Willingham in right place with Johnson lost for season

Tennessee was forced to play DeAngelo Willingham. So the cornerback forced a couple of plays of his own.

Willingham forced two key South Carolina fumbles as the Vols beat the Gamecocks 27-24 in overtime Saturday.

Willingham was playing in place of sophomore Marsalous Johnson, who was sidelined because of an unreported torn meniscus in his knee.

"I wasn't interested in giving South Carolina any other advantage on personnel," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said following the game.

Surgery is the likely option, Fulmer said, meaning Johnson would be out for the season.

Coaches hoped Johnson could still play against the Gamecocks as late as Friday night. But the pain was too much for Johnson to endure.

"He showed up," defensive backs coach Larry Slade said of Willingham, a junior college transfer. "He worked hard and played."

Willingham turned in his first big play of the game when he forced a fumble by receiver Freddie Brown, which freshman safety Eric Berry returned to the South Carolina 4, resulting in a touchdown on the ensuing drive.

"He was big-time today," senior free safety Jonathan Hefney said of Willingham. "He had an opportunity to play and he stepped up and made big time plays.

"He wasn't worried about what was going to happen. He just went out there and made his plays and did what he needed to do."

Willingham forced an even more significant fumble late in regulation, stripping tailback Mike Davis at the UT 17 as it appeared Carolina was driving for the potential winning score. Willingham then fell on the ball to give UT's offense yet another second-half chance.

Johnson had started every game at right cornerback this season. Willingham, who also had 10 tackles and a quarterback hurry on Saturday, has played significant snaps in nickel and dime packages this season and started one game, against Arkansas State on Sept. 22.

Johnson is the second starting cornerback UT has lost to injury this season. Senior Antonio Gaines suffered a torn knee ligament against Southern Miss.

The Vols lost two defensive backs before the season even began. Cornerback Roshaun Fellows was dismissed for a violation of team rules and safety Demetrice Morley was dismissed by the university for academic shortcomings.

Morley, who attended the game, is attempting a return to UT by improving his academic standing in junior college.

UT lost what would have likely been another starter this season when Inky Johnson, then a junior, suffered a career ending shoulder injury against Air Force in 2006.

“We’re not going to come at anyone with any excuses,” Slade said.

Welcome Back: Montario Hardesty returned to the field for the first time since the Mississippi State game on Oct. 13. The sophomore tailback entered Saturday's game in the second quarter.

After a week of questions following his absence last Saturday against Alabama and his ensuing absence for UT's practice the next day, Hardesty had two carries for 18 yards, scoring a three-yard touchdown.

On the next UT drive, Hardesty galloped for 15 yards, then limped off the field with an ankle sprain.

Injury Report: Senior offensive tackle Eric Young is thought to be lost for the season with a knee injury, Fulmer said. In his absence, starting right guard Chris Scott moved to left tackle while fellow sophomore Jacques McClendon stepped in at right guard.

Receiver Lucas Taylor said he is 95 percent recovered from a turf toe injury.

"It's feeling a lot better," the junior said.

Taylor said UT's medical staff isn't sure when he'll be completely recovered. Taylor confirmed that the injury has limited his speed and cutting ability.

Media Men: Several Vols had strong retorts for media criticism. Fulmer said his team talked about a cartoon by Dan Proctor in Saturday's News Sentinel in which the Grim Reaper was knocking on Fulmer's front door.

"We had a nice laugh about the Grim Reaper being at our house," Fulmer said.

Fulmer said his team also discussed ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who implied that UT's players were more concerned about the NFL than playing college football.

Slade also had some choice words for the media.

"It's good to see them (UT's defensive backs) put it together despite all the crap," he said. "They don't look at the stuff that's in the media and get down about it."

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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