Wilson ready to fit in as a starter

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.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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