Bruhin is quick study as All-Star

With just five days to prepare for tonight's 7 o'clock kickoff in the Tennessee-Kentucky All-Star Football Classic at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Bruhin and his teammates up front might have the toughest task of anyone.

"It's different because in high school you've known those guys for two or three years," said Bruhin, a former Powell High School standout and Marshall signee. "Now you get two or three practices and you're like, 'I guess we're going to be playing together.' "

Bruhin will join starters Paul Edwards (Memphis), Darius Myers (Tennessee), Cory Sullins (Tennessee) and Mark Thompson (Middle Tennessee State) on the offensive line. That group has a pair of missions - open some holes for future UT running back Lamarcus Coker and end a three-year losing streak to Kentucky.

At least that's Tennessee coach James Counce's gameplan.

"I think we're more talented than we were last year, especially up front," Counce said. "I feel good about it. We've spent some more time on the practice field than we did last year. I hope that's a plus for us.

"I'm looking for some big things."

He's certainly got some big bodies.

Bruhin, Edwards and Thompson each tips the scales at more than 300 pounds. Each is 6-foot-5 or taller. Myers is the team's biggest player at 6-6, 328 pounds.

Tennessee's front five shouldn't have much trouble opening holes for Coker.

"Give him an inch and he'll take a mile," Counce joked.

Part of the optimism relates to Tennessee's extra time on the practice field. Three-a-days weren't uncommon this week, and that made a difference to one of Bruhin's former teammates, too.

"I'm surprised how well everyone's gotten along," said former Powell standout and Alabama signee Baron Huber, who will start at fullback. "You've got a lot of egos, a lot of different attitudes because everyone's been a star. The team's really gotten together real quick."

And the Tennessee side hopes all those pounds up front will be enough to break a three-game losing streak.

Tennessee leads the all-time series 14-7 but has lost the last three. It hasn't won in Kentucky since 1998.

"First of all, if you play the game of football, you want to win," Huber said. "There's definitely pride on the line. I'm not only playing for my high school, the state of Tennessee, my family but also the University of Alabama. I want to look good, and I want to win."

So does Fulton coach Buck Coatney.

"It's always a pride thing," he said. "We're all competitors. You don't want to lose, period."

Coatney has spent the week working with the defense, led by impressive end Jeremy Johnson and corners Daylan Walker, Marsalous Johnson and Curtis Steele. Coatney might rather see Tennessee's defense lead the way to a win.

"If we can get pressure on the offense, that will dictate the tempo of the game," he said. "But if your offensive line can hold the defensive line up, that's a great asset."

The most important thing, though, is breaking Kentucky's streak, no matter which side of the ball leads the way.

"We've been thinking about it all week," Bruhin said. "I feel real comfortable with the guy next to me, that whole line. We've been working pretty hard this week. We've got talent all over the field."

For Starters: In addition to Bruhin and Huber, Maryville's Cade Thompson (South Carolina) will start at quarterback, and Austin-East's Anthony McAlister (Tennessee) will start at middle linebacker for Tennessee.

Central's Terrence Scott (College of the Canyons), Catholic's Nick McFadden (Carson-Newman), Austin-East's Albert Harris (Carson-Newman), Maryville's Jeff Smith (Tennessee Tech) and Rhett Brooks (Murray State) are listed as backups.

Bluegrass Breakdown: The Kentucky All-Stars have 10 future Wildcats on their roster and 27 total Division I signees, including seven future Louisville players and three Michigan signees.

Tennessee's roster includes 28 Division I signees.

Drew Edwards covers high school sports. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.