Strange: Opportunity pounding for new receivers

Oftentimes when opportunity knocks, it’s a polite tap. The neighbor kid selling school-coupon books.

On occasion, though, it’s an urgent pounding. Tennessee football 2007 qualifies as such an occasion.

The Vols have an urgent need for play-making receivers to catch Erik Ainge’s passes. It so happens they also have an especially promising crop of newcomers eager to give it a shot.

Robert Meachem, Jayson Swain and Bret Smith and their 159 combined receptions in 2006 are gone. The returnees — led by Lucas Taylor’s 14 catches — aren’t on any preseason All-SEC checklists.

But the cavalry has arrived and it’s looking sharp. So everything works out fine, right?

Well, maybe.

“I’ve learned this through the years,’’ said UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe. “There’ s a lot of speculation about this group, but to count on ’em is always a mistake as a coach until you put the pads on and play real football.’’

Don’t misunderstand. Cutcliffe is genuinely pumped about the incoming class of receivers. So is head coach Phillip Fulmer and position coach Trooper Taylor.

The most acclaimed are junior-college transfer Kenny O’Neal and true freshmen Brent Vinson, Gerald Jones and Ahmad Paige. Other freshmen who could end up at receiver are Anthony Anderson, Tyler Maples, Art Evans, Todd Campbell and, even Eric Berry (on occasion).

But Cutcliffe’s caution is well placed.

Look at the history of UT football over the past 30 years and it’s a short list of first-year freshmen that made much of an impact.

Kelley Washington was a freak, a 22-year-old veteran of minor-league baseball when he caught 64 balls in 2001. From there, it drops off fast.

Scan down the top 15 players on UT’s career receiving chart and only Swain had more than 10 catches straight out of high school.

Joey Kent: 10 catches in 1993. Marcus Nash: 5 in 1994. Peerless Price: 6 in 1995. And so it goes.

Meachem, Carl Pickens, Thomas Woods, Craig Faulkner, Alvin Harper? Redshirts all.

Wait a second. Willie Gault had to be an impact guy? Nope. Three catches in 1979.

One conclusion to be drawn is Tennessee’s offensive system requires more of its receivers than some other schemes do. Adjusting routes to coverage, for example. It takes time to absorb it all.

“If a good player doesn’t know what to do, he can’t help us,’’ said Trooper Taylor, beginning his second year as receivers coach.

OK, but don’t you tweak the scheme when the need arises? Yes, says Cutcliffe:

“We’ve tried to make things friendly at times with guys in the past at any position.’’

So if a rookie is talented enough to make a difference, find a way to put him in position to do it.

Look what true freshman Earl Bennett did at Vanderbilt in 2005: 79 catches, nine TDs. The last of each beat Tennessee in Neyland Stadium.

A year ago, Percy Harvin came to Florida as the No. 1 receiver prospect in the nation. He caught 34 passes and also rushed 41 times for 428 yards.

Do the Gators win a national championship if Harvin redshirts or is a lowly backup while he learns the ropes? I doubt it.

Taylor says ability will win out over sheer age this fall. He points out that it’s easier for a true freshman to contribute nowadays because they’re allowed a head start in summer workouts.

“I’d say at least three or four of the new guys will impact this football team,’’ Taylor said.

O’Neal is a good bet, thanks to a year of junior college experience. Early reports on Vinson and several others are encouraging.

It won’t be long before the “real football” begins. Only then will the coaches begin to figure out if some of these guys can defy UT’s modest freshman track record.

“I can’t wait to see (Jonathan) Hefney and some of the guys line up and get in their faces and see how they respond,’’ Taylor said.

Opportunity isn’t just knocking. It’s pounding.

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