Tinsley found a route to receiver

Tinsley’s response: No way.

"I was just so focused on playing running back, I never, never thought I’d be playing receiver," Tinsley said.

A few years later, Tinsley has settled into the position he never thought about playing in high school.

Tinsley is listed No. 2 on Tennessee’s depth chart behind Tony Brown at one receiver spot heading into Sunday’s season opener against UNLV at Neyland Stadium.

"I’m pretty pleased with where I am," Tinsley said. "I learned so much at receiver over the last two years I feel like I’ll be able to go out there and play it the whole game.

"I’m just satisfied with the work I’ve accomplished and I’m ready to go out there and put it all together."

Tinsley moved to wide receiver fulltime last season. As a sophomore, he split time between tailback, slot and wide receiver.

He was the Vols’ third-leading rusher in 2002 with 202 yards and caught 20 passes for 256 yards and five touchdowns.

Last season, Tinsley had seven catches for 68 yards and three touchdowns.

He’s anxious for Sunday’s opener.

"I’m ready to start the season off real early," Tinsley said. "Last year I didn’t get a chance to start off as soon as I wanted to but I ended on a good note. I just want to pick up where I ended."

Tinsley has put his running back days behind him, but he hasn’t forgotten how to run it.

In the 10-6 victory at Miami last season, Tinsley scored the game’s only touchdown on a 2-yard reverse. He had a 28-yard run on a reverse in the 51-43 victory over Alabama. He averaged 11.2 yards on six carries last season.

Once a rushing threat, always a rushing threat.

"Coming out of high school, I was the No. 3 running back in the country," Tinsley said. "I was undersized to a lot of people, to a lot of schools, but I always had it in my heart that I was going to be a running back and that was my natural ability.

"I got to Tennessee and they discovered I was catching the ball really good out of the backfield and I made the transition after my sophomore year."