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Tennessee sack leader still learning football

By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS
AP Sports Writer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) In the sixth overtime, Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones rolled out to find an open receiver. Demetrin Veal, the only Tennessee defender around, kept his distance in front of Jones and then ran toward him, forcing the quarterback out of bounds five yards behind the line of scrimmage.

More than 2,100 miles away in Paramount, Calif., Veal's high school coach Ken Sutch beamed with pride as he watched the game on television.

``Did you see that play in overtime? Wasn't that beautiful?'' Sutch said this week, still excited after the No. 10 Volunteers' 41-38 win over the Razorbacks after six overtimes. ``I came off the couch about 10 feet!''

Veal, a senior, has come a long way since Sutch persuaded him to try out for football as a junior in high school. Later, Tennessee found him at Cerritos College, a two-year community college about 15 minutes from his hometown.

Veal has become a play-maker on defense with a team-high three sacks and six tackles for a loss.

His play on Jones helped turn the game in Tennessee's favor. The Razorbacks settled for a field goal that gave Tennessee a chance to win with a touchdown.

Because of his knack for getting to quarterbacks and the solid play of backup Aubrayo Franklin, Veal will move from starting right tackle to right end Saturday for the 10th-ranked Volunteers (4-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) at No. 6 and undefeated Georgia.

Veal's abilities come naturally and from hard work over the last five years.

He didn't grow up playing football as a child like many college players did.

``I was usually working or had school. I never had time for athletics. I didn't grow up around it, watch it or anybody in my family watch it,'' Veal said. ``It was something I decided to do all of a sudden.''

Sutch asked him to try out as a junior. He played junior varsity and then moved to varsity his senior year, recording more than 50 tackles and eight sacks.

``I was just out there running around. I didn't even know the position I was playing really,'' Veal said.

He also grew as he played, starting out at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds and ending up three inches taller and about 50 pounds heavier his senior year. He's listed as 6-3, 280 pounds on this year's roster.

Despite his statistics, college recruiters didn't take notice. After all, Veal had only played one year and was still considered small for a defensive lineman.

``I couldn't get anybody to touch that kid,'' Sutch said.

So Veal went to the junior college in Norwalk, Calif., where he was named an All-America by some publications and the California Community Colleges Coaches Association.

Southern California and Oregon State were interested, but Veal wanted to leave California. Tennessee seemed like the right place, and it didn't take long to make an impression.

He made the most of playing Division I football, using his journey as an inspiration in each game.

``I think about that every day. I've come a long way from high school and junior college. I struggled in junior college just to get here,'' Veal said.

Veal registered 16 tackles, seven for a loss and four sacks as a backup defensive end last year.

When the coaches studied film in the off-season, they realized they needed Veal on the field more.

``Most junior college guys feel like they ought to walk in and start. They know they have two years to play. Last year he was in a position behind a senior, never complained, worked hard every day,'' defensive line coach Dan Brooks said. ``Those things have made him a guy I think we'll all see continue to play this game down the road.''

Veal says he's still learning about how to play and taking advantage of the weight room to bulk up more as he gets further into his football career.

``When I go back home they see me, and they're like, 'what did they do to you?''' Veal said, laughing. ``It's been a long road.''

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