The little fellow caught a basketball in the face. The smile turned to tears.

The big guy in the blue T-shirt knelt down with comforting words, walked him over to the drinking fountain and in a minute everything was OK again.

Brent Vinson, the big guy in the blue T-shirt, remembers what it was like to be the little guy.

"I used to want to play with older guys a lot and most of the time they ignored us,'' Vinson said. "When I finally did play with 'em, it felt good, to show that they care, to be paid attention to.''

Vinson is a freshman cornerback on the University of Tennessee football team. These days, he gets all the attention he needs and then some.

Wednesday was time for UT athletes from all sports to give back some of that attention. They mingled and played games with several hundred campus visitors from Boys & Girls Clubs around Knoxville.

"It's important, this right here,'' said Vinson, "for guys who are older to play around with you and show you something positive.

"I was there in the Boys & Girls Clubs back home (in Hampton, Va.). That kept me out of trouble.''

Xavier Mitchell's UT career is over and he's anxiously awaiting to find out in the next week where he'll get to take a shot at making an NFL team.

He has no clue whatsoever.

"I think I'll have an opportunity, no matter if I get drafted or not, to be in a camp,'' he said. "As long as I get my foot in the door, that's all I can ask.''

Years ago, he got his foot in the door of a Boys & Girls Club in Southern California. That was before he moved to Mississippi and became a football prospect.

"You look back on it and you have a really great time,'' he said. "It's a way of keeping yourself out of trouble.

"These kids will appreciate it more later in life than they do now.''

They appeared to be appreciating it just fine Wednesday, said Mark Levine.

Levine, who played tailback at UT 1995-97, is a director and transportation supervisor with the Boys & Girls Clubs.

"They just enjoy meeting new people,'' Levine said. "They love meeting volunteers at our clubs all the time.

"Their eyes light up when they see new faces.''

Faces including Eric Berry, Wayne Chism and several members of the Lady Vols national championship basketball team - the few remaining ones who haven't already made the quick transition to the WNBA.

"We had our first team meeting since we've been back today,'' said junior Alex Fuller, "and we were kind of lacking. There was like five players in there.''

"It was kind of empty,'' added Sydney Smallbone. "It was weird having the seniors gone.''

Vinson Mending Well: Vinson said his rehab from shoulder surgery is moving along faster than expected.

"It's real strong right now,'' he said, "but they want to keep taking it slow. I'll probably be back by August.''

Even though he was held out of spring practice, he took pride in the accolades heaped on the secondary.

"Those are my guys,'' he said. "I see them work hard every day.

"Last year we had a lot of criticism. It's not like we're trying to prove a point, we're just trying to be the best secondary. It comes with practice. It takes time.''

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.