MEMPHIS - Malcom Rawls always heard that college was supposed to be the best time of his life. But when the East High product arrived at the University of Tennessee in 2005, he could tell immediately that something was wrong.
"I realized early that I didn't really like it," Rawls said. "I was in Knoxville, and I wasn't happy."
One of the top offensive linemen to come out of this area along with Ole Miss' Michael Oher, Rawls knew something had to change. But he also knew that doing what was in his heart - transferring to the University of Memphis - would likely begin a long climb back into the spotlight.
On Saturday, Rawls will complete the journey when he starts for the Tigers at right guard against Ole Miss.
"It's good to come back home and be a part of it," Rawls, now a junior, said. "I get to represent Memphis, and that's a big deal to me."
Much has changed for Rawls since he chose Tennessee over Memphis and a number of other SEC schools three years ago.
Once focused on engineering as his major, he's now studying Spanish. Once a can't-miss prospect, he's now fighting to establish himself as a legitimate college player. But coach Tommy West believes one thing hasn't changed: The talent that was so evident to recruiters from some of the top programs in the country.
"Malcom has a lot of ability, a lot of God-given talent," West said. "The thing that's holding him back right now is a conditioning level. He's got to get his conditioning to a level where he can play at a pace for a period of time. If he does that, he can be an outstanding player. Right now he can play three or four plays as good as anybody, but he gets tired after that."
Memphis, however, will be as patient as possible with Rawls' conditioning because his potential to make an impact is so promising. Listed at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, Rawls fits perfectly into West's desire to get bigger on the offensive line in recent years. But West also wants to play an up-tempo game on offense, which could test Rawls' staying power.
As a backup last season, Rawls was on the field for 56 snaps against Rice as a replacement for the injured Dominik Riley but played sporadically in the other eight games he participated in.
"It's just keeping him fresh. (If he's tired), we'll put somebody else in," West said. "I think mentally he's fine with our system."
Rawls' mental strength has always been one of his biggest attributes. He turned down opportunities in high school to play at prestigious prep schools in the Northeast and was recruited by most of the academically elite Division 1 football powers.
During the recruiting process, in fact, Rawls said his top two choices were Notre Dame and Stanford. But as fate would have it, the coaches at both schools - Tyrone Willingham and Buddy Teevens, respectively - were fired before signing day. So when Rawls settled on Tennessee, it was not based on enthusiasm as much as process of elimination.
"I just never liked Knoxville," he said. "It was a difficult adjustment, not liking the city. Coming out of high school my major was civil engineering, and I jumped right into some difficult classes, physics, calculus and trying to learn the playbook. It was a difficult adjustment."
Rawls commiserated often during his redshirt year with defensive tackle Dan Williams, his friend and former teammate at East, who was also struggling to adjust. While Williams stuck it out at Tennessee and has had a successful career, Rawls decided to come home.
Though it's taken three years to become a Division 1 starter, Rawls said it's been worth the wait.
"I tell people every time I can that I love it here," he said. "I just have to work hard and continue to go over plays, talk to offensive line coach (Rick) Mallory. If you listen to the coaches, they have so much experience they'll prepare you. Everything they ask, I try to do it to the best of my ability. That's the best way to get on the field here."
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Comments » 100
txsvol#372416 writes:
Hope he enjoys playing for Tiger High! SAVol
MrBamSeydu writes:
Well, boo-hoo-hoo!
Let's see, did he not LIKE Knoxville or did he just not cut it at a primetime SEC school? I think maybe a mixture of both would be more truthful there Mr. Rawls.
If it's of any consolation, I completely forgot who you were until I read this article.
utchris writes:
Translation: Could not cut the Mustard
MrBamSeydu writes:
This is nasty (the David Holbert injury picture):
***Warning: This is seriously gnarley as hell
http://yepyep.gibbs12.com/wp-content/...
