Login | Member Center | Contact Us | About Us | Site Map | Archive | Alerts/Photos | Subscribe to the paper | knoxnews.com

HomeFootball

Roadrunner Anderson adds dimension to the offense

Beep beep! Score one for Tennessee’s Roadrunner.

Former Austin-East standout Cory Anderson made one of the bigger plays in Tuesday’s practice against preseason All-SEC cornerback Jason Allen.

Anderson, a 270-pound fullback, caught a pass in the open field and put a juke move on Allen, leaving him sprawling.

"We’d been kidding around earlier, and he was saying he was going to run me over and I was saying I was going to bring it to him,’’ Allen said. "So when I came up on him, I was going to hit him full bore. Then, he put a juke move on me. He’s 270 pounds, but he moves like he’s 230.’’

Anderson, who starred for Austin-East’s Roadrunners in basketball and football, appears to have finally found a home at fullback. Last season he played linebacker, defensive end and defensive tackle.

On Monday, safety Corey Campbell tried to put a helmet-to-helmet shot on Anderson, only to go bouncing off him.

Anderson barely broke stride.

"I should have lowered my shoulder,’’ Campbell said solemnly.

Anderson is taking his success in stride.

"I just want to get on the field,’’ Anderson said. "As long as I’m playing, it doesn’t matter where.’’

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said he loves the progress Anderson has made and the dimension he adds to the offense.

"Cory had a great spring and is probably the most pleasant surprise,’’ Fulmer said. "He gives us a physical presence we need and he can catch the ball out of the backfield.

"A 270-pound guy, when he gets his pads turned upfield, that’s not the best thing you’ll see if you’re a cornerback.’’

No doubt, just ask Allen.

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Username:

Password:
(Forgotten your password?)

Comment:

Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.