Tennessee's Difference-Makers on D Have Vols Ready for SEC Gauntlet

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In a game where almost everything went right, two feel-good stories stole the night for the Tennessee Volunteers.

Those difference-making plays were turned in by senior safety LaDarrell McNeil and safety/kick returner Evan Berry as the Vols dominated FCS opponent Western Carolina 55-10 in a final tune-up before SEC play.

The Vols salted away the entire fourth quarter, with backups running the ball into the line in what wound up being a 15-minute victory formation.

Tennessee's performance was exactly what coach Butch Jones wanted heading into a rugged SEC gauntlet that includes games at Florida, home against Arkansas and Georgia and at Alabama.

Defensive coordinator John Jancek’s unit began the game with a big play when Cameron Sutton stripped the ball away, and Derek Barnett recovered to set up freshman receiver Preston Williams’ first career touchdown.

It wouldn’t be the defense's last game-changer.

On a night when the offense took a while to get cranked up, the defensive playmakers and special teams stars proved the Vols are ready to take on the challenge of beating the Gators for the first time in 10 years.

In what is shaping up to look like a defensive battle with Florida next weekend, UT appears ready to hold its own.

Despite the loss of senior star defensive end Curt Maggitt for what likely will be a lengthy period of time, Tennessee’s defense looked strong, fast and dominant. Sure, it needed to against the Catamounts, but it flew around like Vols defenses of old. 

Darrin Kirkland Jr. shone in his first start at middle linebacker, complementing Jalen Reeves-Maybin to give UT a speedy second level. Cornerback Justin Martin got a lot of important snaps, and McNeil's return was noticeable on the back of the defense.

A week ago, UT’s defense played elite against Oklahoma for more than three quarters before it was forced to stay on the field most of the fourth quarter and wore down. The defense wasn't on the field long enough to get winded Saturday.

Following five consecutive three-and-outs, WCU tried a downfield pass hoping to make something happen with just over five minutes remaining in the first half. Instead, McNeil stepped in front of a Troy Mitchell pass for an interception and rumbled 57 yards to the Catamounts’ 9-yard line.

One play later, Jalen Hurd rushed around the right end to make it 27-0 UT.

For McNeil, it was a sweet return to action after a major scare. Just weeks before the season was set to begin, Jones announced the starting safety would miss a large chunk of the season due to "neck instability."

McNeil flew back to his native Texas to get a second opinion, and the verdict was he could return in mere weeks.

This was his first game back, and he made the biggest play in a series of huge ones for the Vols defense. Afterward, McNeil was nearly overcome with emotion according to GoVols247's Wes Rucker:

Immediately after McNeil’s pick, UT’s lauded pair of freshman defensive tackles teamed for another turnover. Kahlil McKenzie stripped the ball away from the Catamounts running back, and Shy Tuttle recovered.

Three plays later, it was 34-0, with the assistance of an Alvin Kamara touchdown run.

After WCU kicked a harmless field goal, a storybook play happened that simply couldn’t have been scripted any better in Hollywood.

Wade Payne/Associated Press

With former Vols superstar and NFL all-pro safety Eric Berry standing on the sideline following Thursday night’s return to Arrowhead Stadium after his year-long treatment, following a cancer diagnosis, younger brother Evan fielded a kick at the 12-yard line.

He shed one Catamounts would-be tackler, and after appearing bottled-up in a scrum of players, he spun off another defender and sprinted 88 yards for his first career touchdown with big brother cheering from the sideline.

If there had been a top on Neyland Stadium, it would have blown off.

Despite the pride, Eric had a very brotherly response:

From there, it was a celebration and coronation for the Vols. Kamara spelled Sutton as punt returner and promptly took one 50 yards to the house in the third quarter.

Considering how invaluable Sutton is to UT's defense, Jones should consider moving Kamara back there full time. He nearly took another one for a touchdown, but a penalty way behind the play called it back. He also stepped out of bounds, but no Catamount was catching him. 

A defense that struggled mightily in the season opener against a potent Bowling Green offense and then ran out of gas as Oklahoma stormed back last week had no troubles. WCU had just 166 total yards through three quarters when the Vols started subbing walk-ons.

Had it not been for two long runs, including Detrez Newsome's 64-yard touchdown, there wouldn’t have been any WCU offense of which to speak.

With the Gators coming off a struggling offensive performance in a 14-9 win against a much-improved Kentucky team on the road, coach Jim McElwain’s offense is trying to solidify playmakers.

UT has its own offensive question marks, as several drives stalled deep in WCU territory, despite accumulating more than 400 total yards. But Saturday night was another step in the right direction for defense and special teams. 

If the Volunteers play against the Gators is anything like the way they played against WCU, they could end the 10-year drought. That's a major difference in talent, but the Vols are incorporating their young stars into the lineup, and they are proving they deserve serious snaps.

Next week will be the real litmus tests as the showdown with Florida marks what may wind up being the Vols' biggest momentum-swinging game of the season. But Saturday was about getting young guys valuable snaps and seeing who was ready to make plays.

The Vols showed up and showed out.

All stats gathered from UTSports.com unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information gathered from 247Sports unless otherwise noted. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee lead writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.