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SEC spring recap (Cont.)
Tennessee Volunteers
2005 Schedule
9/3 UAB
9/17 at Florida
9/24 at LSU
10/1 Ole Miss
10/8 Georgia
10/22 at Alabama
10/29 South Carolina
11/5 at Notre Dame
11/12 Memphis
11/19 Vanderbilt
11/26 at Kentucky
2004 overall record:
10-3
Conference record:
7-1
Returning starters
Offense: 7, Defense: 8, Kicker/punter: 1
2004 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Gerald Riggs* (1,107 yds)
Passing: Erik Ainge* (1,452 yds)
Receiving: Robert Meachem* (459 yds)
Tackles: Jason Allen* (123)
Sacks: Parys Haralson* (7)
Interceptions: Corey Campbell* (4)
Spring Answers: A whopping 22 Vols underwent offseason surgery, while nearly 30 missed the spring game because of injury or suspension. So spring answers were tough to come by, but there were a few developments. ... First of all, don't pay attention to the "or" on the depth chart there is no quarterback controversy at Tennessee. Rick Clausen is an excellent leader and turned in a commendable performance at the end of last year. But barring injury or utterly awful play, Ainge will be the Vols' starter in 2005. The sophomore has all the intangibles and showed no ill effects from the shoulder injury that knocked him out of last season. In fact, he's bigger and faster. ... Three young players who caused a lot of chatter this spring: G Ramon Foster, WR Josh Briscoe and nickel back/return man Inky Johnson. ... Even after ankle surgery and yet another ACL injury, hard-luck Kevin Simon looks better than ever as he heads into his senior season for the second time. Simon is in the middle of what is a ridiculously stacked defensive front seven. If you don't know Jesse Mahelona's name, you will soon. The reserves, though, are what have the UT staff so excited. It looks as though LB Daniel Brooks finally gets it, and DT Demonte Bolden and LB Ryan Karl had monster springs. ... The Colquitts will continue to own punting at Tennessee. Freshman Britton Colquitt steps in and becomes the fourth member of his family to punt for the Volunteers. He was booming them in practice and has the look of his older brother Dustin, who was just drafted in the second round of the NFL draft.
Fall Questions: Are all these off-the-field distractions behind the Vols? Eleven players have been arrested or cited since February 2004, and it got particularly embarrassing this spring. A repeat performance in the fall and Tennessee can kiss away any hopes of a national title. ... Tennessee has two major position concerns heading into summer. At center, projected starter Richie Gandy tore his ACL playing basketball in the offseason. Those close to the program actually think he'll be ready to go by fall drills, but that's not a certainty. If Gandy's progress is slowed, the Vols would turn to relatively unproven David Ligon. In August, though, No. 1 high school center Josh McNeil will enter into the mix immediately. ... As for the beleaguered secondary, last in the SEC a year ago, former safety Jason Allen moved to cornerback and two small corners, Jonathan Hefney and Roshaun Fellows, made the opposite switch. Fellows is likely headed back to his old position, but it looks as though Hefney will stick with free safety. Is he physical enough, though? And can Campbell play like he did this spring and not like he did last fall? And will the knee of potential strong safety starter Antwan Stewart ever fully heal? ... Over the last decade, the Vols have always played better when painted as underdogs. But this year UT is one of only six schools in the country that returns its leader in all six major statistical categories. Even usually reserved Fulmer admits it has been a long time since he returned so many players with so much experience. So, expectations are even further through the roof than normal. Don't mind the brutal road schedule (Florida, 'Bama, LSU and Notre Dame). The demanding Big Orange Nation wants nothing less than a national championship. Good luck with that whole underdog thing.
Tennessee Volunteers
2005 Schedule
9/3 UAB
9/17 at Florida
9/24 at LSU
10/1 Ole Miss
10/8 Georgia
10/22 at Alabama
10/29 South Carolina
11/5 at Notre Dame
11/12 Memphis
11/19 Vanderbilt
11/26 at Kentucky
2004 overall record:
10-3
Conference record:
7-1
Returning starters
Offense: 7, Defense: 8, Kicker/punter: 1
2004 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Gerald Riggs* (1,107 yds)
Passing: Erik Ainge* (1,452 yds)
Receiving: Robert Meachem* (459 yds)
Tackles: Jason Allen* (123)
Sacks: Parys Haralson* (7)
Interceptions: Corey Campbell* (4)
Spring Answers: A whopping 22 Vols underwent offseason surgery, while nearly 30 missed the spring game because of injury or suspension. So spring answers were tough to come by, but there were a few developments. ... First of all, don't pay attention to the "or" on the depth chart there is no quarterback controversy at Tennessee. Rick Clausen is an excellent leader and turned in a commendable performance at the end of last year. But barring injury or utterly awful play, Ainge will be the Vols' starter in 2005. The sophomore has all the intangibles and showed no ill effects from the shoulder injury that knocked him out of last season. In fact, he's bigger and faster. ... Three young players who caused a lot of chatter this spring: G Ramon Foster, WR Josh Briscoe and nickel back/return man Inky Johnson. ... Even after ankle surgery and yet another ACL injury, hard-luck Kevin Simon looks better than ever as he heads into his senior season for the second time. Simon is in the middle of what is a ridiculously stacked defensive front seven. If you don't know Jesse Mahelona's name, you will soon. The reserves, though, are what have the UT staff so excited. It looks as though LB Daniel Brooks finally gets it, and DT Demonte Bolden and LB Ryan Karl had monster springs. ... The Colquitts will continue to own punting at Tennessee. Freshman Britton Colquitt steps in and becomes the fourth member of his family to punt for the Volunteers. He was booming them in practice and has the look of his older brother Dustin, who was just drafted in the second round of the NFL draft.
Fall Questions: Are all these off-the-field distractions behind the Vols? Eleven players have been arrested or cited since February 2004, and it got particularly embarrassing this spring. A repeat performance in the fall and Tennessee can kiss away any hopes of a national title. ... Tennessee has two major position concerns heading into summer. At center, projected starter Richie Gandy tore his ACL playing basketball in the offseason. Those close to the program actually think he'll be ready to go by fall drills, but that's not a certainty. If Gandy's progress is slowed, the Vols would turn to relatively unproven David Ligon. In August, though, No. 1 high school center Josh McNeil will enter into the mix immediately. ... As for the beleaguered secondary, last in the SEC a year ago, former safety Jason Allen moved to cornerback and two small corners, Jonathan Hefney and Roshaun Fellows, made the opposite switch. Fellows is likely headed back to his old position, but it looks as though Hefney will stick with free safety. Is he physical enough, though? And can Campbell play like he did this spring and not like he did last fall? And will the knee of potential strong safety starter Antwan Stewart ever fully heal? ... Over the last decade, the Vols have always played better when painted as underdogs. But this year UT is one of only six schools in the country that returns its leader in all six major statistical categories. Even usually reserved Fulmer admits it has been a long time since he returned so many players with so much experience. So, expectations are even further through the roof than normal. Don't mind the brutal road schedule (Florida, 'Bama, LSU and Notre Dame). The demanding Big Orange Nation wants nothing less than a national championship. Good luck with that whole underdog thing.
