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Eternally Optimistic
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Crompton chronicles: August 9
By DAVE HOOKER, hookerd@knews.com
August 9, 2004
Periodically, Dave Hooker will visit with UT commitment Jonathan Crompton. Crompton, from Waynesville, N.C., is one of the highest rated quarterback prospects in the country. In June, he announced he is committed to playing football at UT. He will be a part of the 2005 Tennessee signing class. This week, Hooker caught up with Crompton after he visited a Sunday afternoon UT practice. The trip was Cromptons first visit as a public UT commitment.
Do you feel like youre a part of this team now that youve publicly committed as opposed to earlier visits? Yeah, a little bit. Especially when I talk to some of the guys and hang out with them on the field.
What did you think about the freshman quarterbacks that youll be competing with next year? I didnt get a chance to see that much because I was moving around a lot. From what Ive seen, theyre not bad. Its going to be a challenge for anybody to win the job.
What do you think about UTs group of wide receivers? Theyre impressive. Theyre just God-given athletes. Its weird watching somebody that can run that fast and read the defense within a split second and know what to do. Its amazing.
Who stands out among the group? Its the whole group.
What about Tony Brown? Hes a good player overall. I like watching him play.
What about Robert Meachem? Hes a player. Everything he does stands out. From making one handed catches to going by a corner. Everything he does is impressive. I think (Jason) Swain is about the same as Meachem.
What other impressions do you have of practice today? Theyre competitive. When the corners and receivers go one-on-one, they trash talk and challenge each other to go again. I like that. Everybody was doing that. I think thats good to have that. Theres something about them that gives you an idea about how much they care for each other.
Is it hard to focus on your senior season at Tuscola High when you have your future mapped out here at UT? Not really. Thats in the future. Youve got to live in the present.
What has high school football practice been like? We want to take it one game at a time. Thats all were thinking. If we look forward, then well get beat in the other games. I think everybody is handling that well. Theyre looking forward to next Friday (when the season starts).
Who are some players you think might have big seasons for Tuscola? Matthew Golden is one. I know that. He plays receiver. Hes the toughest son of a gun Ive ever met. That boy is tough. Hes fearless. Anything you ask him to do he does whether its go across the middle or whatever. Hes 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds tops. Hell run a 15-yard under route and get knocked out by a linebacker three times his size. Then hell get right back up. I respect that guy a lot. Patrick Fitzgerald at fullback is 6-2, 235 pounds and runs a 4.6 (40-yard dash). Hes a player. When he gets film out, hell have college interest.
Crompton Chronicles: Summer Camp
By DAVE HOOKER, hookerd@knews.com
July 26, 2004
Each week, Dave Hooker will visit with UT commitment Jonathan Crompton. Crompton, from Waynesville, N.C., is one of the highest rated quarterback prospects in the country. In June, he announced he is committed to playing football for UT. He will be a part of the 2005 Tennessee signing class. This week, Crompton has just returned from participating in the Elite 11 quarterback camp in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
How was the Elite 11 camp?
It was a good camp. We all had fun I got to know the guys better than last year. I wanted to improve in the classroom a little bit. I feel like I got better in there. I learned how to watch film. I learned some more coverages and good routes to run versus certain coverages. Also, I learned what routes you dont want to run against certain coverages. I think I did a good job. Some days were better than others. But overall I did really well. After being out there last year, it helped me a lot.
Was the camp and travel schedule tiring?
Im used to building fences everyday so going to a two-hour practice is nothing. Its just stuff youve got to get used to. Everyday was different. We had workouts every day from 9-11am then "Chalk and Talk" from 11-1pm. Then we had different activities after that. One time we went to the Spectrum, which is the local mall. Sometimes we would just hang around and play PlayStation 2. They gave us a copy of NCAA Football 2005. I made it to the semifinals in a tournament we had. We threw a good amount every day depending on how many drills we would do.
What UT prospects have you talked to about becoming a Vol?
Ive been so busy that I havent been able to talk to very many. Im going to talk to Patrick Turner (WR, Goodpasture, Tenn.) and Josh Briscoe (WR, Lawndale, N.C.). I know that Patrick is looking at Tennessee. Im hoping he wants to go there.
Are you antsy about starting your senior season?
A little bit. I start practice today (July 26, 2004). Im ready to go. Im a little tired today from the camp. But after today, Ill be fired up. Right now, I just plan on taking it one day at a time. I want to win a conference championship, go deep in the playoffs, or win it all. I think well be good. We have a lot of returning players coming back and I have a lot of expectations. Everybody has to contribute for us to win.
Will you keep working with Heath Shuler on his farm?
Im pretty much done with that because of football. Im sort of glad its over but it was fun while I was out there.
Have you had any second thoughts about committing to UT so early?
