Combine director when talking to everyone (parents, campers) mentioned Maclain being there. His dad was asked to speak and gave a very good speech about camps, grades, recruiting process in general. Said his son still attends these camps/combines because he always strives to get better. Says he knows that if he can't ever be satisfied. Said Eric played varsity his freshman year and the great number of practices alone and the competition is what continues to make him better. Said some parents asked him one time in basketball why Eric was on varsity since he never played in his fr and soph years. He told them because it made Eric better practicing with the older guys every day and that when the time came he would be ready to help them.
Says Eric has always wanted to run the ball since the time they lived in Ohio and had weight limits which put big kids on the line. He got to run FB his 8th grade year and team went 7-1 in a brutal Fayetteville/Cumberland County area here in NC. Tons of atheletes. Said it was almost comical at times seeing Eric absolutely mash everything in his path. Then they would pitch it to the speed guy and he's gone 60 yards for a TD around the end.
Dad said that a positive about afghanistan deployment was that it's 9 1/2 hours ahead of time. So he would be getting up just after Eric was finished playing on Friday nights to find out how the game went and get to talk to him. Said it's a sacrifice but being a medic in the military you fully understand sacrifice(s) made for this country.
Apparently dad worked at a blood drive with Fulmer and really liked him. Said UT showed a lot of character and class in its losses to UF and Bama and that was a definite deciding factor in his son choosing UT. Certainly military background there with the honor and dignity aspect.
Absolutely loves the new staff and their discipline and hard work, as well as the new offense. Loves the balance of and different formations. Just amazed at the coaching staff assembled and feels it will show results from day one on.
Says son wants to play TE and Eric can really move for a big kid and can catch anything but (IMO) will have his hand down on OL. He will put on 30 pounds with ease and be a monster, mobile OL. Like Ohio said he could be the top OL coming out of high school in his class. This kid can flat move and still has a lot of growing to do. Not much body fat at all either and very smart.
Says it's hard at times for Eric because everyone looks at his as almost a genetic freak yet they forget he just now turned 16. Says he's just a kid like all of them. Seeing Eric at the combine and being around him he's got a great personality and really enjoys being around and meeting the other kids at these events. Not one ounce of arrogance or I'm better than you because I've already committed to a DI school like you would see in some. Just enjoying life and working hard to get better.
Like I said dad is glad grandma and grandpa are 12 minutes from Neyland. He said he knows that there will be tough times and that Eric has two close by where he can just go over and spend time with them when he needs a break. The dad also talked to the mom of the 6'5, 295 pound 8th grader I had at the combine and gave her some great advice which meant a lot to her being a single parent and having just lost her job. I told him that when we were finished that Will (my player) would forget all about that Carolina Blue and would be a Vo
