Aiden McNeil has tried to keep his transition within Valparaiso’s defense as simple as possible.
McNeil moved from tackle to end and has embraced the challenge of playing a position that has been one of the Vikings’ hallmarks in recent seasons. But the 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior also knows he’s had to forge his own path.
“It wasn’t a big, dramatic change, but at end, you’re more by yourself and have more responsibility,” McNeil said. “At defensive tackle, you’re just filling gaps, and if someone runs through, it’s basically your fault. At defensive end, I had to learn pass-rush moves, and you have one big gap you’re responsible for, that outside gap.
“So I definitely had to get faster and read my keys. I just read my keys and study film. I do what the coaches tell me. We have a great coaching staff.”
After stars Cooper Jones, now a freshman at Indiana, and Dylan Dingman graduated, it made sense to Valparaiso coach Bill Marshall for McNeil to shift outside. Marshall also oversees the defensive line. He praised McNeil’s dedication.
“He’s put himself in a great position to be a force for us at defensive end and take that pedestal for this season and be the leader for this defensive line that has had a leader for three years prior to that in Cooper and Dylan,” Marshall said.
“He’s really taken that and run with it, not only through his actions, but he’s a vocal leader as well. The kids admire him. He has the right amount of seriousness, but at the same time also that ability to joke around and keep things cool and easy.”
McNeil said he learned a lot playing with Jones and Dingman, describing Jones as “a great player/coach.” McNeil is one of two captains on defense this season, along with senior linebacker Mason McMullen.
“I try to be very vocal,” McNeil said. “I try to show guys it’s OK not to be OK, but try your hardest and always give energy and keep focus. Kids listen to me. I’m always the nice guy. I want guys to come up and talk to me. I don’t want to be the mean guy.
“I’m glad to be there. I’m glad my coaches thought I would be a great player to be in that position. I’m thankful for this team, and I love this team with all my heart. It’s definitely bittersweet that I’m a senior now and I don’t have another year left. I love playing with these guys, and I go into every game thinking it’s my last.”
McNeil and Valparaiso (6-0, 4-0) have reached the marquee game of the regular season, a Duneland Athletic Conference showdown against Merrillville (6-0, 4-0) on Friday. The teams didn’t meet last season due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Vikings have won five straight games in the series, including a dramatic 29-28 matchup in 2019.
“I have a lot of respect for that team,” McNeil said. “They’re a great team, and so are we. It’s great to have teams like that go against each other. We can’t wait for the game, and I’m sure they can’t either.”
Marshall expects McNeil, who has 20 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, will be prepared.
“He has a tremendous work ethic, a tremendous motor. ... He’s always all smiles in the hallway, smiles at practice,” Marshall said. “He takes his job and loves these guys like no other.”
McNeil plans to study exercise science in college, possibly at IUPUI or Indiana State.
“I love learning how everything works in the body,” he said. “I still have a lot of thinking to do. But I’m just thinking about football now. I’ll figure out everything else after.”
"smooth" - Google News
September 28, 2021 at 10:20PM
https://ift.tt/3EYBpV5
Aiden McNeil makes a smooth transition to defensive end, a marquee position for Valparaiso, and steps forward as a leader who 'loves these guys like no other' - Chicago Tribune
"smooth" - Google News
https://ift.tt/30JhCVH
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Aiden McNeil makes a smooth transition to defensive end, a marquee position for Valparaiso, and steps forward as a leader who 'loves these guys like no other' - Chicago Tribune"
Post a Comment