Vols may get more exposure

ESPN Gameday scouting Berkeley

By DREW EDWARDS, edwardsd@knews.com

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Tennessee's season-opener in football at California on Sept. 1 will be televised nationally on ABC. Now there's a chance for a little more national exposure.

According to Cal's sports information department, producers from ESPN's College GameDay were recently in town scouting possible locations for the show that weekend.

ESPN hasn't officially announced that the show will broadcast from Berkeley, but it's one of the most attractive games on the national schedule.

Turf Task: The playing surface at Neyland Stadium is getting an upgrade for the fall.

UT's grounds crew has torn up the turf and plans to plant new grass by the end of the month.

The new surface on Shields Watkins Field still will be Bermuda grass, and is expected to be ready for play by UT's home opener on Sept. 8 against Southern Miss.

McNeil On Rimington List: Sophomore center Josh McNeil was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list, given annually to college football's most outstanding center.

McNeil was the only unanimous selection on the coaches' freshman All-SEC team.

The Rimington Trophy is given to the player with the most first-place votes on the four major All-American lists (AFCA, Walter Camp, Sporting News and FWAA). West Virginia's Dan Mozes won the award last year.

Rank And File: Tennessee is ranked 20th nationally by Athlon's preseason magazine and projected to finish third in the SEC East behind Florida and Georgia.

Athlon named Jonathan Hefney a second-team All-American at safety.

Lindy's ranks UT No. 7 nationally and projects the Vols to win the SEC East, ahead of Florida and Georgia.

It also named Hefney a first-team All-American and punter Britton Colquitt a second-team All-American.

Warren Update: Former Alcoa High School standout and Florida State freshman All-America tight end Brandon Warren still intends to transfer to Tennessee and is enrolled at Pellissippi State, his mother said.

Deirdre Warren said her son plans to apply to Tennessee within the next week for fall admission.

Once admitted to Tennessee, the university can file a hardship waiver with the NCAA on Warren's behalf.

Without a waiver, he would not be eligible to play this fall.