RockyTopVolFan writes:
Malcolm Rawls, I didn't really like you either, so we are both happy now. Glad you are home in Memphis and I am here in Knoxville.
You probably missed eating Memphis barbecue, but just keep eating it and you can make the line bigger, you may still make it to 400 pounds.
lofton_for_3 writes:
Who ever advised you to take civil engineering while trying to play SEC football is at fault here. I'm sure Knoxville isn't your favorite place in the world, but that is not why you went to Memphis. Own the fact that you could not handle school and UT football. No reason to be ashamed most people cant handle either one much less both. Good luck in your future endeavors
slambob2#228938 writes:
Good luck to Malcomb at Memphis. Everybody's different and you only have one college career.
As for Memphis players coming to UT, we've got a lot to offer, but Atlanta, Birmingham, Lexington and even Charlotte are closer than Memphis, so I understand the barrier. I'm just glad we recruit well out-of-state. It's a testament to the ability of Coach Fulmer.
HilltopperVolPhi608 writes:
Great recruit but we are set at offensive line for the next couple years. Good luck Malcolm in your future endevours. I'm sure you chose the right school for yourself which should be the best factor no matter what. Wish you could have been a Vol.
GreerVol22 writes:
Majoring in Spanish huh? In five years, let me now how that's workin' out for you. My guess is he was lazy and greedy....wanted to start but didn't want to compete for it.
andefromtn#212139 writes:
Why are you guys bashing a 20/21 year old guy? Even the smartest of people have trouble in first year engineering courses much less handling playing football on top of it. Most of you wish you had the brains to major in engineering. UT, as much as I love UT Sports, is not for every kid. There is no call to rake a kid over the coals if they transfer. Perhaps Rawls is taking Spanish because he plans to be a missionary, or he is becoming a teacher. One sign of maturity is admitting you made a mistake and correct it. His maturity level is a lot higher than some who posted comments to this story.
marinevol writes:
It would be nice if this guy would just be honest and admit that he couldn't make it on the football field or in the classroom at UT, so he transferred to Memphis where he has a chance to play and should be able to make passing grades. Instead, he blames the city of Knoxville. Good luck. Knoxville just won't be the same without you.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Wish him well in Memphus. Just be careful after dark and I hope maybe you can spend a contributing life teaching Spanish engineering.
Build a interstate straight thru Overton Park. Glad you got some snaps vs Rice.
marinevol writes:
pd, does Spanish engineering have anything to do with piloting a train in Mexico? I think Malcom thought studying engineering meant he would get to blow the train whistle at railroad crossings.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Not sure mvol, but Big Fletch just told me he had it on good authority that Rawls was a double 1st cuzin to Delle Donne.
leedsvol2007 writes:
I agree with simply wishing him good luck.
College is a difficult adjustment for many students and it is especially true when you are a long way from home.
Personally I'm glad Dan Williams stuck it out.
ladivolfan writes:
Once again, missing information - which East High School? Morristown East? Sullivan East? Memphis East? Austin East? East Nashville? ???????
dburgVol writes:
ladivol-Memphis East High School. Right in the heart of Thugland. I played against Malcolm and Dan Williams in the first round of the playoffs my senior year and Rawls was nothing fancy, but Dan was a beast that we had to run around to get any yardage. The guy didnt like Knoxville, thats fine. Hes one of the few from TN that doesnt. OTOH, if he's looking for trouble, he is in a good place to find it.
JeffBleedsOrange writes:
ladivolfan = owned.
Stick to cooking and cleaning instead of criticizing the KNS.
golfballs03 writes:
he must like getting shot at
SemperVol writes:
Knoxville is God's country.
LazhilUT, I graduated from the Civil Engineering Dept at UT. 'Twas tough indeed.
Here's some calculus for you kid...
The function is your GPA. Taking the limit of your GPA as it approaches zero resembles exponential decay and rapidly approaches a degree in Spanish and a trip to Memphis....