No.
By DAVE HOOKER, hookerd@knews.com
August 9, 2004
Periodically, Dave Hooker will visit with UT commitment Jonathan Crompton. Crompton, from Waynesville, N.C., is one of the highest rated quarterback prospects in the country. In June, he announced he is committed to playing football at UT. He will be a part of the 2005 Tennessee signing class. This week, Hooker caught up with Crompton after he visited a Sunday afternoon UT practice. The trip was Cromptons first visit as a public UT commitment.
Do you feel like youre a part of this team now that youve publicly committed as opposed to earlier visits? Yeah, a little bit. Especially when I talk to some of the guys and hang out with them on the field.
What did you think about the freshman quarterbacks that youll be competing with next year? I didnt get a chance to see that much because I was moving around a lot. From what Ive seen, theyre not bad. Its going to be a challenge for anybody to win the job.
What do you think about UTs group of wide receivers? Theyre impressive. Theyre just God-given athletes. Its weird watching somebody that can run that fast and read the defense within a split second and know what to do. Its amazing.
Who stands out among the group? Its the whole group.
What about Tony Brown? Hes a good player overall. I like watching him play.
What about Robert Meachem? Hes a player. Everything he does stands out. From making one handed catches to going by a corner. Everything he does is impressive. I think (Jason) Swain is about the same as Meachem.
What other impressions do you have of practice today? Theyre competitive. When the corners and receivers go one-on-one, they trash talk and challenge each other to go again. I like that. Everybody was doing that. I think thats good to have that. Theres something about them that gives you an idea about how much they care for each other.
Is it hard to focus on your senior season at Tuscola High when you have your future mapped out here at UT? Not really. Thats in the future. Youve got to live in the present.
What has high school football practice been like? We want to take it one game at a time. Thats all were thinking. If we look forward, then well get beat in the other games. I think everybody is handling that well. Theyre looking forward to next Friday (when the season starts).
Who are some players you think might have big seasons for Tuscola? Matthew Golden is one. I know that. He plays receiver. Hes the toughest son of a gun Ive ever met. That boy is tough. Hes fearless. Anything you ask him to do he does whether its go across the middle or whatever. Hes 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds tops. Hell run a 15-yard under route and get knocked out by a linebacker three times his size. Then hell get right back up. I respect that guy a lot. Patrick Fitzgerald at fullback is 6-2, 235 pounds and runs a 4.6 (40-yard dash). Hes a player. When he gets film out, hell have college interest.
Crompton Chronicles: Summer Camp
By DAVE HOOKER, hookerd@knews.com
July 26, 2004
Each week, Dave Hooker will visit with UT commitment Jonathan Crompton. Crompton, from Waynesville, N.C., is one of the highest rated quarterback prospects in the country. In June, he announced he is committed to playing football for UT. He will be a part of the 2005 Tennessee signing class. This week, Crompton has just returned from participating in the Elite 11 quarterback camp in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
How was the Elite 11 camp?
It was a good camp. We all had fun I got to know the guys better than last year. I wanted to improve in the classroom a little bit. I feel like I got better in there. I learned how to watch film. I learned some more coverages and good routes to run versus certain coverages. Also, I learned what routes you dont want to run against certain coverages. I think I did a good job. Some days were better than others. But overall I did really well. After being out there last year, it helped me a lot.
Was the camp and travel schedule tiring?
Im used to building fences everyday so going to a two-hour practice is nothing. Its just stuff youve got to get used to. Everyday was different. We had workouts every day from 9-11am then "Chalk and Talk" from 11-1pm. Then we had different activities after that. One time we went to the Spectrum, which is the local mall. Sometimes we would just hang around and play PlayStation 2. They gave us a copy of NCAA Football 2005. I made it to the semifinals in a tournament we had. We threw a good amount every day depending on how many drills we would do.
What UT prospects have you talked to about becoming a Vol?
Ive been so busy that I havent been able to talk to very many. Im going to talk to Patrick Turner (WR, Goodpasture, Tenn.) and Josh Briscoe (WR, Lawndale, N.C.). I know that Patrick is looking at Tennessee. Im hoping he wants to go there.
Are you antsy about starting your senior season?
A little bit. I start practice today (July 26, 2004). Im ready to go. Im a little tired today from the camp. But after today, Ill be fired up. Right now, I just plan on taking it one day at a time. I want to win a conference championship, go deep in the playoffs, or win it all. I think well be good. We have a lot of returning players coming back and I have a lot of expectations. Everybody has to contribute for us to win.
Will you keep working with Heath Shuler on his farm?
Im pretty much done with that because of football. Im sort of glad its over but it was fun while I was out there.
Have you had any second thoughts about committing to UT so early?
No.
