Anderson finally finds spot at UT

Anderson, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound sophomore, gained 14 and 8 yards on the two plays.

It was reminiscent of his days at Austin-East High School when Anderson played fullback and tight end.

"I already knew I could do it," said the converted defensive end. "Most of the people that had seen me play in high school knew I could run. I guess all the other Tennessee fans didn't know I could run like that."

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer might start using Anderson as a battering ram.

"I want to be able to leave him in the one-back set some and give him the ball," Fulmer said. "He'd be fun to watch bruise up the defense. He's a big guy."

Fulmer was also impressed with Anderson's blocking in the season opener.

"UNLV had a couple of 250-pound linebackers, and he held his own," Fulmer said. "I was very pleased with the way Cory blocked."

Not bad for a guy who only played one year of high school football.

His sport of choice was basketball at Austin-East. Anderson, a power forward, went out for football his senior year and played fullback, tight end and linebacker.

He rushed for 192 yards his senior year and caught four passes for 29 yards. His only touchdown catch came when he lined up at wide receiver.

He averaged more than 13 points as a senior in basketball.

"I wasn't really into football," he said. "I was into basketball. I wasn't really a football fan."

Fulmer brought Anderson to the team as a walk-on defensive player and had him at defensive end until last spring. The move to fullback was prompted in large part by fullback William Revill's decision to leave the team.

Redshirted in 2002, Anderson was awarded a scholarship before last season, and played in six games as a defensive end. He has made a smooth transition to fullback.

"I always imagined myself playing but I didn't know (what position) I'd end up at," Anderson said. "I definitely didn't think I'd be a fullback. I thought I'd stay at D-end. It's a big surprise for me to be over there."

Anderson said he battled a case of nerves before the season opener.

Friends and family were among the 108,625 fans at Neyland Stadium. Others watched on national television.

"Once I got out there, it just felt like I was back in high school playing," Anderson said. "It just felt good to me. I was doing everything all right. It felt good once I got out there."

And he looked pretty good running with the football. Just like high school.