Long-time reader, rare poster, other than when I literally stumbled into a source who had the scoop on Bryce Brown...seems like a loooooong time ago now.
Anyway, I just checked up the latest UT FB Roster for 2009 over on the official UT Athletics Site. It is indeed stunning to see how thin we are in a number of areas. However, the guys we do have left are apparently making the grades and are willing to work very hard...we've lost nearly a dozen who couldn't do one or the other (or both). Injuries will be one of my biggest fears during the upcoming practice and season. But any player who has made it through the first 7 months of the Kiffen Era should be able to stick it out now (always be a few exceptions, I know). Effort, coachability, discipline, execution, etc., are not the areas of concern for me.
In trying to be somewhat objective, which is hard as a die-hard Vol Fan, I actually do think we have more talent than most folks think, however. Last year's complete lack of discipline, execution, and LEADERSHIP doomed an offense...beginning with the fumble by Foster in the UCLA game. Hindsight tells us we may have already been doomed...but after that loss, well, it's almost seems like the players and fans, and perhaps the coaches, were resigned to a long season, at least on the offense.
Anyway, I'm pasting the roster below to get as much information as anyone can give on some of the "unknowns"...like are any of the practice squad guys potential players, who might come out of nowhere to make a big impact this year, Freshman impacts, etc. We only have Quinton Hancock and Brandon Warren as current, healthy receivers, but after refreshing my memory, we do have more than just Nukeese coming in to help. In fact, if necessary, it looks like Eric Gordon and Nyshier Oliver could even line up at WR if the secondary defense holds up. Anyone know the status on James Green or Marlong Walls? Anyone else not going to make it in? I can't help but feel some objective optimism IF we can keep everyone relatively healthy. All feedback much appreciated. Thanks!
2009 Tennessee Football Roster
Numerical Roster
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Exp. Hometown (Prev School)
