Drill fits a ram-tough Nick Reveiz

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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