Cottam out 2-3 months

Photo by Saul Young

Brad Cottam at Tuesday's scrimmage.

Two Cottams are better than one. Tennessee can vouch for that.

The Vols are also glad to have a Stocker in stock.

Tennessee’s football team began fall camp planning to use five tight ends in the rotation.

"Now we’re down to three,’’ offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said Wednesday, digesting the news that Brad Cottam is out two to three months because of a wrist injury suffered Tuesday in a scrimmage.

After David Holbert, a converted fullback, suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this month, tight end still seemed to be a strength for the Vols.

Brad Cottam’s injury tweaks that projection — at least for now.

The fifth-year senior underwent surgery Tuesday night on his left wrist. UT announced he’ll be out until late October or even November.

One Cottam’s misfortune is another’s opportunity.

Sophomore Jeff Cottam, Brad’s younger brother and almost physical twin, moves up to join senior Chris Brown as the top two at the position.

Jeff played in every game last year but did not catch a pass.

Luke Stocker, a redshirt freshman, becomes the third man in the rotation.

Quarterback Erik Ainge summed up the squad’s reaction to Brad Cottam’s injury.

"You hate to see it for the team,’’ said Ainge, "but more so for him.

"He’s been battling a lot of stuff all summer, with his knees and hernia surgery, then he was finally getting healthy and playing good. Then something likethis happens.’’

The 6-foot-8, 270-pound Cottam has already redshirted. Head coach Phillip Fulmer said applying for a hardship sixth season is an option to explore if Cottam can’t play until late in the season.

"We’ll go through the process,’’ Fulmer said. "That’s not an easy thing to get accomplished.’’

Brown is the leading returning receiver on the team with 31 catches in 2006. Brad Cottam had 14 receptions last year and was ticketed to be a major part of the offense.

"He’s got exceptional speed,’’ Cutcliffe said. "He can stretch the field as well as anyone I’ve been around at tight end. That’s something that is a little bit of a concern.’’

"Jeff is our most physical (tight end) on the line of scrimmage,’’ said Cutcliffe.

Jeff, who is 6-8, 260, said Wednesday that his brother is disappointed but will still be around, helping the younger tight ends on a daily basis.

"I feel bad for my brother,’’ Jeff said, "it being his senior season and everything, but I guess if I’m faced with an opportunity I’m going to make the best of it while I can.

"I feel like I had a good camp and I think I’m ready to go play and compete with anybody in the SEC.’’

Stocker, at 6-6, 235, is UT’s most versatile tight end in terms of blocking and receiving.

"Catching the ball and running routes, that’s where I was good when I came in,’’ he said. "Blocking is slowly catching up with that.

"Right now I’m pretty even.’’

Cutcliffe said one repercussion from Brad Cottam’s absence is that true freshman Kevin Cooper will probably play before the year is over. He’ll work mostly at fullback, a position that has become interchangeable with tight end in UT’s package.

"We have a very versatile offense as far as personnel groupings,’’ Cutcliffe said. "It’ll open up a couple of other things we intended to look at anyway.

"(But) It’s different when you haven’t played a whole lot to go play 60 plays and play effectively from start to finish. ’’

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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