Vanderbilt Stats
Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt
- When: Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007, 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
When Ryan Karl first arrived on Tennessee's campus in 2003, he was simply trying to get better as a running back.
Five years later, Karl is a linebacker. A pretty good one, at that.
The summer before his senior year at Battle Ground Academy in Nashville, Karl came to Knoxville for UT's annual summer football camp.
"I came up here as a running back," Karl said, "just tried to get some pointers on how to be a running back."
What Tennessee's coaches saw that June and what they'll see Saturday when the 19th-ranked Vols host Vanderbilt for a 2 p.m. kickoff hasn't changed all that much.
Karl, who has played in 45 consecutive games, is still an athlete who's motor is tough to turn off.
During his trip to UT's camp, Karl impressed then-running backs coach Woody McCorvey with his intensity.
McCorvey, in turn, sent Karl to work with the defense, where coordinator John Chavis and defensive backs coach Larry Slade worked the rising senior at safety.
"Got real excited about what we saw in camp," Chavis said. "We knew watching him he didn't mind hitting, he didn't mind the contact. You take a good athlete that will hit and enjoys contact, then they've got a chance to be a good player."
Later that fall, Catholic High School coach Mark Pemberton saw how good Karl was first hand.
Twice.
The Irish defeated BGA in the regular season only to watch Karl rush for 269 yards in a rematch to claim the Division II championship.
"The first time we played them, they didn't give him the ball much and I wondered why," Pemberton said recently. "Second time we played them, they gave him the ball just about every snap and he had a heck of a day against us."
A few days after his camp appearance, Karl got a letter from Tennessee offering him a scholarship.
And it didn't take long for Karl - a lifelong Volunteers fan descended from lifelong Volunteers fans - to bite.
"I had told myself no matter who offered me, it would be Tennessee," Karl said. "But since it was my first offer, I was excited about it. I said, 'Yeah' at the drop of a hat."
The Vols knew they wanted Karl, they just didn't know where.
At first it was safety, but eventually Karl made the transition to strongside linebacker, perhaps the most challenging position in UT's defense.
Difficult because not only is the strongside linebacker responsible for making checks and calls, he also finds himself in pass coverage quite often.
"You look for a guy who's got the skills to go out and cover one-on-one. When we've been at our best, we've had guys out there that could do that, that we didn't have to sub for him," Chavis said. "He's done a tremendous job being that kind of athlete for us."
With a nod to Karl's athletic ability fellow linebacker Jerod Mayo put it a different way.
"He's the brains of the operation," said Mayo, UT's leading tackler this season.
Karl's 2007 season hasn't been the greatest. Or at least off to the greatest start.
After suffering a back injury during offseason workouts, Karl had just 13 tackles in UT's first three games and didn't have a single solo tackle against either Arkansas State or Georgia the next two weeks.
But against South Carolina, he posted a career-high 12 stops and a key-second half interception. He was involved in seven tackles last Saturday against Arkansas.
For the season, he leads the Vols with seven pass break-ups and his 64 tackles rank third on the team behind Mayo and weakside linebacker Rico McCoy.
"It's good to see him get back into a situation where he's healthy," Chavis says. "He missed a lot of time in the fall and you hate to say it, but he didn't play well early. But he's gotten back to the top of his game."
So has Tennessee's defense.
Since allowing 510 yards and 41 points to Alabama last month, Tennessee's defense has helped position the Vols for a spot in the SEC championship game against No. 1 LSU.
"I'm still not where I want to be, but I feel like I'm getting better week to week," Karl says. "It's nice to know I've been able to turn it around. It's nice to know as a team we're in this championship hunt right now."
And, no doubt, to get one of the highest compliments a player can get from UT coach Phillip Fulmer.
"To me, Ryan's one of those ultimate guys," Fulmer said. "A Tennessee guy."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 24
Ironcity writes:
Quite Frankly I am surprized Karl still has his starting job after his early season struggles. Glad to see he is coming around. Lets hope hedoesn't turn his back on anymore ball carriers!
JETnTN writes:
We are lucky to have Ryan on our team representing UT!! Congrats on a great career and let's get to Atlanta and on to the Sugar Bowl!!!
LargeOrange writes:
Ryan Karl doesn't have the natural gifts that a lot of guys have, and thus I don't think you can say he is in the same league with some of the great LBs TN has had in the past, but I love his hustle, fight, spirit and love for hitting. I know a lot of folks on here don't think he should be playing, but now that he is healthy again, I am glad he is on the field now that it is gut check time down the stretch for a potential SEC-E championship.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
He's got heart. I like that.
west_tn_volfan writes:
The guy did struggle early but I think that was hangover from his injury. He doesn't have the ability some have had at UT but he seems to be in the right place at the right time here lately. Thats good football instincts. You can't teach it, a guy either has it or he doesn't. He's been good for UT. He, along with the other seniors, just need to go out in style now.
RangerForSix writes:
Ryan Karl is the emotional leader of our defense. He is an intelligent and ornery football player.
I hope he plays the best game of his career on Saturday!!
Go VOLS!
iowavol writes:
I second that Ranger and will add I hope Karl has his best game ever each of the next three weeks.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Now, you don't suppose we will turn the table on LSU this year??
We have 2 tough games left. Win them, and there we are: LSU going to the BCS champ game with a win over us, and us the spoiler....
remind you of any game??
I always want an SEC team in the title game, and I've always like LSU....except when they play UT.
