University of Tennessee Athletics
Seven Questions with the '07 Newcomers ??? Nevin McKenzie
August 18, 2007 | Football
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
High School: Trinity Valley CC
As a junior college transfer, do you feel like there is pressure on you to make in impact right away?
???I don???t feel like there is any pressure. I want to make an impact. It is a goal of mine to be an important part of this team.???
How was the transition from junior college to Division I football gone?
???There is a transition for me, but it???s more about the defensive system than the talent level. I played with a lot of future Division I players in junior college, so that has not been a big deal. But we played a 4-2-5 defense in junior college, and here we play 4-3. I???m doing a lot of things I didn???t have to do in Texas. Some of my responsibilities here are the exact opposite of my instincts right now. ???
Is there something about UT or Knoxville that has been a pleasant surprise to you?
???One of things that I really like about the older guys here is that they don???t treat you differently because you haven???t been here with them all along. They don???t look down on you. They welcomed me as a part of this team.???
You have the reputation of being a hard hitter. Do you use that to your advantage?
???I think it is a good thing, but it has been a bad thing at practice. We are supposed to just square up and stop the guy, but people will come at me hard because they think I am going to hit them. I take some shots I shouldn???t have to take.???
What is something few people know about you?
???I am pretty smart. I do all right at the school thing. Man, I am a nice guy, too. People think I am mean, but I???m not.???
What is something you enjoy doing outside of football?
???I play a little basketball. I???m not that good at it, but I play. I really like to play baseball, too. I played in little league. If I could play intramural baseball here, I would do it.???
Do you have any pet peeves?
???I really don???t like to be ignored, and I don???t like to be sidetracked. If am trying to do something, I hate it when I am distracted by something else. I like to focus on doing one thing at a time.???
By Tony Williams, UT Sports Information
