Mayo shuns compliments, says DL is the difference

Jerod Mayo appreciates compliments. He's just not ready to hear them quite yet.

With an SEC championship at stake, the Tennessee junior middle linebacker isn't focusing on defensive coordinator John Chavis' recent assessment that Mayo is All-American worthy and, maybe, part of the best linebacker trio in Chavis' tenure.

"We haven't had the accomplishments those guys have had," Mayo said Wednesday. "If I get that compliment after I win a championship game, I'll take it to heart."

If the Vols make such a championship run, it will likely be UT's defensive tackles leading the way.

"The improved play of the guys in front of me is what has really showed up these last couple of week and allowed me to run a lot more," Mayo said.

Running more means running less encumbered, as opposing offensive linemen are forced to focus on UT's defensive tackles.

"Nobody's touching me pretty much," Mayo said. "They're letting me run sideline to sideline. That's what a linebacker loves to do."

That wasn't always the case this season with inexperienced tackles. Early this season, Mayo longed to be tackling running backs instead of dealing with offensive linemen.

"They were touching me a lot early," Mayo said with a chuckle.

Senior defensive tackle J.T. Mapu said persistent tutoring by coach Dan Brooks has been the key. And with the criticism that hung on the first half of the season, there's been plenty of motivation.

"He's heard it all," Mapu said of Brooks, "(such as) this is probably the worst group he's had and everything."

Such criticisms are no longer warranted - as long as UT's defensive tackles stay healthy.

Starting junior Demonte' Bolden has a sore toe that has limited him in practice and backup junior Walter Fisher has a sprained right knee.

Both have practiced this week, are expected to play on Saturday at Kentucky and should be close to 100 percent, UT coach Phillip Fulmer said.

But if they're limited, that could hurt an already thin group. Only four - Bolden, Mapu, Fisher and sophomore Dan Williams - have played the lion's share of snaps this season.

Up Front Update: The Vols have allowed only three sacks this season. Offensive line coach Greg Adkins said the "team stat" was a combination of several factors, including play-calling and game planning.

That being said, an always-humble Adkins and his players should receive much of the credit.

"It's probably a little crazy to think you'd have three at this point," Adkins said.

UT is expected to return right offensive guard Jacques McClendon to the first team. McClendon was replaced by Vladimir Richard for much of the second half against Vanderbilt last Saturday.

That's evidently no indictment of Richard's play.

"I thought Vlad played fast," Adkins said. "The more he plays, the better he gets. My confidence gains on him each and every week he's out there."

Richard has even drawn comparisons to some of the most athletic offensive linemen in the Fulmer era, such as Fred Weary and Cosey Coleman.

"He can run. He's physical. And, the great thing about it is he still knows he can get a lot better," Adkins said of Richard. "He doesn't think he's arrived yet. As long as he'll maintain that attitude throughout the rest of his time at Tennessee, he can be really good."

Northern Exposure: UT has only one player on its roster from Kentucky: freshman tight end Luke Stocker.

"I don't really want to be on that team that loses the streak to Kentucky," Stocker said.

UT holds a 22-game winning streak against Kentucky, the longest active streak in the nation.

Condolences: Freshman linebacker LaMarcus Thompson missed practice to attend to a death in his family.