When the Hell will Mike Slive get us a true NCAA playoff, so games like this don't happne??? Or, if they do happne, at least a team like LSU can get beat yet still go on?
UT had a damn good team back then ('03, I think), and we'd have we'd have given Miami a strong game. We were just worn out from the emotions of the Florida win (Travis Stevens was beat, you could see it). With a playoff, the Vols might've won it all that year.
Wilhelm16 writes:
mparker, it was '01 the florida game was moved to the end of the schedule after being postponed due to 9/11.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Karl, I wish you well. Life is not always pretty! No tackles vs Ga and not the speed to play in the SEC, but you soldiered on! Thanks for the effort and Godspeed. Phil, find us another Al Wilson or his like! This group of lbs has underachieved big time! That said, find a way to beat Vandy! Go Vols!
vol4good#206163 writes:
Karl has always reminded me of what is good about college football. Not the greatest athlete, not the fastest guy, but always works harder than the others. Lunchpail kinda guy. Give me heart and desire over talent anyday. Go Karl and GO VOLS!
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
wilhelm,
yeah, thanks, I was kinda beat when I wrote that.
We had dinner w/some Nebraska fans that night, and they were all down in the fist half, but I could tell UT was not getting it done on offense. They were all happy about Nebraska, and Crouch getting the Heisman....I petty much told them they couldn't man up to Miami. UT would've; Henderson against that big O-tackle was going to be a great battle. Daman it!!!!
I was so upset by the LSU game that I went to the garage and changed a starter on a Toyota Previa van (with one hand, had a broken thumb at the time).
Not exactly Hacksaw Reynolds, but I knew how he felt.
pmillerkw#325516 writes:
Ryan does his best when someone says he can't.
GoVol writes:
Karl's heart, attitude and work ethic got him to where he is today. I must admit though, I often feel that he is too slow and that physical deficency has hurt us in some games. He was burnt for a 25 year pass against ARK in the end zone, but one of the safteys came over to break it up at the last second.
invisiblekid writes:
I think we can chalk up his early season struggles to the back injury. Hindsight always being 20-20, it makes me wonder if he and the Vols would have been better served easing back into action a little more. It doesn't matter at this point though.
I am more than willing to back up AllVol in his statements. I have met Karl on a couple of different occasions and he is as polite and friendly a young man as you'd want to meet. Gotta say that listing him at 6'0 may be a stretch(pun intended) though. If that's the case, then I am about 6'2.
Karl reminds me of Scott Galyon in some ways, one of those in-state guys who may not be the fastest or strongest, but makes up for it through determination, smarts, and a love of the program. Glad to see him as part of the program and hope he gets to wrap up his final season as a champion.
vol88 writes:
Karl is another Dale Jones.
If we had 15 like that on the team, we would be in contention every year.
Go Vols!
gvsvol#209090 writes:
Just because he's a "tennessee guy" doesn't mean he should be starting. Great heart, motor, and attitude i.e. Rudy. Next year will show the truth when #35 Ellix Wilson starts and has a monster breakout year.
GreenbackMike writes:
GVS He does deserve to start, he has been a beast the past few games. He has paid his dues and is a great in my eyes. People just don't think he can play because he is white. He deserves to play.... Great Job Ryan..
I was joking about the being white thing by the way!
kdawg001#591531 writes:
way to go karl. you are the spark plug for the defense. lets win 2 and see what happens in the seccg
IceVol writes:
Karl is a real classy kid. He came by the stands after the MS st game (at Starkville) and thanked the large showing of Tennessee fans for making the trip with all of the MS st fans right there. Don't see that from many.
You folks that are knocking on his talent are obviously not watching the games. Everything i've seen from this kid is well read plays, hard tackles, and he can hang with the best of em in coverage. I saw him miss a tackle in the AK game against McFadden (god forbid)... and no he didn't play well in the first few games but no player is perfect especially after an injury. Hell his numbers are just as good as any linebacker in the SEC. Hes getting the job done, who cares if hes working with less... He plays with all God gave him and that makes him as good as some that are more talented and don't play with that motor.
GO VOLS!!!! Beat Vandy!!!!
Ironcity writes:
I love Karls intensity but I have seen him steamrolled about 1/2 dozen times this year. I have seen average tailbacks just run right threw his tackles. I watched him against Miss St. turn his back on the carrier and actually knock our two guys off the tackle causing the RB to run for a couple of extra yards. That said I will say he has play signifcantly better of late. It maybe that the injury he had was a lot worse then I thought
ellisonfamily writes:
I've seen Karl play well in the last half of the season. Could we call Karl the antithesis to Kelly Washington? I think so. Maybe he'll be involved in the UT program more in the future too.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
vol88, wouldn't quite put ole Karl in Dale Jones category! That was a gamer! Once took handoff from Alabama QB. Slightly quicker and physical than brother Karl! Go Vols!
Ironcity writes:
Kelly is still in the pro's and he played great when his neck wasn't broken. ITs my understanding that no one on the team worked harder in the off season then Washington.He might have been a me first guy but he never gave up on the team and he performed great while on the team. Its amazing to me the hate that people have for Kelly Washington when the man stayed an extra year when he should have gone pro. I have never known a player at UT who broke his neck and still people hate him, believed the injury was fake and were happy he was hurt. That injury has argueably cost him a couple of million dollars and some of you dumb a@%& still have it out for the guy.
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