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Dave Hooker audio:
- Robert Ayers talks about UT’s defensive line in Wednesday’s scrimmage
- Demonte Bolden talks about UT’s defensive line playing with a chip on their shoulder
- Nick Reveiz talks about his performance in Wednesday’s practice
- Chris Walker talks about running down a tailback 30 yards downfield
- Jonathan Crompton talks about the first day of full contact
Nick Reveiz is a perfect fit for the Tennessee Drill.
Only 5-foot-10, the former Farragut High School star has leverage on his side - an important factor in the one-on-one, test your manhood drill.
A chiseled 225 pounds, Reveiz also has the strength to stand toe-to-toe with many of the players on Tennessee's football roster.
Then, there's that whole toughness thing.
"It's the first opportunity to show what you're made of," the sophomore said of Wednesday's Tennessee Drill at Haslam Field. "I just went in there thinking I'm not going to be denied and I'm going to make my stand and that's what I did."
Making that stand came at the expense of senior fullback Ryan Hill, who got the Reveiz experience head on.
"I know what I'm made of," said Reveiz, who is the son of former UT and NFL kicker Fuad Reveiz. "From day one, how my family has raised me, I try to be a tough person. I don't let tough times break me."
As a walk-on, there have assuredly been plenty of tough times for Reveiz, who has not so quietly climbed UT's depth chart to second-string middle linebacker.
Reveiz has turned enough heads that he's even getting some looks as a standup pass rusher in UT's nickel and dime packages.
All of this came following a day with an auspicious beginning. Reveiz admitted that he started the day sore from four consecutive days of practice and not so sure he wanted make it five in a row.
"I was starting to feel sorry for myself," Reveiz admitted. "I realized, 'Just pick it up and get going.' "
A Long Walk: Chris Walker certainly responds well to criticism.
The defensive end turned in one of the more outstanding plays in a 58-play scrimmage, running down tailback Ja'Kouri Williams 30 yards downfield.
The play, Walker said, was a direct result of defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell's offseason critique that Walker needed to play harder. After watching himself on tape, Walker agreed.
"I took that personal just because I pride myself in playing hard," the sophomore said. "It's just instinct now."
Wednesday's play would have reminded some of his high school days, when Walker played linebacker before moving to defensive end last fall. Now, Walker is backing up Wes Brown at left defensive end.
"I'm a big guy to an extent," Walker said with a smile, "but I still have a little bit of speed in me."
Walker played in all 14 games last season, mostly on special teams, and registered three tackles. Now, he's ready for more.
"This year I decided I was going to help the team out a little bit more and get my self in a position to play a lot," he said.
Walker had some ground to make up in the offseason following knee surgery in April. Now 100-percent, he could prove to be one of the surprise players of camp.
"I've got to keep my motor up," Walker said. "You make more plays playing hard than anything else you can do. If you play hard, a lot of things will come for you."
MIA: Sophomore tight end Brandon Warren missed practice because of an academic commitment.
Redshirt freshman Cody Pope also did not practice. The center/tight end became ill just before practice Tuesday.
Junior defensive end Chase Nelson could be out of action for an extended period of time with an injured knee, according to coach Phillip Fulmer.
Position Switch: Fulmer said freshman Rod Wilks has been moved from receiver to safety.
"Rod has shown he's a very good athlete," Fulmer said. "He's about 220 pounds and it looked like it probably would be difficult for him to get into the top six of the receiving corps, so we moved him to safety to see how he looked.
"He did a really good job from what I saw. He doesn't know much about what he's doing right now but if he can help us in different packages, it will be a plus."
Wilks' brother, junior Marsalous Johnson, plays cornerback for UT.
Turnovers: Quarterbacks Jonathan Crompton and Nick Stephens threw interceptions. Fulmer also said fumbles were an issue.
Drew Edwards contributed to this report.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 60
LargeOrange writes:
You have got to love the attitude of these guys. all about getting better and trying harder. I like it!
LargeOrange writes:
oh yeah first shemerst. Big deal
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Reveiz! BOOM!!!!!!
Silent_Fulmer writes:
who?
LargeOrange writes:
Not going for it, tooo easy.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
He's bigger than McNeil at least
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Hope they knock off that turnover garbage soon.
bobbarbilly writes:
Man!!! When I first saw this article I thought it was about a visit to the dentist.
FWBVol writes:
You expect some turnovers the first day or two in pads, but hopefully they won't become a habit.
Wilks a 220 pound safety is just a couple of loaves of bred shy of playing LB.
Goodvol writes:
It's obvious to me that McNeil has gone a couple of rounds with JerkinlikeHeck's girlfriend. Maybe he isn't as big as you'd like but maybe big enough.
LargeOrange writes:
ah oh, stupidity is about to break out.
LiveFaith writes:
* Hope they knock off that turnover garbage soon. *
Are you talking about the defense? :-)
el_duderino writes:
I'm with IBleedOrange444, the turnovers need to stop. God I hope this offense is ready to go in 3 weeks.
gnm53108 writes:
What IBleed and el_dude said.With a new qb and o-cordinator we are probably going to see some turnovers this year.
Please keep them to a minimum.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Can Fuad's son kick, too? He's liable to be playing a lot--what a dark horse and what a story that the TV throats will have when he crushes Tebow from below! Sounds like Rod Wilks can unload on Tebow from either safety or linebacker. Go Vols! SAVol
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Did Dupree make the All Halls Crossroads team again this year?
