If a Hollywood studio were casting someone from the SEC to play middle linebacker in a movie, Brandon Spikes of Florida might get the first call.
At 6-foot 3, 245 pounds, he looks the part.
If Spikes is busy, 6-1, 236-pound Jamar Chaney of Mississippi State would be a good Plan B.
Ellix Wilson would be pretty far down the list. That's OK, though. Tennessee's senior says it's the wrong list.
"I don't think it's about size,'' Wilson said. "I think it's about heart and I've got a big heart. I can take on a big guy.''
At 5-10, 225 pounds, Wilson looks more like a strong safety/outside linebacker hybrid at best. That's because he was a safety at Memphis Melrose when he was recruited to UT.
Now he's the starting middle linebacker, ticketed to fill the void left by Jerod Mayo's departure to the New England Patriots.
Going by the scales, Wilson will be UT's lightest middle linebacker since Dominique Stevenson started at 220 pounds 1999-2001.
He'll be the only sub-6-footer in at least the past 15 years except for Kevin Simon (5-11, 235) in 2005.
On the other hand, he's very similar in packaging to another Wilson - Al - the defensive leader of the 1998 national champion defense. He was listed at 6-0, 226.
Over the years, UT has had some big middle linebackers, such as Leonard Little, Marvin Mitchell and Robert Peace.
But defensive coordinator John Chavis also has made good use of lighter, mobile guys like Stevenson, Al Wilson and Tyrone Hines.
"Our whole philosophy,'' said Chavis, "is we're never going to give up speed and quickness for size. You'd like 'em to be 240 pounds, but if they're not, we're not going to sacrifice to get a big who can't run.''
Ellix Wilson is confident he can fit in that mold and be productive - with a little help from his friends.
"You know, it's really about how the four guys in front of me play,'' he said. "If I have four great guys in front of me, then I'm free to roam. I don't get blocked too much.''
He heads into the season with one start under his belt. He made six tackles at middle linebacker in the Outback Bowl win over Wisconsin when Mayo was moved outside to replace academically ineligible Rico McCoy.
"He's tough and he does a good job of understanding schemes and making adjustments,'' said Chavis.
"And he's got that speed that's going to allow him to make a lot of plays.''
Although he's had to wait his turn, Wilson has hardly been idle. He's earned his degree in political science and been a special-teams contributor. He blocked a punt against Georgia last year and returned a short kickoff 17 yards against Florida in 2006.
While he didn't greet the switch from safety to linebacker earlier in his career with unbridled enthusiasm, he learned to roll with it.
"Defense is defense,'' he said. "If you've got it, you've got it.
"It doesn't matter if you're playing safety or defensive end. I've got that defensive mentality so I'll just get out there and play.''
He was always content to leave the offensive mentality to older brother Cedrick, a seven-year NFL receiver, who played at UT 1997-2000.
Some of Tennessee's young players would do well to follow Wilson's example of being adaptable for the betterment of the team. The Vols have a history of moving safeties to linebacker, linebackers to ends, etc.
"I took it and ran with it,'' he said. "And here I am starting at middle linebacker for the University of Tennessee.''
Which he prefers to being in a movie.
Phillip Fulmer through the years
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Tyler Summitt through the years
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Comments » 38
FWBVol writes:
Get it done E! Thanks for a great Volunteer attitude. Best of luck this season in filling the legacy of great UT middle LBs.
bobbarbilly writes:
Mr. Wilson, you are the man!! Git'er done!!
DennisVols writes:
Attitude Adjustment: This young man wants to contribute to the UT Vols in anyway he can. Being compared to Al Wilson is not a bad thing when talking about heart and desire.
3 weeks and one day until "It Football Time In Tennessee"
TopperVol75 writes:
Dale Jones...not too fast, not too big, but the heart of a lion. Remember the INT @ Bama against Shula...nuff said. Give me a Vol with talent and, more importantly, a heart and our coaches will turn them into a winner.
1manningfan writes:
i noticed his ability in blitz schemes and he does a great job at getting pressure on the qb, hope he carrys that into this season. GO VOLS!!!
rabidvol1998 writes:
Ditto Topper.
rockitwithrespect writes:
didnt know that hes cedricks little bro. informative
TopperVol75 writes:
Thanks Rabid...many times stars are judged more important than heart. You cannot judge what is inside a young man and what he will become after 2,3,or 4 years of coaching 'em up. Again, go back to Daryll Dickey leading us to an improbable Sugar Bowl win...where was he rated?
xvolx writes:
if a 5 10 running back can hide behind o line, why cant a 5 10 lb hide behink d line. he will be fine. he does hit hard.
bobbarbilly writes:
Also remember what Daryll Dickey did when we think about UCLA'S 3rd string qb starting against the Vols.
orangebloodgmc writes:
If ya think all good linebackers have to be huge ... does anybody else remember Sam Mills? Not a Vol, but played for the Saints.
FWBVol writes:
bobbarbilly, I hear what you are saying about the UCLA quarterbacks, but the big difference is Dickey was a sixth-year senior having been injured in preseason practice prior to his true freshman year. He then took what we call a gray shirt now. That is he went home and healed. He then redshirted the next year and was in his senior year when Robinson went down.
Dickey was one of the smartest QBs to ever where the Orange, and while UCLA's third-team might be able to bite us in the rear, I doubt if he's nearly as prepared as Dickey was in 1985.