36 Anthony Anderson DB 6-1 179 So. Sq. Knoxville (Austin-East)
60 Carson Anderson C 6-2 267 Fr. Sq. Florence, Ala. (Florence)
39 Ben Bartholomew TE 6-2 250 So. 1L Nashville (Montgomery Bell Academy)
14 Eric Berry DB 5-11 203 Jr. 2L Fairburn, Ga. (Creekside)
86 Willie Bohannon DE 6-2 230 Fr. Sq. Mobile, Ala. (Blount)
54 William Brimfield OT 6-5 346 So. Sq. Norway, S.C. (Hunter-Kinard-Tyler)
94 Wes Brown DT 6-4 257 Sr. 3L Athens, Ala. (Athens)
11 Todd Campbell WR 6-0 186 So. Sq. Nashville (Franklin)
9 Bram Cannon QB/H 6-2 195 Sr. 1L Memphis (Briarcrest)
45 Kevin Cooper FB 6-0 247 Jr. 1L Chattanooga (Baylor)
80 Jeff Cottam TE 6-8 260 Sr. 3L Germantown (Germantown)
53 Morgan Cox DS 6-4 226 Sr. 2L Collierville (Evangelical Christian)
8 Jonathan Crompton QB 6-4 228 Sr. 3L Waynesville, N.C. (Tuscola)
96 Chad Cunningham P/PK 6-3 198 Jr. 2L Dawsonville, Ga. (Dawson County)
19 Chris Donald LB 6-1 224 So. Sq. Huntingdon (Huntingdon)
78 Aaron Douglas OT 6-6 282 Fr. Sq. Maryville (Maryville)
25 Art Evans DB 6-1 173 So. 1L Lakeland, Fla. (Evangel Christian)
38 C.J. Fleming DB 5-10 173 So. Sq. Richmond, Va. (Highland Springs)
90 Steven Fowlkes DE 6-4 229 Fr. Sq. College Park, Ga. (Banneker)
43 Savion Frazier LB 6-2 221 Jr. 2L Woodbridge, Va. (Gar-Field)
6 Derrick Furlow DB 6-1 190 Sr. Sq. Atlanta, Ga. (Crossett [Ark.])
59 Nick Guess DS 6-3 208 So. Sq. Knoxville (Farragut)
87 Quintin Hancock WR 6-3 207 Sr. 2L St. Augustine, Fla. (St. Augustine)
2 Montario Hardesty RB 6-0 215 Sr. 3L New Bern, N.C. (New Bern)
44 Josh Hawkins LB 6-1 223 So. Sq. Loudon (Loudon)
93 Montori Hughes DT 6-4 312 Fr. HS Murfreesboro (Siegel HS)
40 Austin Johnson FB 6-2 234 So. 1L Hickory, N.C. (Hickory)
31 Marsalous Johnson DB 5-9 184 Sr. 3L Smyrna (Smyrna)
4 Gerald Jones WR 6-0 199 Jr. 2L Oklahoma City, Okla. (Millwood)
34 Herman Lathers LB 6-1 213 Fr. Sq. Baton Rouge, La. (Scotlandville)
26 Daniel Lincoln PK 6-0 203 Jr. 2L Ocala, Fla. (Forest)
99 Ben Martin DE 6-3 239 Jr. 2L Cincinnati, Ohio (La Salle)
46 Andre Mathis DE 6-2 280 Sr. 2L Erie, Pa. (Cathedral Prep)
65 Jacques McClendon OG 6-3 324 Sr. 3L Cleveland (The Baylor School)
5 Rico McCoy LB 6-1 220 Sr. 3L Washington, D.C. (St. John's College HS)
50 Josh McNeil C 6-4 280 Sr. 3L Collins, Miss. (Collins)
37 Nigel Mitchell-Thornton LB 6-0 229 Fr. HS Stone Mountain, Ga. (Stephenson HS)
6 Denarius Moore WR 6-1 190 Jr. 2L Tatum, Texas (Tatum)
97 Chase Nelson DT 6-4 292 Jr. Sq. Tulsa, Okla. (Union)
28 Tauren Poole TB 5-10 203 So. 1L Toccoa, Ga. (Stephens County)
77 Cody Pope OG 6-6 288 So. Sq. Julian, Calif. (Cathedral Catholic)
29 Stephaun Raines DB 5-10 179 So. Sq. Dalton, Ga. (Coffeyville [Kan.] CC)
56 Nick Reveiz LB 5-10 220 Jr. 2L Farragut (Farragut)
51 Vladimir Richard OG 6-4 300 Sr. 2L Sunrise, Fla. (Piper)
41 Dennis Rogan DB 5-10 178 Jr. 2L Knoxville (Fulton)
21 Austin Rogers WR 6-2 190 Sr. 3L Nashville (David Lipscomb)
79 Chris Scott OT 6-5 346 Sr. 3L Riverdale, Ga. (Lovejoy)
74 Jarrod Shaw OG 6-4 332 Jr. 1L Lafayette, La. (Northside)
17 Nick Stephens QB 6-4 227 Jr. 1L Flower Mound, Texas (Flower Mound)
88 Luke Stocker TE 6-6 240 Jr. 2L Berea, Ky. (Madison Southern)+
66 Cody Sullins C 6-1 260 Sr. 2L Cottontown (White House)
69 Cory Sullins OL 6-1 270 Sr. 1L Cottontown (White House)
98 Rae Sykes DE 6-2 255 So. JC Alcoa (Alcoa HS/Coffeyville CC)
71 Dallas Thomas OT 6-5 268 Fr. Sq. Baton Rouge, La. (Scotlandville)
52 Victor Thomas DT 6-4 286 Jr. 1L Olive Branch, Miss. (Olive Branch)
42 LaMarcus Thompson LB 6-1 221 Jr. 2L Lithonia, Ga. (Redan HS)