Math does not lie.
chad_t31 writes:
Top recruit. Didn't like knoxville. And did it actually say he was a backup (at Memphis State!!!) last year. Yeah I miss him.
Brama writes:
He's From Memphis & did not like Knoxville, how do you explain that? He should have thought that he went to Heaven when he arrived in knoxville
VolGraduate writes:
I prefer the broadway bum fights in knoxville over the panhandling bums of downtown memphis. also there are more trailers to choose from in knoxville so that's also a plus
richvol writes:
Why is a kid who has been in a D-1 program for 3 years only able to play 4 downs before getting tired? Would out of shape and lack of drive come to mind?
I wish him the best but he never would have made the cut at UT.
el_duderino writes:
I went to grade school with him, he's a good guy I wish him the best.
SemperVol writes:
Wonder if he's kin to legendary Lou Rawls?
ladivolfan writes:
Thank you General and dburg. Mystery solved.
And JBO - Journalism 101 - always tell the who, what, when, where and why. I want to read the articles without being left with unanswered questions. Otherwise, how will I achieve my goal of becoming as knowledgeable about football as I am about basketball? Now, I gotta to go check on thet pan o chicken I got me fryin up.
cjraney writes:
Good luck to the kid. Appears many on here have passed judgment on him. Too bad.
ETNTigerFan writes:
"Rawls' mental strength has always been one of his biggest attributes. He turned down opportunities in high school to play at prestigious prep schools in the Northeast and was recruited by most of the academically elite Division 1 football powers.
During the recruiting process, in fact, Rawls said his top two choices were Notre Dame and Stanford."
I don't think it was his brains that made him want to transfer. The kid is almost 400 miles from home. He's not the first person to get homesick away at college or to dislike Knoxville. I wish the kid luck especially since he decided to transfer to the Tigers. Malcolm, if you are reading this, Ignore the few sour posters here. Do what's best for YOU and GO TIGERS!!! Beat Ole Miss!!!
TNfaninMS writes:
IM4CHEATERS - Yeah, its throwing up tons of red flags because some chump could not cut it on the football field. We must have something wrong, we must be paying players. Wait, only BAMER pays players out of Memphis, right?
spvol writes:
Maybe they could have played recordings of sirens and gunshots to make him feel at home in K'town.
justbware#205283 writes:
Glad to have Malcom in a Tiger Blue uniform. He will be needed! Now if he could only single-handedly beat Ole Miss for us.
GoVol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
ETNTigerFan writes:
Real classy GoVol suggesting this young man is in a gang, real classy.
jhmclain#224991 writes:
SemperVol - When did you gratuate with the degree in Civil? I was released/pardoned in '77.
murrayvol writes:
Knoxville's not for everyone. So be it.
VolnDothan: I like Ruth's Chris but wouldn't want to eat there every day. Waffle House, now that's a different story. :)
MrKiffin writes:
Please stop with all the stereo types! It's not a good look, to say this person is that, just because they are from Memphis is not good. This guy was in bad shape in Knoxvegas and after reading this article he must still be in bad shape. Which must be why he is not in K-town. However everyone from Memphis is not a thug. He simply couldn't handle what we have to offer at UT and being average is what he wants to be.
GoVol writes:
ETN - the word classy doesn't belong in the same sentence with any Memphis sports team. We all know that West and Callapari run the dirtiest progams around. Funny thing is, even though they cheat and are dirty...they still cannot win!
mike#208050 writes:
GoVol... Calipari can't win? He has coached two, not one, non-BCS schools to the final four. When have the Vols (men team now) ever made it to the final four?
And you can't even spell Calipari!
btw... Tommy West is one of your own, a Vol tightend from the 70's.
All this Memphis bashing is costing you athletes, keep it up.
TIGRFAN in knoxville
cjraney writes:
From Vol fan to Vol fan: you are showing your azz.
stlvol writes:
So everyone from Memphis is a thug? And everyone from Knoxville is a moonshine drinking hillbilly in overalls. When you have a simple mind its easier to stereotype that way.
