Tennessee cornerback Brent Vinson doesn't ask as many questions of Eric Berry these days.
Berry, UT's sophomore strong safety, might be wise beyond his football years, but Vinson's waning requests are undoubtedly a good thing for the Vols' secondary.
Comfortable and healthy for the first time since setting foot on campus last fall as a true freshman, Vinson is ready to carve out a place in Tennessee's deep and talented secondary.
And those lack of questions have a lot to do with it.
"I'm a lot more comfortable," Vinson says. "I know a lot more of the plays."
At times last season, Vinson said he was lost in the secondary.
After starting his UT career at wide receiver, a rash of injuries forced Vinson to take a defensive role. Learning on the fly, Vinson started 10 games last season at cornerback.
But it wasn't without its struggles.
"If you've got an athlete that's really good (but) he doesn't have knowledge of the game or know what he's supposed to do at that position, he's not going to be of any use," Vinson said. "That's what happened to me out there. I don't think I was effective as I could have been because of my knowledge of the game.
"I didn't know exactly what to do. I would be questioning myself during some of the plays, asking Eric, 'What I got here?' Then the ball's snapped. It was hard."
Despite the swift change of position, Vinson finished with 37 tackles, one interception and eight passes defended.
That last total ranks behind only Berry's nine.
What's most impressive, though, is that Vinson played the entire season with a shoulder that could hardly stay in its socket.
The injury, which he dealt with since high school, became downright laughable in spite of the intense pain.
"My shoulder's came out so much, I've actually gotten immune to it after a while," Vinson said. "It would come out, and I'm in my helmet just laughing. I just got used to it after a while."
And Berry, Vinson's roommate, got used to the drill, too.
By the end of the season, Vinson's shoulder would come out of joint simply by rolling over in bed. More than once, Berry helped Vinson put the joint back in place and go back to sleep.
The way Vinson handled the injury left an impression on Berry.
"I don't know, just, I don't know," Berry said. "I wouldn't be able to do it, I don't think. I mean he'd wake up, just the slightest thing like him rolling over would pop his shoulder out. For him to go and play a full game, it just says a lot about his character."
And his ability.
Vinson might have been banged up, but he was good enough to start UT's final 10 games, including the Outback Bowl.
"As long as I had my legs and it wasn't an injury, I could play," Vinson said. "I wasn't going to complain. I couldn't use my arms; I couldn't do hitting drills. Sometimes when a running back came, I had to throw my body out there. I couldn't tackle, I couldn't wrap up. I had to just dive at his feet and get my body up. It all worked out."
It's looking up, too.
After offseason surgery, Vinson said he finally feels healthy. Those 10 starts went a long way toward making him comfortable within UT's defense.
Berry, for one, sees big things ahead for Vinson.
"He's one of those guys that could be great, with Champ Bailey numbers as far as athletic ability," Berry said. "His speed, his vertical leap, all that stuff. He's a freak of an athlete."
He's also one among many at cornerback, which features four players who started games in 2007.
But even stiff competition can't keep Vinson down after the trials of his freshman season.
"I'm more happy than somebody would be mad," Vinson says. "That's why I like the players on this team. We don't even think about stuff like that. We just think about getting better. We could easily be a team like last year, where we didn't have any depth.
"This year, we have more firepower. I believe it's going help us out in the run-up for the SEC championship and move on and help us do better than last year.
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Barbara Dooley and Pat Summitt Go Red…
Tyler Summitt through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 177
AlWilson writes:
All the talent in the world. He just needs to keep learning how to play DB.
OakyVol09 writes:
6 of those 8 pass break ups, the ball hit him right in the hands. That is good and bad. He got himself in positions to make INT, but had trouble catching the ball. I am blaming it on the shoulder. This year, he will be starting soon enough and making those INT's. Things are getting exciting in K-ville. Bring on the Bruins, GO VOLS!!
volroadwarrior writes:
Great story. Showed a lot of guts and character.
1manningfan writes:
maybe thats why he didnt wrap up against hester in SECCG when hester ran straight threw him, this might be a positve thing b/c he wont be afraid of contact and reck havoc for us. WE will see soon enough GO VOLS!!!
mdvol writes:
Good article for someone third string on the depth chart.
1manningfan writes:
he wont be third string very soon, and besides all of our secondary players are going to see some minutes on the field this season. with the exception of Berry and Morley.
volnga writes:
this is another Mr. Pickens on D. Md vol rest holy one for you shall see soon. Vinson played great last year fyi academics is why he is third.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
I stand reproved and am not ashamed to admit it.
I have been critical of last year's secondary, excluding Eric Berry. Though I'm not aware of any injury that Hefney might have dealt with, this makes me think twice before I open my cybermouth.
