Strange: UT wants more junior achievement

Photo by Michael Patrick

Tennessee defensive tackle Demonte Bolden keeps the pressure on Georgia's quarterback Joe Tereshinski during last year’s game in Athens. Ga.

A few football players arrive at the University of Tennessee ready to step in and play with the big boys right away.

For others, four or even five years on campus never amounts to much.

The majority fall somewhere in between. With physical development, emotional maturity, coaching and patience a competent SEC player gradually evolves.

“Every one of ’em is different, just like with our kids at home,’’ said Dan Brooks, who coaches UT’s defensive tackles.

“You might think a guy is going to be ready to play and he’s not. That doesn’t make him a bad guy.’’

With the 2007 season fast approaching, the Vols are counting on that evolution process to fill a number of gaps.

Let’s look, for example, at the junior class. A player beginning his junior season is halfway through the development gauntlet.

UT has 14 juniors. Some were redshirted, some not. Only one junior, punter Britton Colquitt, has been a two-year starter.

Guard Anthony Parker and linebacker Jerod Mayo won starting jobs last year as sophomores. Tailback Arian Foster started several games in each of his first two seasons.

That doesn’t mean the other 10 were busts, or, as Brooks said, bad guys.

“You’d like ’em all to come in and be grown men as freshmen,’’ said coach Phillip Fulmer, “but they don’t all do that.’’

Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe shakes his head when he thinks about the hype — and unrealistic expectations — generated by the recruiting process.

“How many of ’em were starters when they were in ninth grade, if they came from big-time high school programs?’’ Cutcliffe asked.

“So why would they think they’re going to step in and dominate at the SEC level? It’s OK to develop as a football player.’’

Happens all the time.

Last year at Tennessee, defensive end Xavier Mitchell went from 11 tackles as a sophomore to 43 as a junior. Antonio Reynolds went from 12 to 37.

Offensive lineman Eric Young went from two starts as a sophomore to 13 as a junior.

Tight end Brad Cottam went from zero catches as a sophomore to 14 as a junior. Chris Brown went from 14 to 31.

One of Cutcliffe’s favorite development illustrations is tailback Jay Graham. Graham rushed for 275 yards as a sophomore in 1994, then 1,438 as a junior in 1995.

A more recent example, sophomore Gerald Riggs rushed for 207 yards in 2003. Junior Gerald Riggs gained 1,207 in 2004.

It happens for receivers, too. Sophomore Robert Meachem caught 29 passes in 2005. Junior Robert Meachem caught 71 passes in 2006.

Who will be the development breakthroughs in 2007?

If you’re making a wish list, put these juniors at the top:

 Demonte Bolden: Patience will finally be rewarded for the highly touted Chattanoogan, who had won a starting job at defensive tackle.

 Ramon Foster: Injuries forced Foster into two starts as a freshman in 2005. Now he’s physically equipped to nail down the right tackle job.

 Lucas Taylor and Josh Briscoe: For these receivers, it’s either step up or get passed up by freshmen.

 Adams Myers-White and Ellix Wilson: Linebacker is a physical position. Quality depth is a must.

 Robert Ayers and Walter Fisher: The way the Vols rotate defensive linemen, the No. 2 guys can be as important as starters.

 Sinclair Cannon and Ja’Kouri Williams: Both are playing new positions and aren’t counted on to start. They can at least be special-teams aces.

“Player development,’’ said Cutcliffe, “is still a really big part of what a good program does.

“We all see guys that early on you wonder whether can they ever help you, but I don’t think you give up on any of them.’’

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.