Mitchell cleared for contact, practices

Tennessee defensive end Xavier Mitchell was cleared for contact and practiced Wednesday, five days after suffering a concussion against California.

The senior said Wednesday that he’s feeling OK.

“We’ll see how that goes,” Mitchell said. “It’s kind of a progression thing. If I don’t have any problems, I feel real good that I’m going to play.”

The Vols (0-1) host Southern Miss Saturday at 7 p.m. (pay-per-view). Mitchell is from Long Beach, Miss.

For Kicks: Junior Britton Colquitt said he plans to punt Saturday. If not, freshman Chad Cunningham will handle punting duties.

“I think that he’s shown improvement,” Colquitt said of Cunningham. “He’s got a little to go, but he’s learning pretty fast.

“Just the fact that he got in the game last week and did some kickoffs is good for him. If ever he has to get out there, I think he’ll do a good job. We just have to work on his speed a little bit.”

Colquitt said the quadriceps muscle injury he suffered in preseason practice didn’t pain him last Saturday, but being afraid that he could suffer a re-injury made him cautious.

“I was holding back,” Colquitt said.

Colquitt, in his first comments since Cal’s DeSean Jackson’s returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown in last Saturday’s loss, said holding back kept him from kicking away from Jackson, as instructed.

“If I had hit it perfect,” Colquitt said, “it would have turned over and gone out of bounds.”

The inactivity in practice last week didn’t help. However, Colquitt made plenty sure to keep the following punts away from Jackson, no matter how ugly or short they were.

Colquitt said he never exchanged words with Jackson, as had been reported elsewhere.

When asked by ABC reporter Lisa Salters if he would kick to Jackson, Colquitt replied, “I kicked to him last year.”

That, Colquitt said, was the extent of the conversation.

“We didn’t jaw,” he said, referring to Jackson. “We might have jawed through that sideline lady.”

As for kickoffs, UT took a long look at walk-on Devin Mathis. The former Chattanooga Baylor kicker was booming kicks Wednesday.

“He was very inconsistent the last couple of days,” said UT coach Phillip Fulmer, adding Mathis was mostly kicking from the 40-yard line instead of the 30.

The inconsistency is expected, since Mathis is overcoming a recent knee injury. So, is he a possibility for Saturday?

“Anybody’s a possibility,” Fulmer said as he turned towards News Sentinel reporter Drew Edwards. “Drew, you’re a possibility.”

Covering Karl: Ryan Karl knows he’ll be a focal point of Saturday’s home opener.

“Their tight end is like a big wide receiver playing tight end,” Karl said, referring to Shawn Nelson of Southern Miss.

Being the strongside linebacker means Karl will usually be lined up across from Nelson, an All-Conference USA tight end.

“Most of the time, that’s my job, is covering the tight end,” Karl said. “I’m sure we’re going to go in a lot of man-to-man this week because they’re a running team. So I’ll probably be on him a lot.

“He’s a great tight end. He has speed and good moves.”

Karl will also have to keep a close eye on Southern Miss tailback Damion Fletcher, who Fulmer compared to UT tailback Arian Foster.

“When you know how to read your blocks like that,” Karl said, “you’re going to be able to get in the holes and find running lanes that you normally wouldn’t be able to find.”

Jilted Jarrod: Senior safety Jarrod Parrish was understandably upset over the events of the past week. First, Parrish didn’t play as well as he had hoped against Cal. Then, he lost his starting job to freshman Eric Berry.

“I’m definitely disappointed,” Parrish said. “I didn’t play as well as I would have liked to in the game. After the first game, not to be starting, that’s just disappointing.”

Parrish still figures to play in UT’s five or six-defensive backs package. And he’s not giving up on reclaiming his position.

“I’m going to play my hardest, come out here and practice and when I get in the games,” Parrish said. “I’m going to play my hardest to get back out there.”

New Coker?: Running backs coach Kurt Roper said he expects sophomore LaMarcus Coker to be the third tailback Saturday, behind Foster and sophomore Montario Hardesty. Coker has been suspended since pre-season camp.

“He’s done a good job,” Roper said. “He’s worked hard. Being away is a problem, just not being in the groove of it”

Roper said Coker is still catching up to the no-huddle offense that the Vols focused on during preseason practice when Coker was suspended.

Fulmer said Coker could return kicks Saturday. Coker led the Vols last year with a 20-yard return average.

Tickets: A limited number of pairs and selected singles remain for Saturday’s game. The $50 tickets can be purchased at utsports.com or call 865-656-1200 or 1-800-332-VOLS.

Other home dates still available are Arkansas State (Sept. 22, $40), H Louisiana-Lafayette (Nov. 3, $40) and Vanderbilt (Nov. 17, $40).

Drew Edwards contributed to this report.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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