cookeville_vol
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Johnathon Wade
- Thread starter cookeville_vol
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7IlikeOrange7
Gr8 2 B A TENNESSEE VOL
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yeah i remember him as a freshman. I heard how his 100 meter relay was the fastest in college at that time.. no idea about it now. He's a great player that overcame. I dont think its a matter of the coaches putting him somewhere because he struggled very much last year at corner . It seems to me he has just bettered himself.
IBleedOrange24/7
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milohimself
RIP CITY
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Really good article about Wade in the Tennessean. Talks about his track work, athletic ability, etc.
Wade making mark in secondary
Returns an INT for a touchdown
By TIM VACEK
For The Tennessean
KNOXVILLE His confidence might have caught up with the talent yesterday for Jonathan Wade.
The junior cornerback played one of the better games of his career against Ole Miss highlighted by a 19-yard interception return for a touchdown that gave the Vols a two-score lead in the first quarter.
"We've always felt that Jon, from a talent standpoint, was as good or better than most of the guys that we have in the secondary," defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "It's been a confidence issue with him. He stepped up, and he's grown up a lot."
Wade, also a sprinter on the track team, took the starting job at corner opposite Jason Allen after his game against LSU. He replaced Roshaun Fellows midway through the game after Fellows missed several tackles.
Wade then played well enough to earn the start this week.
"Big-time ability," safety Jonathan Hefney said. "I think he's the man, because he's got all the speed, and he's got power to go along with it.
"You've just got to stay on his backside."
Wade had surpassed Fellows in the starting lineup in fall camp, only for Wade to get sidelined with a hip flexor. Fellows then took over at the spot. By the time Wade came back from the injury, he was a backup again.
"I was real concerned," Chavis said. "After he got injured, I didn't know. But he's done a good job getting back now, and that's the important thing.
"He's been right on the edge. It's good to see him make the play, show his athletic ability and put it in the end zone."
Wade's preseason injury was only the most recent in a long string of trials in his career.
This is only his second season working full-time with the defense. He played on defense in high school, but he spent his freshman year at Tennessee as a receiver in 2002.
He spent the first two games in 2003 playing both offense and defense, but a shoulder injury forced him to redshirt. The preseason injury this year, though, might have helped him take the next step.
"The injury kind of set me back for a while, but patience is a big key to everything," Wade said.
"It gave me a chance to look at everything from the outside. Fortunately, I've been able to bounce back from my injury. I don't feel any pain."
It was the second consecutive week that the Tennessee secondary came up with not only a big interception, but also a big return. A week ago, Hefney returned an interception to the 2-yard line during the Vols' comeback against LSU.
The big interception return had been missing from the Tennessee defense for the past few years.
The last time the Vols returned an interception for a touchdown was on Nov. 17, 2001 against Kentucky, when defensive tackle Rashad Moore intercepted a pass and then fumbled. Constantin Ritzmann recovered and ran it in for a score.
"(The big play) helps with confidence," safety Antwan Stewart said. "Just knowing that if we're in the right place like the coaches say to be, then something good is bound to happen."
Wade making mark in secondary
Returns an INT for a touchdown
By TIM VACEK
For The Tennessean
KNOXVILLE His confidence might have caught up with the talent yesterday for Jonathan Wade.
The junior cornerback played one of the better games of his career against Ole Miss highlighted by a 19-yard interception return for a touchdown that gave the Vols a two-score lead in the first quarter.
"We've always felt that Jon, from a talent standpoint, was as good or better than most of the guys that we have in the secondary," defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "It's been a confidence issue with him. He stepped up, and he's grown up a lot."
Wade, also a sprinter on the track team, took the starting job at corner opposite Jason Allen after his game against LSU. He replaced Roshaun Fellows midway through the game after Fellows missed several tackles.
Wade then played well enough to earn the start this week.
"Big-time ability," safety Jonathan Hefney said. "I think he's the man, because he's got all the speed, and he's got power to go along with it.
"You've just got to stay on his backside."
Wade had surpassed Fellows in the starting lineup in fall camp, only for Wade to get sidelined with a hip flexor. Fellows then took over at the spot. By the time Wade came back from the injury, he was a backup again.
"I was real concerned," Chavis said. "After he got injured, I didn't know. But he's done a good job getting back now, and that's the important thing.
"He's been right on the edge. It's good to see him make the play, show his athletic ability and put it in the end zone."
Wade's preseason injury was only the most recent in a long string of trials in his career.
This is only his second season working full-time with the defense. He played on defense in high school, but he spent his freshman year at Tennessee as a receiver in 2002.
He spent the first two games in 2003 playing both offense and defense, but a shoulder injury forced him to redshirt. The preseason injury this year, though, might have helped him take the next step.
"The injury kind of set me back for a while, but patience is a big key to everything," Wade said.
"It gave me a chance to look at everything from the outside. Fortunately, I've been able to bounce back from my injury. I don't feel any pain."
It was the second consecutive week that the Tennessee secondary came up with not only a big interception, but also a big return. A week ago, Hefney returned an interception to the 2-yard line during the Vols' comeback against LSU.
The big interception return had been missing from the Tennessee defense for the past few years.
The last time the Vols returned an interception for a touchdown was on Nov. 17, 2001 against Kentucky, when defensive tackle Rashad Moore intercepted a pass and then fumbled. Constantin Ritzmann recovered and ran it in for a score.
"(The big play) helps with confidence," safety Antwan Stewart said. "Just knowing that if we're in the right place like the coaches say to be, then something good is bound to happen."
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