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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-09-2013, 09:36 AM:

He had a good year and should be a big part of next years team.

In Blake McClain’s first collegiate game, he forced a fumble from one of the more highly regarded running backs in the country: Western Kentucky’s Antonio Andrews.

From that point on, there wasn’t much of a downhill slide for McClain, who finished the season with 59 tackles (tied with Za’Darius Smith for third on the team), including 37 solo (good for second on the team, only behind Avery Williamson). He recorded five pass breakups and a tackle for loss, and was the only freshman to record a forced fumble.

McClain originally committed to Kentucky under former head coach Joker Phillips, and became a “soft commit” once the new coaching staff was announced. He stuck it out, though, and he saw the dividends of that decision this year: significant playing time and production in the SEC.

“It’s a learning experience coming from high school ball to arguably the best conference in football,” he said. “There’s a lot of learning experience. I’ve learned just to be tough. SEC is a tough conference, so you’ve got to be tough and you’ve got to be big.”

The “tough” part of the equation, McClain says he has mastered, and the numbers he posted this year would reflect that. Getting bigger, however, will be a focus for McClain heading into the off-season.

“Next year, everything will be polished. I’ll be bigger, stronger, faster, and have a great feel for SEC football,” he said. “It’s going to be a great turnaround.”

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