Karl trying to convince Fulmer he's ready

TAMPA, Fla. — A day after practicing for the first time since chipping a bone in his right elbow during the SEC championship game, Tennessee linebacker Ryan Karl was back in full pads and participated in a short scrimmage during the Vols’ afternoon workout at the University of Tampa.

That performance will go a long toward determining whether or not Karl can play against Wisconsin on Jan. 1 in the Outback Bowl.

“I was a little bit surprised he didn’t get more done (Wednesday), from what our trainers had told us,” UT coach Phillip Fulmer said before Thursday’s practice.

Karl, who wore a protective brace around his elbow, said he spent most of Wednesday’s practice easing back into the routine.

“I hadn’t really run on land,” Karl said Thursday. “I was doing a whole bunch of elliptical-type stuff. (Wednesday) I was just trying to get my body used to running again. Now it’s just getting back into contact.

“(Wednesday) I felt like I hadn’t been out there in a while. It’s just a day-to-day thing. We’ll see how it goes in practice.”

If Karl performs well, he’ll likely start against the Badgers at strongside linebacker, where he’s started 26 consecutive games.

If Karl can play, middle linebacker Jerod Mayo will move to weakside linebacker to replace Rico McCoy, who is academically ineligible, and Ellix Wilson will start for Mayo at middle linebacker.

If Karl can’t play, Mayo will likely remain in the middle and Wilson and Dorian Davis will start at the outside linebacker positions, Fulmer said.

Neither Wilson nor Davis has started a game at UT.

Wilson said he’s more comfortable at middle linebacker, but he has played some at outside linebacker. Wilson played at strongside linebacker after Karl was injured against LSU.

“It’s more things, more keys you got to read,” Wilson said of the difference between playing middle and outside linebacker. “The (middle linebacker), he’s more downhill. The outside (linebacker), there’s more covering involved.”

Karl often found himself matched up against receivers and tight ends in pass coverage this fall.

That could be a key matchup against the Badgers, whose offense prominently features 6-foot-4 tight end Travis Beckum.

Karl, a senior, just hopes he will be able to play Tuesday.

“I definitely want to play in this game,” Karl said. “I want to go in and finish my UT career in a good way. Being here at the Outback Bowl is a good way to finish it, and I want to definitely put the orange on one more last time.”