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Vols lose McNeil to injury, Howard to one game suspension
Butch Jones broke out some unfortunate news Thursday, as the Vols' coach announced a one game suspension for senior receiver Alton "Pig" Howard and an injury to senior safety LaDarell McNeil which will keep him out for an "extended period of time."
"Alton Howard will be suspended for the Bowling Green game, the first game of the year, for violation of team rules," Jones revealed. "This isn't something that just occurred, this is something that dates back many months."
Howard caught 54 passes for 618 yards last season, both team highs in 2014. Entering his senior season, Howard is viewed my many as a team leader, something Jones noted in his press conference.
"To Alton's credit, I like the way he's approached training camp," Jones said. "He's had the best training camp he's had since we've been here. I'm appreciative of his efforts, but he will miss the Bowling Green game."
The news on senior safety McNeil wasn't so optimistic.
"This one came kind of out of nowhere," Jones said. "Very, very unfortunate. I feel for him. He's had some neck instability there, so he's undergoing further examination, but he will be out an extended period of time. It could be a lengthy period of time, but everything is about the welfare of our student athletes and making sure that there's life after football and everything that he's going through."
The team's starter at strong safety the past three seasons, McNeil has started over 30 games in his Tennessee career and will be difficult to replace. Sophomores Evan Berry and Todd Kelly Jr. have been logging plenty of time at safety in both the spring and fall camps and look to compete for the starting role entering the season.
"Again, you can take situations in football and this a great illustration where going into the season the safety position is a position of depth and all of a sudden in one day your depth can go from being a strength to being something you have to address."
