Myles' dream
Myles 'had a dream I was in orange'
By Dave Hooker
Updated Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Darren Myles Jr. had plenty of reasons to come to Tennessee.
There was defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, fellow safety Eric Berry and a subconscious hint.
“I had a dream I was in orange,” the 6-foot-1, 175-pound safety from Carver High School in Atlanta said Wednesday. “God sent that to me so I went with it.”
And signed with UT on National Signing Day, becoming one of UT’s most prominent late pickups for its 2009 class.
Myles admitted that Alabama and LSU once led for his services. That was before his official visit to UT.
“I actually had Alabama in my mind before I went on the visit to Tennessee,” Myles said. “As I came from my visit it changed everything.”
Much of that visit revolved around meeting Kiffin, whose first call as a UT coach went to Myles.
“That’s another plus,” Myles said about UT’s first new defensive coordinator since 1995. “He has a great reputation with his defense and connections to the NFL. He’s been in that system for a long time. He knows how to handle it.”
Myles hopes to play alongside Berry as soon as possible.
“That’s big time,” Myles said of the Jim Thorpe finalist.
All the above led to Myles signing with UT. But playing for what he believes is an up-and-coming program also held a certain allure.
“It was the best opportunity,” Myles said. “I took advantage of it. I want to be a part of that rebuilding.
“I think they’re building a champion.”