I saw him at practice with his nose sticking out the earhole of his helmet.
TurboFan writes:
We needed some depth at Safety. Smart move.
johnnyjackson#206090 writes:
Side question, related to the Reveiz family. Does anyone know how the daughter is doing that was in the accident last year?
alfrizzle097 writes:
Bad Cal team? They were ranked number 2 set to become number 1 mid-way through last season. Their quarterback doesn't get injured, who knows where they end up?
Kosmo: He wasn't good enough to be a receiver? You're a moron. Give some actual critique. Did he have poor route running ability? Hands? What is it that made him too bad to play receiver but good enough to play safety?
VolGraduate writes:
"From day one, how my family has raised me, I try to be a tough person. I don't let tough times break me [but i almost quit b/c i was sore]."
it's hard out there for a pimp...in farragut...
i liked this guy before he opened his dumb mouth
BigMikeUT writes:
Having seen Wilks play in person several times last year, I'm not surprised at all that he's getting moved to safety. Even in high school he seemed a little "thick" for a WR. He often looked out of place because he was one of the biggest guys on the field and he was lining up at free safety and WR. He has the perfect build to be an outstanding safety, especially with his speed.
knoxtenor writes:
Someone forgot to tell Nick that he was too undersized to play college ball. Having seen him blast through an opponent's line, either en route to a first down or to a brutal sacking of an opponent's quarterback in high school, there is little doubt in my mind that Nick wouldn't listen even if you did tell him. Give 'em hell, Nick!
bkgunter writes:
Hook:
His day had an "inauspicious" beginning not an "auspicious" one, which would be positive.
GrnEyedBanditTN writes:
FWBVol... you must not have been doing your homework on big time college safeties. Granted, Rod Wilks is big as a freshman at S, but if the kid can run... it doesn't matter. I played at ETSU in the mid/late 90's and was a big SS. Two of the best game changing Safeties in the 2000's were huge by UT's standards... The late Shawn Taylor (U of Miami and Redskins) and Roy Williams (OU and Cowboys). They were both over 230 in college and All-Americans as well as All-Pro in the NFL. Eric Berry is now 210lbs. Thomas Davis was 220 plus at UGA as well as both safeties that started opposite him (Sean Jones and Greg Blue). LaRon Landry was over 210 while at LSU as well. Let's not forget about my favorite college safety... Mr. Brian Urlacher of my beloved Chicago Bears. He was 240 and played FS at New Mexico!!!!
VolGraduate writes:
urlacher was a safety in college????
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
WOW!!! Volgraduate is dumber than I thought. His football acumen (and knowledge in general) appear to be the equivalent to some cashier at Rocky Top Market high on meth.
rusty_shackleford writes:
jerkinlikeheck is taking a shot at a fellow poster. Some things never change.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
And no one ever does it to me, right? I am amused by your double standards.
alfrizzle097 writes:
Workin: I'll go ahead and justify your comment MORON!! JK ;) Hope I helped.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Al, nobody asked you to justify it. LOL!!!!!
Thanks for the shout out though.
VolGraduate writes:
workin:
funny comment...glad to see you are still giving iq tests via message board comments. it sounds very scientific w/way less beakers and bunson burners
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
volfan5521, you got it right when you said "workin >". At least you acknowledge this fact. Thanks man.
Actually, volgrad, anybody that follows football semi-remotely knows that about Urlacher. That is unless you were born 3 years ago or are just plain dumb. I'll go with the ladder.
Considering you seem to be such a big fan, I'd thought you'd already know this.
VolGraduate writes:
i'm a big fan of urlacher or new mexico state? who said that? urlacher actually played neither linebacker nor safety in college. and what do you mean by "ladder"? I guess you meant "latter."
VolGraduate writes:
my guess is that you are the "ladder"...which is "just plain dumb"
VolGraduate writes:
point for volgraduate, score volgrad 1, workin 0
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
New Mexico State? LOL!!!!!!
VolGraduate writes:
i hereby challenge workin to a knowledge bowl followed by an armwrestling match
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
It's go time.
auttat writes:
workin you can go with a ladder, just not sure if you are needing to get on the roof or put out a fire. I would go with the "latter"
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Looks like tngeoff is going to lose money. auttat, you are late as usual. Nice try though.
GrnEyedBanditTN writes:
The LOBO Back that Urlacher played lined up at the traditional spot like a free safety would in a 3-3-5 or 4-2-5. Urlacher was allowed to run free to the ball whether it was a run or a pass. He made first team All-American Safety of course. That is why he is so great as a Tampa 2 MLB... similar concepts.
cobbwebb writes:
i wanna see the knowledge bowl! lets get it on!
ThurmondEppy writes:
Man, I just can't get over "Jerkin" Like Heck. I don't know the guy but the mental image of jerkin like heck is hilarious.
pammyvol1000 writes:
WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!!!!
longtimefan writes:
Workin, who's Brian Uralicker?
VolGraduate writes:
workin,
what does "plain dumb" mean? are there flavors like bagels?
VolGraduate writes:
i win by default...workin is a no show
VolGraduate writes:
UT Knowledge Bowl Championship Belt:
http://search.msn.com/images/results....
longtimefan writes:
I want my money back!
VolGraduate writes:
too funny...i cant quit laughing
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