media on Monday.

“We thought he played his best game of his short Tennessee career so far in the Georgia game, particularly in the second half. He has done a very good job of creating great football stamina. We’re going to need him to be able to give us a number of plays in a row.”

A lot has been expected of McKenzie, who sat out his senior season of high school last year, wasn’t an early enrollee, and missed part of fall camp due to an injury.

“The confidence that was gained in that [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Georgia] game is great for him moving forward, and he’s worked very hard in practice,” Jones said. “Here’s a youngster who did not play his senior year. He’s going through missing his senior year and he missed half of training camp with an injury as well. Now, he’s kind of getting into that structure, that routine, and you can see him progressing and getting better and better with his fundamentals [and] his details, the use of his hands, and his football stamina.”

Ready or not, due to injury and a lack of depth on the interior defensive line, Tennessee needs McKenzie to step up. Now.

“We anticipate his role in this football team continuing to grow, and we need that because we have a lack of depth there,” said Jones.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]