Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said at the start of the season he thought junior defensive end Parys Haralson had the potential to be a Leonard Little-type of player.

So what does the Vols' head coach think since now that Haralson is tied for the SEC lead with 7½ sacks?

"He is a Leonard Little type of player," Fulmer said with a smile.

No doubt, Haralson has had a heavy hand in deciding games for the 15th-ranked Vols this season. That could prove to be the case again against Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

With the recent resignation of Wildcats' offensive coordinator Ron Hudson, UT doesn't know exactly what to expect from coach Rick Brooks and his staff. & Company.

What the defense does know, however, is that Haralson will be ready to rise to the occasion.

"It just seems like whenever we need a play, Parys steps up and makes it," linebacker Omar Gaither said. "We've come to expect that. Look at the Ole Miss game, the Alabama game and against Vanderbilt."

Haralson played out of his bespectacled head in his return to the Magnolia State. On a night when many UT players struggled, Haralson enjoyed his homecoming, making 10 tackles against the Rebels — including five for loss and two sacks.

Haralson put the Vols on the scoreboard first against upsetminded Alabama the next week, returning a fumble 18 yards for a touchdown. He helped keep UT in the lead with three quarterback hurries.

Against Vanderbilt on Saturday, it was more of the same: Haralson had two sacks and two quarterback hurries that resulted in interceptions. He also forced a fumble, and recovered another fumble.

"It's a mind game out there," said the 250-pound Haralson. "You're figuring out what the tackle is doing, and working to keep him off balance."

Haralson admits that when he first moved from linebacker to defensive end, just a few practices into his arrival at UT, he wasn't aware of all of the technicalities involved at the position.

"You've got to read a lot more than I thought, so you soak in what the coaches tell us about the schemes and offenses," Haralson said. "You're reading the tackle, reading the draw sets and getting a feel of what they're trying to do, whether they're trying to hook you on run to your inside gap."

Most of the time, Haralson is going head-to-head with a 300-pound offensive tackle. But there are a variety of offensive players lined up to get their shots in on him.

"Sometimes a pulling guard will get to you, or sometimes it's a tight end working with the end on a double team," he said. "The tailback will try to cut you, or you'll have a fullback coming right at you."

Haralson is still classified as more of a "speed-rush" end, much like Little and former Vol Will Overstreet. He wouldn't mind adding a few good pounds in the offseason so long as he can keep his explosiveness off the snap.

"Not only is Parys physically tough, but he has the quickest first step I've seen from a defensive lineman," said UT offensive lineman Richie Gandy. "And when you go against him, Parys doesn't stop until he gets to the quarterback. It's the same thing with him every time."

Haralson said the secret to his success and play-making abilities is simple.

"My answer to everything," he said, "is believing in God and working hard."