Just a reminder for East Tennessee Vol fans - Memphis is closer geographically to Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama, Arkansas and Vanderbilt within the SEC than it is to Tennessee. There are a lot of split loyalties within the city. But there are plenty of diehard Vol fans as well. Tennessee has grabbed a lot of good talent from Memphis over the years.
wagee12 writes:
It has been alledged that Rawls went to Foolmurr during his red-shirt year and asked for additional study time and tutoring at which time it is alledged that Foolmurr told him that he was not there to become an engineer, but was there to play football. It's awful easy to go ballistic redneck and bash a kid who is happy to be home, making his grades and preparing to play college football. Volunteers every where should be so very proud of these posted comments above. What a truly classless bunch of nonsense.
ETNTigerFan writes:
Nice comeback GoVol. Would you like to defend your statement about Mr. Rawls being in a gang or shift your ignorance to talking about basketball?
Can't win? Most wins in season by any team. 2 elite 8s, and a national championship game in the past 3 years. Yeah, we can't win.
The sad thing is that if I said something like you said above, I would be embarrassed and ashamed. You don't seem to be. Please define your definition of "class". Keep reinforcing that ignorant redneck sterotype (my apologies to all decent TN fans. I know and am friends with plenty of them.)
SemperVol writes:
jhmclain 12:16-
Just last year. Burdette and Chatterjee are hanging in there like a rusy fish hooks, too. I'm willing to bet you had at least one of them for a class?
overatedvols writes:
All the Memphis bashing going on here. What a shame and i'm even a big fan of Vol football.
I like Vol football but I can certainly see his point in returning to Memphis. Knoxville, doesn't compare. Besides I'm sure he'd rather live in a dorm than in a trailer park. It's a shame he wasn't able to save enough money to buy him a pickup with a gun rack. I'm sure he would he wouldn't have felt so out of place. VolInDothan, would that be dothan as in Alabama?? And you make fun of Memphis? Isn't that akin to the pot calling the kettle black. Tell Forest Gump hello. Hee haw...
Vol13 writes:
What a hypocritical bunch this is.
The real irony here is that Rawls is a kid who wanted it to work out academically and athletically. It didn't, so he left. And now he's Benedict Arnold, dumb, fat, can't cut it, etc. according to the Einsteins over here.
Meanwhile, Gerald Williams couldn't fill in the blank to make this a word: d_g. After 4 years, he still is not fully eligible to play football and there is no doubt that he is not at UT to earn a degree.
But the whole bunch of you would be at UT with drinking straws right now, slurping up Williams' bathwater if that's what it took to get him eligible for the UCLA game.
SemperVol writes:
-Vol13 3:00-
From what the sources say, Gerald Williams has done everything in his power to get dressed up.
Fulmer has suspended multiple athletes in his day. He understands the academia part of college football. Don't censure G. Williams.
If Williams was half as lucky as Rawls he would have been busting skulls against Memphis in 2006. Good Riddance, Mr. Rawls.
-overatedvols 2:29-
"Knoxville doesn't compare".....surely you jest.
cdldoc#211897 writes:
Man, I love these stories about Tiger High, or maybe not. Actually, who wants to read about players that are working their tails off to stay at UT today when they can read this stuff? Everyone!
jasonn1970 writes:
According to the article (with reguards to how many snaps he can play) he evidently isn't the hardest worker out there. Maybe that had something to do with his not liking Knoxville?
tigerman writes:
I think the stereotyping of all Memphis kids as "thugs" is pretty classless and erroneous. If he was planning to major in engineering, you can bet he had some brains to begin with or his advisers would never have approved that course of study. Adjusting to a smaller city can be hard. So what if he didn't like Knoxville? Why do some of you take it so personally? Perhaps he didn't like it here because he found people to be small-minded and bigoted. Imagine that. I agree with what someone else posted, why bash a 20-year-old?
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