I can't imagine how painful Vinson's shoulder must have been. If his shoulder was popping out simply by rolling over in bed, I cannot imagine how much pain he had to battle through. This is simply a good example that folks like me don't always know what players are dealing with (although it does make me wonder why the coaches continued to play him if they knew about this, but that's another conversation).
Great work, Brent. Hope this year goes as well as you've hoped and know that I'll be praying for your shoulder to stay healed.
murrayvol writes:
1manningfan @ 9:34: Would you like to rethink that post?
xvolx writes:
hey vinson. dont get comfortable or you will get afflicted.
zbbb10#212690 writes:
i love our attitude. this kid always sounds humble. GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!
vol1994 writes:
yeah and happy feet is the best quarterback of the nfl with a superbowl ring.
mcadams- you make no since. Is your life that bad? I have a few clients who are very good therapists if you want their number.
xvolx writes:
give me vinson over gaines and johnson anyday. the desire is there for both of them, they just dont have the physical tools to handle six foot plus receivers.
TommyJack writes:
Murray: He could be from Bakewell.
xvolx writes:
fulmer said to win a nc he needed a candace parker. looks like he had one in vinson. I have had a separated shoulder. very painful when you try to sleep. this kid has my vote.
murrayvol writes:
TJ: Or Sale Creek.
vol1994 writes:
mcbrim- not trying to slam you chief but when you attack Manning (happy feet) then I must respond.
vol1994 writes:
just letting everyone know that the coaching staff is NOT expecting an announcement regarding warren anytime soon.
UT administration provided more paperwork AGAIN
this past tuesday and it still is a work in progress. Right now if he becomes eligible that would be a bonus but as of now they are preparing like he will NOT be eligible.
What a shame!!
vol1994 writes:
You can't blame the UT losses vs. florida on Manning.
We can agree to disagree all night long but the man is a stud and one of the two best qbs in the nfl with a ring. That is something to be said.
Plus he changed the dynamics of UT football and helped recruiting which brought us the missing ingredients (i.e. defense) for the 98 title.
anyway...........
volunteer_cowboy writes:
McDIM, McDIM, McDIM dont go away mad, just go AWAY!!!!
ATLVOL1 writes:
HES A WARRIOR!
EHSvols23 writes:
This is getting downright stupid regarding Warren, and what is even more frustrating is the complete and utter lack of good reporting by KNS. They write all these exsplosive articles about Fulmer, Hamilton, the coaches screwing up, but here is a case where the SEC and NCAA are wrecking a kid and what do we get...Bits and pieces buried in the wrap up columns..Pathetic..GO VOLS and keep your head up Brandon. They cant keep you off the field forever.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
just talk to gerald williams brandon!
EHSvols23 writes:
To be more precise, take for instance if Coach Fulmer decided to go on vacation, and thus miss out on a recruit who decided to go to Florida, or if Hamilton was too busy working on Neyland Stadium to keep a coach, etc etc..There would 40 articles by Adams and KNS crucifying these guys for simply not doing there jobs. Mike Slive, the SEC and the NCAA need to get there acts together and the KNS staff need to be banging down doors and blowing up phones to find out the real truth behind why UT has sent in dozens and dozens pieces of paper and yet nothing. This at least means there is a paper trail and that trail must have a place where it is coming to a dead stop. I would like to know which desk that is.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
they are to worried about the lawsuit that the QB from cin. filed against the NCAA
EHSvols23 writes:
That may be the NCAA, but what about the SEC!
Bigger_Al writes:
I think that Vinson, with more experience and less concerns about his shoulder, will be intercepting passes instead of breaking them up this year.
Stock up!
volunteer_cowboy writes:
if he has been cleared by the ncaa why would the sec hold anything up? Has he been cleared by the ncaa or is that what the sec is waiting on?
scvolalum writes:
What's with this "happy feet phooey? Just before Peyton was cheated out of the Heisman Trophy, a constituent of mine in Austin TX went on and on about how Manning would end up languishing on the bench while Ryan Leif (remember him?) would be accepting his MVP trophy at the pro bowl. I've never understood the collective mentality of those dumb little weiners who slimed their way into the "I hate Peyton Manning" cult. McDim: Would you like to proclaim that Tebow will ever even come close to Peyton's professional credentials? Make it official. Shoot off your mouth and say he'll live up to "happy feet."
Go Big Orange!
1manningfan writes:
Since some of you have brought up Manning i guess ill comment on a few things(b/c i could talk about him all night). If your a fan of football and your favorite position is qb you cant help but admire Peyton, i dont care what team you root for. The guy loves football and gives 110% everytime he touches the field and off the field for that matter (film room, weight room, etc). In away he reminds me of Michael Jordan IMO, when things dont go right they get pissed, and the reason why is they put so much effort into being perfect at their jobs. Right their alone gets my respect.
