Mayo sticking to plan after making move to middle

Mayo

Things have looked a little different for Jerod Mayo this season.

The Tennessee junior's vantage point changed, when he moved from weakside linebacker to the middle.

It really changed after last Saturday's 35-14 victory over Georgia.

"Even though that was game five, it was a little later than I expected, but I feel like things are starting to click for this defense," said Mayo, who led the Vols with 11 tackles last week against the Bulldogs.

Mayo, who was a second-team preseason All-SEC selection, says he's become comfortable with his transition to the middle.

"It's a new position and I had to adjust," he said. "From here on out, I think I'll play up to the level I did last year.

"It took some time, but (defensive coordinator John) Chavis does an excellent job of putting me in positions where I can't fail. I feel like from here on out, I'll have some pretty good games."

Mayo's confidence level has risen, and so has that of his teammates on defense after holding Georgia to 69 yards rushing and just 243 yards of total offense last week.

The biggest factor, says Chavis, is that everyone did their jobs.

"I think our entire defense played well," he said. "The thing you have to realize, and unless you're really into football, you don't understand this: When plays are being made where they should be made, you're not getting the backs in the wide open spaces. Certainly there's room for improvement and we knew that and that's why you go practice it."

Injury Update: Starting left guard Anthony Parker was limited in his only two days of practice this week after suffering a bruised right knee against Georgia.

Parker is expected to play Saturday at Mississippi State, but either Jacques McClendon or Vladimir Richard could step in and play in his absence.

"We expect by the time we get to the game he'll be 100 percent," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Thursday. "Now he's got a lot of snaps under his belt there."

Both McClendon and Richard have played in each of UT's last four games.

Ainge Named Draddy Semifinalist: UT quarterback Erik Ainge was named a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy, which is known as the "Academic Heisman."

UT has had two Draddy winners: Peyton Manning in 1994 and Michael Munoz in 2004.

Ainge is also a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Awards.

Pay-Per-View Team: Former Vol defensive end Will Overstreet will provide color commentary for the pay-per-view broadcast, filling in for Pat Ryan.

On The Radio: The Vol Network's "StadiumCast" frequency at Davis Wade Stadium will be 102.3 on the FM dial.

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.