Failing was no option for UT's Haralson

Not graduating from college, on the other hand, was never an option.

Haralson's mother had told him he had better get a degree, and the Tennessee defensive end obliged at fall commencement Saturday at Thompson-Boiling Arena.

It took just 3 1/2 years to complete a degree in sociology with a concentration on criminal justice.

"Some guys fail out (of school)," Haralson said afterwards at a reception for student-athletes. "That wasn't even an option for me. I knew I couldn't fail out.

"If I did fail out, I wouldn't have been able to go back to (Flora) Mississippi and live with her."

Her, is Haralson's mother, Jennifer Rosell, who was sitting directly across the table in the Letterman's Room. She didn't deny the charge.

"This is a wonderful day for us," Rosell said, "and it's not a day I'm surprised to see. Parys came to school to get a degree.

"I was hard on him because I had expectations. I had expectations, and I still have expectations. He worked hard to live up to them. I'm so proud of him."

Also graduating were defensive back Peter Chang, receiver Jomo Fagan, deep snapper Bill Martin, tight end Justin Reed, tight end Kevin Shipley, linebacker Kevin Simon, kicker James Wilhoit and fullback Robert Williams. Chavis Smith, a guard who played in 2004, also earned his degree.

Wilhoit starts graduate school for sports psychology in January and has another year of eligibility.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer was proud of all the undergraduates.

"It's always pleasing" Fulmer said, "when you come to the part where you're watching them (players) walk across the stage.

"You think back when they started basically as adolescents, and now taking a huge step into manhood, and being much more prepared for what's out there."

Normally, the Vols would be preparing for a bowl game this time of year. Following a 5-6 season, Haralson, Simon and Jason Mitchell, who graduated last spring, are focusing on the NFL draft earlier than expected.

Simon started training in Phoenix last week. He flies back there today, with a degree in psychology, and will live there through March.

"If you are going to be going to school for free," Simon said, "then you need to take advantage of that opportunity and go ahead and graduate.

"I'm very blessed to have this opportunity to be here at the University of Tennessee and graduate with a degree in my hand, and walk out of here head held high, ready to go take on the world."

What's Simon's status for draft?

"Kevin is projected fairly high, you know, as a first-day guy," Fulmer said. "I think that's right There's no question that Kevin can play at that level and that he'll have success with whatever team he goes to."

Mitchell, who has a degree in economics, is working on a political science degree and considering a future that could involve football, or politics. He was there to support his former teammates Saturday.

Mitchell, a linebacker, played most of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

"If I wouldn't have got hurt, I would expect it (the draft) to go real well," Mitchell said. "But with the injury and all, I'm just hoping for the best, looking for somebody to give me a shot to go out there and show my talent.

"Right now, I'm just trying to get myself able to run again. I'm hoping I'll be back to being able to do something for the combine day. If not, oh well, I've been blessed this far."

Mitchell said he does not expect to be drafted.

"Jason was one of those who was just a really outstanding college player," Fulmer said. "Then he had the knee injury that he tried to play with there for quite some time and was limited some.

"If he chooses to do that (NFL), he would have a chance, I think, if he got with the right team. But having that degree puts Jason in a position where that's not the most important thing in the world to him."

In fact, Mitchell said within five years he'll be climbing a corporate ladder somewhere. He hopes to own a business, or two, within 10 years.

"After 10 years you might see me in politics," he said. "I might run for town mayor or something like that. I want to open people's eyes to a lot of things."

Haralson, meanwhile, is expected to be drafted the first day.

"Parys is projected as a first-round guy, maybe early second," Fulmer said. "More than likely he will be at least looked at as a linebacker rather than a defensive end, because of his weight. There's no question he can play that.

"Probably most of the 3-4 teams are looking at him, because they're looking at him as a guy that can rush the passer off the edge and drop and cover."

But should the NFL not work out, Haralson said he'd use his degree to get a job in law enforcement, hopefully with the FBI.

This time next year, though, it's likely he'll be working Sundays, just like his mom had been told the first time she went to see him play as a freshman for Madison Central High.

"My son plays," Rosell recalled telling the man sitting next to her in the stands.

"Which one?" he asked.

"The one on the end," Rosell said, not sure of the positions but pointing to her son.

"We're going to see him on Sundays," the man said.

"Oh yeah?" Rosell responded.