Throw out chapionships and all the other phooey and look at it this way, Peyton is the Best PASSER right now in the game and is on track to become the ALL TIME GREATEST PASSING QB. Any coach out there would take Peyton any day of the week hands down and dont denie it Manning Haters you all know it.
Any ways those are just a few thoughts i had, sorry for the long post i just got rolling a little bit when Manning is brought up.
P.S. I am Peyton's #1 fan! GO VOLS!!!!
DennisVols writes:
mcbrim1998
Happy feet as you call him pulled one of the all time greatest bootlegs against bama and walked into the end zone while the complete bama defense and the camera operators all went the other direction.
Back to this article: Vinson has the kind of character that makes the players around him even better. His work ethic, willingness to play through injury (reference an earlier article today about what Fulmer is wanting out of some of these players) doing everything he could to help this team even when he was thrown into the fire without the proper training for that position.That is a team player and it is those types of players championship teams are built around.
No predictions here but the things we are hearing about this team are positive and going into what will be a tough season these are the kind of things you build on for a winning season.
1manningfan writes:
Hey guys go on utsports.com and you can see video of the band at two a days energizing the team, and Berry and co busting out some dance moves. This team really looks like they really connect with each other. Hurry Sept 1.
1manningfan writes:
mcbrim,
curious does the Gators have a free site to post on and new updates all the time like this site. Because i live in Florida and have never heard of one thanks.
kindest regards.
1manningfan writes:
Mcbrim, ok not trying to be an a hole but do you live tenn or is it that you have love hate relationship with tenn. i mean its cool if your on hear i dont care i cant stop you, but alot of people on hear ive noticed get mad at alot of your comments. Why is that? i mean half the post on hear alot times are shooting back off at your post ready to behead you. If your a Gator why arent you on their site posting there, just curious.
kindest regards
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
very good article. Berry sounds like such a bright kid.
To say the things about Vinson, that is impressive as well.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
mcbrim:
how ya doin', sir?? hope the family situations have settled down.
To football: how is the d-line shaping up?? that is the big key I see for UF.
cleVOLand writes:
I have a similar problem with my shoulders. Back in my ballin' days they used to fall out of joint all of the time. I was benched for the homecoming game my senior year of high school after my shoulder popped out of joint in pre-game. I hope his surgery was successful. I remember a play against USCe last fall when Vinson was pursuing Cory Boyd and he raised his arm to make the tackle and I saw the arm just drop to his side- and then Boyd blew on past him. I cannot imagine that this injury did not impact his effectiveness considerably last year.
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
I remember when I first heard about the shoulder. I said, "Wow, we have some amazing players on our team." Eric Berry and Gerald Jones are great and all, but what Vinson did last year summed up the phrase, "I'll give my all for Tennessee." Now let's see what he can do with both arms.
ctownvol writes:
Oldsouth- I'll drink to that. Or maybe I'll just have a drink anyway and that's something I can drink to. Always needin' a reason.
ctownvol writes:
Glad to hear I wasn't the only hetrosexual male over the age of 10 watching gymnastics. U.S.A
gnm53108 writes:
With ya ctownvol.
ctownvol writes:
Ya think we should start a support group of some sort?
txsvol#372416 writes:
Who are you guys trying to kid? You both are watching women's beach volleyball, aren't you? Go Vols! SAVol
ICeeDumPeepul writes:
Quite a few of you morons don't have a clue !!!!
Can't you see that you're playing right into Mcbrim's hand by gettin your panties in a wad over some of his insane comments. That's what he wants you to do !!!! No wonder the rest of the country looks at us as booger eating imbicles. Wouldn't surprise me if he isn't a Vol fan just having fun at your expense.
I'm as big a Vol fan as any of you but I enjoy Mcbrim's stupidity and and the other dude ( gator or whatever ) is a hell of a nice guy and much more intelligent and informed than the vast majority of you folks.
Get a Life.
Go Vols
volunteer_cowboy writes:
McDIM the (WINDYEST RETARD)
KINDEST REGARDS
orangebloodgmc writes:
A great article on Vinson. Our secondary will prey on opposing offenses this year, starting with UCLA, then UAB, then Florida ...
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Good read on AJC.com - sports - T Barnhart - Mr. College Football - don't miss the blog on this.
Free TDTN!
volroadwarrior writes:
Great story. Showed a lot of guts and character.
AllVol writes:
Can you post the link, PD?
BIGEJ writes:
To all:
McDim: Not a UF fan but an Adams mini me; ignore it; GoVols
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