Hooker: Rogan's success breaks myth of local players

Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer knows he can’t make all recruiting fans happy.

For at least a decade, fans criticized Fulmer for not recruiting enough local players.

“Why,” they asked, “would you travel two time zones to take a player who’s right in you backyard? Don’t you know the local guys will play harder for you? C’mon coach!”

Fulmer showed he’s plenty willing to take Tennessee talent last season, signing 10 in-state players and five from the Knoxville area.

Still, there were plenty of critics.

“Is he really good enough to be a Vol?” they asked, “You’ve given all our scholarships to local players. And there’s a really great player interested in being a Vol. C’mon coach, he’s just two time zones away!”

Obviously, there’s no guarantee that a local player will play any harder for their hometown team than a player from elsewhere. However, it does make sense that players who grew up following UT football would be more committed to the program.

Having this discussion with a fellow journalist, he exclaimed, “That’s unfair. How about Peyton Manning?”

Fair point. Manning is more orange than a traffic cone, so orange that it’s easy to forget he’s from Louisiana not Tennessee.

However, a roster is not made up of 85 Peyton Mannings. And there’s no question that any roster needs some hometown influence for the overall betterment of team chemistry.

Need an example?

Al Wilson.

One of Fulmer’s greatest strengths is his ability to assimilate players from any background into the program. Within weeks of arriving on campus, players are taught UT’s most time-honored traditions.

No matter where the hometown, Hawaii to Germany, most are quickly converted.

UT signed five local prospects in 2007 and it certainly seems, based off early reports, that they will be a solid segment of the highly rated class.

No one knows where Dennis Rogan would be on UT’s depth chart had he been able to participate in summer workouts. But with academic clearance behind him, the former Fulton star enrolled in August, just in time for fall camp.

Considering the short time frame, Rogan’s performance has been nothing short of spectacular.

“He’s tough,” Fulmer said of Rogan, who’s been playing cornerback and safety. “Nothing bothers him. I’m excited about Rogan’s future here.”

Fulmer and staff were surely worried about what kind of shape Rogan would be in when he arrived on campus in August. Such concerns were quickly put to rest when Fulmer saw the lean, yet muscular 5-foot-10, 182 pounder.

“He said, ‘Coach, I never get tired,’ ” Fulmer said. “I’m beginning to believe him. He’s the same at the end of practice as he is at the beginning of practice. He’s an amazing young man. He really is.”

Defensive backs coach Larry Slade said Rogan is in UT’s immediate plans.

“We’re catching him up, playing him some at strong safety,” Slade said. “He’ll play. What he plays on defense, I’m not sure. But we’re going to bring him along because he’s a tremendous athlete, very gifted guy and he’ll play somewhere this year.”

Big plays seem to be Rogan’s hallmark. He hauled in a deep, over-the-shoulder interception in UT’s Aug. 21 scrimmage, then returned the ball 41 yards.

“He’s a ballplayer,” Slade said. “He’s had two or three caused fumbles. He’s had interceptions. He can run kicks back. He’s an exceptional athlete.”

Slade said Rogan, who also figures to factor heavily in the return game, has exceeded recruiting expectations.

“He’s exciting with the ball in his hands,” Slade said. “He’ll go up and get the football.”

UT’s coaches have also seen flashes from Josh Hawkins. The former Loudon star is running third among freshmen tailbacks, behind Lennon Creer and Daryl Vereen. But there is certainly enough athletic ability to believe Hawkins will contribute.

A move to linebacker still wouldn’t be a huge surprise. If Hawkins wants to stay at tailback, he’ll need to improve his ball handling.

Former Austin-East star Anthony Anderson showed up like most expected, quick and little. He’s listed at a generous 6-foot, 175 pounds. In his first year, he’ll benefit as much from the weight room as the practice field.

“He has some ability,” Slade said. “He’s going to be a good football player around here. He’s got good hips and good feet.”

Former Maryville star Tyler Maples wasn’t comfortable at safety so coaches moved him back to receiver. Maples could make the travel squad to Cal and seems to have found his long-term future at wideout.

The Vols also signed Alcoa defensive end Rae Sykes in 2007. Sykes is attending Coffeyville (Kans.) Community College because of academic shortcomings. Sykes was the highest rated of UT’s local signees.

Commitment Watch: Expect Preston Bailey from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville to commit to UT soon. The 6-5, 315-pound offensive lineman is the News Sentinel’s fifth best prospect in Tennessee.

Dave Hooker covers recrcuiting. He may be reached at hookerd@knews.com.