CoverOrange writes:
FWB, the one thing I might disagree with you about is the Georgia Tech game that was the first start for Dickey. Either he wasn't prepared or Majors didn't trust him yet.
TNfaninMS writes:
Anyone heard about McGee yet this morning? Im curious since he is on two different web sites this morning and NOT on ours. What is the deal with him, I thought he was a lock?
leedsvol2007 writes:
There is something to be said for football instinct. Some guys just have a knack for finding the football and making plays.
Wilson appears to be one of those guys. At 225 pounds and 5-10 he is obviously stocky is probably skilled at getting underneath blockers and fighting them off.
As for Daryl Dickey, the Tech game was not his first start that had occured the year before when Robinson was hurt. I forget the team he played against but he completed something like 23 of 26. Even with that experience it took him the 2nd half of the Alabama game and much of the Ga Tech game to settle in and perform. His first pass against Alabama was nearly returned for a TD fortunately the Bama defender dropped the ball. To his credit he quickly discovered what his limitations were and played within them to perfection.
hueypilot writes:
Turbo, my take on Dickey in the Tech game was Majors had the bridle on him real tight. Wouldn't let him throw in obvious passing situations. You will recall he did the same thing to Tony Robinson in the '85 opener against UCLA, not letting him throw on third and long while sitting on a 16 point lead, again sitting on an 8 point lead and a young quarterback named Troy Aikman led UCLA to an unlikely tie with two scores late. For all those that criticize Phillip for shutting down the O with a lead, Johnny was much more conservative, altho to be fair, football was more conservative then.
As for Wilson, 225 and fast is a pretty big package in a 5 10 guy in a sport where speed and leverage play big. Think Zach Thomas.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Good luck, young man. Don't get too close to the d-line at times.
Congrats.
BigOrangeJeff writes:
Gen. Watermelon,
I'm sure ol' Naffy would tell us that Dale Jones was a wasted jersey.
BOJ
SemperVol writes:
He should wear the heralded 27.
LanceR24 writes:
TNfaninMS
Mcgee just committed to Miami
TNfaninMS writes:
MCGEE comitted to Miami. DAMIT
ctownvol writes:
General- You say Dupree can dog paddle one handed? Wouldn't that cause him to go in circles?
Homer writes:
Size won't matter if he has the heart of AL WILSON!!!
waterskier3#226480 writes:
did anyone watch the jets preseason game last night??? did you see how well ainge threw???? oh that's right they played eveyone except ainge..LOL..... now with BF their ainge is gone..
why didn't he play? signed too late? anyone know? just wondering.
TommyJack writes:
waterskier: I think they had important guests in row 1.
invisiblekid writes:
If Wilson comes close to replacing Mayo, I'll be pleased. Obviously, Mayo was a great athlete given his draft position and there hasn't been a LB in recent years to have a run like he did the second half of the season.
Wislon hit on the key point for success:
"You know, it's really about how the four guys in front of me play,'' he said. "If I have four great guys in front of me, then I'm free to roam. I don't get blocked too much.''
If he is constantly taking on FB's and RB's with a full head of steam, it could be a long year.
miamiVOL writes:
his size shouldnt be a problem, as long as he plays 110% every play!!
SmokeDog72 writes:
Hueypilot,
That UCLA game in '85 was crushing. Too conservative. We really let that one slip away.
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
'85 UCLA was a give away, however Aikman was not the QB...he came along much later after he transferred from Oklahoma to UCLA.
Not being critical Huey, just setting the record straight.
Go Vols!
BADGES0413 writes:
Matt Stevens and David Norrie (WHO??) were the UCLA QB in 1985. It was Gaston Green that we could not stop late in that game. I think he had over 100 yards in the 4th QTR alone. 2 TD and made both 2 point conversions, not sure if Green got all 16 points. That game and the tie with GA Tech kept us from being 11 and 1.
I hope Elix can guard someone like Harvin on the quick slant. We will probably see a lot of that this year.
orangebloodgmc writes:
This is a great thread about Wilson; he had a good game for us in the SEC Championship game. Looking forward to his senior season.
Tennessee Vols -- one of very few SEC teams that are 1-0 so far in 2008.
SemperVol writes:
In case everybody forgot....vote for Smokey.
www.mascothalloffame.com
GreenDevilVol writes:
If he didnt ,then thats the only reason you put up 59;THE ONLY REASON.
pammyvol1000 writes:
semperV: got my 10 votes in.. I luv my Smokey!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
ctown-10:41 - not many places around Newton County for dog-paddling, one-handed or not.
Southern end of county has smaller lake, can't even remember. Geezer.
ctownvol writes:
pdhuff- It's just a short drive to Jackson lake or 30 miles out I-20 East to Lake Oconee.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
"Four great guys in front of me, I don't get blocked"?
Son, prepare to be blocked.
A lot.
TJ 10:42 - LOL
ctown -Jackson Lake it was, but my old pontoon boat had a head so I couldn't cruise there. It was about 60 miles roundtrip to Oconee. High dollar $$$$ real estate-Reynolds Plantation, I believe.
ctownvol writes:
You are correct about Reynolds plantation. Very high dollar. Frank Beamer, George o'Leary and Ralph Freidgen all have or had houses there.
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