rexvol
The Minister of Defense
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Freshman Hancock could be answer to UT's receiving woes
By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE Heres a news flash, as if they needed it, for Tennessees offensive coaches.
Get Quintin Hancock on the field. Get him in the receiving rotation. Get him some work with Erik Ainge.
Hes as good a looking true freshman as Ive seen at the position in my 10 years of covering the Tennessee beat.
And, yes, I remember how impressive Robert Meachem was in those first few practices in 2003 before injuring his knee.
All Hancock does is catch the ball. He catches it whether hes laying out for one inside the 5-yard line. He catches it with defenders hanging onto him, and he always catches it with his hands.
When the balls thrown his way, youre not going to see it touch his body. Hes a natural.
It will be interesting to see how the Vols use him this season. He can clearly help them, but coaches are queasy about playing true freshmen at skill positions too early.
Phillip Fulmer has said that Hancock will play a lot this season, but then comes the disclaimer. You know, the one about proper alignment and adjusting to all the checks.
I wont debate Fulmer on that one. But Ill say this: Hancock has been lined up well enough in the three scrimmages to catch four touchdowns.
Not bad for a guy who was just a three-star player coming out of high school in St. Augustine, Fla., prompting the usual response from fans who live and die by recruiting rankings and are blinded by stars.
Why are we taking this guy? Florida didnt want him. Florida State didnt want him. Miami didnt want him.
Its just another reminder that the state of Florida produces a surplus of football talent. The Big Three cant get them all.
And believe it or not, players with two or three stars by their name in high school do occasionally pan out.
Just ask Patrick Willis.
By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE Heres a news flash, as if they needed it, for Tennessees offensive coaches.
Get Quintin Hancock on the field. Get him in the receiving rotation. Get him some work with Erik Ainge.
Hes as good a looking true freshman as Ive seen at the position in my 10 years of covering the Tennessee beat.
And, yes, I remember how impressive Robert Meachem was in those first few practices in 2003 before injuring his knee.
All Hancock does is catch the ball. He catches it whether hes laying out for one inside the 5-yard line. He catches it with defenders hanging onto him, and he always catches it with his hands.
When the balls thrown his way, youre not going to see it touch his body. Hes a natural.
It will be interesting to see how the Vols use him this season. He can clearly help them, but coaches are queasy about playing true freshmen at skill positions too early.
Phillip Fulmer has said that Hancock will play a lot this season, but then comes the disclaimer. You know, the one about proper alignment and adjusting to all the checks.
I wont debate Fulmer on that one. But Ill say this: Hancock has been lined up well enough in the three scrimmages to catch four touchdowns.
Not bad for a guy who was just a three-star player coming out of high school in St. Augustine, Fla., prompting the usual response from fans who live and die by recruiting rankings and are blinded by stars.
Why are we taking this guy? Florida didnt want him. Florida State didnt want him. Miami didnt want him.
Its just another reminder that the state of Florida produces a surplus of football talent. The Big Three cant get them all.
And believe it or not, players with two or three stars by their name in high school do occasionally pan out.
Just ask Patrick Willis.