9 Daryl Vereen LB 6-0 213 So. 1L Charlotte, N.C. (North Mecklenburg)
13 Brent Vinson DB 6-0 201 Jr. 2L Hampton, Va. (Hargrave Military)
23 Prentiss Waggner DB 6-2 177 Fr. Sq. Clinton, La. (Clinton)
84 Chris Walker DE 6-3 232 Jr. 2L Memphis (Christian Brothers)
1 Brandon Warren WR 6-2 216 Jr. 1L Alcoa (Florida State Univ.)
22 Rod Wilks DB 6-0 220 Fr. Sq. Smyrna (Smyrna)
55 Dan Williams DT 6-3 327 Sr. 2L Memphis (Memphis East)
57 Gerald Williams DE 6-4 248 Jr. 1L Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. (City Col. of San Fran.)
33 Toney Williams TB 6-0 218 Fr. HS Alpharetta, Ga. (Milton HS)
Volunteer Squad
63 Minor Bowens OL 6-3 293 Jr. Tr. Memphis (Tennessee State Univ.)
20 Geoff Courtney WR/H 6-1 180 Jr. Sq. Knoxville (Farragut)
17 Albert Davies DB 5-10 200 Jr. Tr. Charlotte, N.C., (Middle Tennessee State)
Joshua Davis DT 6-2 275 So. Sq. Wheaton, Ill. (Warrenville South)
23 Sam Edgmon FB 6-1 220 So. Sq. Pulaski (Giles County)
15 Cory Eichholtz DB 5-8 180 Fr. Sq. Knoxville (Bearden)
35 Orion Hall P 6-0 175 Jr. Sq. Knoxville (Univ. of Alabama)
64 Jonny Harrison OL 6-2 235 Sr. Sq. Vienna, Va. (Catholic Univ.)
25 Steven Hensley P 5-10 185 Sr. Sq. Coalfield (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
10 Ethan Ingham PK 6-0 195 Fr. Sq. Portland (Gallatin)
34 C.J. Jackson TB 5-8 195 Fr. Sq. Nashville (Overton)
51 Grant Jessen LB 6-0 210 Fr. Sq. Cordova (St. George's)
37 Jeremy Jester TE 6-3 235 Fr. Sq. Sevierville (Hargrave Military Acad.)
83 Charles Karlosky DL 6-3 220 Jr. Tr. Cookeville (Tennessee Tech)
31 Taka Koyano PK 5-10 210 So. Sq. Maryville (Maryville)
90 Ben Lehning TE 6-0 230 So. Sq. Nashville (David Lipscomb)
52 Brandon Leifheit DS 6-3 261 Fr. Sq. Murfreesboro (Blackman)
48 T.J. Marrs DS 5-10 220 So. Sq. Bluefield, Va. (Graham)
66 Jon Morrison DE 6-2 255 So. Sq. Knoxville (Farragut)
22 Michael Odell WR 6-0 211 So. Sq. Kodiak, Alaska (Kodiak)
45 Shane Reveiz LB 5-11 210 So. Sq. Farragut (Farragut)
47 Chip Rhome P 6-3 200 So. Tr. Christiana (Austin Peay State Univ.)
40 Jake Storey LB 5-11 218 So. Sq. Titusville, Fla. (Astronaut)
86 Matt Wegzyn TE 6-3 230 Fr. Sq. Northville, Mich. (Northville)
10 Tyler Wolf DB 6-0 200 Jr. Sq. Cookeville (Cookeville)
2009 Signees (Will report for fall drills)
Jerod Askew LB 6-1 230 Fr. HS Chesapeake, Va. (Oscar Smith)
Bryce Brown RB 6-0 215 Fr. HS Wichita, Kan. (Wichita East)
Mike Edwards DB 5-10 170 Fr. HS Cleveland, Ohio (Glenville Academic Campus)
Eric Gordon DB 5-10 187 Fr. HS Nashville, Tenn. (Hillsboro)
James Green WR 6-2 190 Fr. HS Tallahassee, Fla. (Leon)
Daniel Hood TE 6-5 260 Fr. HS Kingsport (Knoxville Catholic)
Janzen Jackson DB 6-0 174 Fr. HS Lake Charles, La. (Barbe)
Arthur Jeffery DT 6-4 285 Fr. HS Sarasota, Fla. (Booker)
Greg King LB 6-3 200 Fr. HS Memphis, Tenn. (Melrose)
Darren Myles Jr. DB 6-1 190 Fr. HS Atlanta, Ga. (Carver)
Robert Nelson LB 6-0 205 Fr. HS Stone Mountain, Ga. (Stone Mountian)
David Oku TB 5-10 186 Fr. HS Midwest City, Okla. (Carl Albert)
Nyshier Oliver ATH 5-10 180 Fr. HS Jersey City, N.J. (Saint Peter's)
Kevin Revis OL 6-4 265 Fr. HS Evensville, Tenn. (Rhea County)
Nu'Keese Richardson WR 5-10 165 Fr. HS Pahokee, Fla. (Pahokee)
Zach Rogers WR 6-2 170 Fr. HS Nashville, Tenn. (David Lipscomb)
JerQuari Schofield OL 6-6 315 Fr. HS Aiken, S.C. (South Aiken)
Marsalis Teague ATH 5-10 180 Fr. HS Paris, Tenn. (Henry County)
Marlon Walls LB 6-2 225 Fr. HS Olive Branch, Miss. (Olive Branch/Hargrave Military Academy)
. Seriously though, we have plenty of time. Patience my friends, patience.