Inside the Linebackers
Position coach
- John Chavis
Projected depth chart
- WLB: Rico McCoy (Savion Frazier)
- MLB: Ellix Wilson (Nick Reveiz, Chris Donald)
- SLB: Nevin McKenzie or Adam Myers-White
Watch out for
- McKenzie, a converted safety who is likely to win the starting strongside job with his athleticism.
Key stat
- The Vols must find a way to replace the versatile Mayo, who led the SEC with 140 tackles and was second on the team with 8.5 tackles for loss.
Series
- Wednesday: Defensive line
- Thursday: Offensive line
- Friday: Running backs
- Today: Linebackers
- Sunday: Quarterbacks
In terms of starting experience, Tennessee's linebackers are the least seasoned on defense heading into fall camp.
Only junior weakside linebacker Rico McCoy returns with more than one career start, leaving the Vols to replace two-year starter Ryan Karl and All-SEC middle linebacker Jerod Mayo, another two-year starter and first-round draft pick of the New England Patriots.
Despite the losses, though, Tennessee has a solid group in place. And it all starts with McCoy.
"Second-team All-SEC last year, and you wonder where he could get better," said defensive coordinator and linebackers coach John Chavis. "He got better (in spring practice) from a pass-coverage standpoint and the disciplines and techniques."
That's a scary proposition considering McCoy, who finished second on the team with 106 tackles last season.
While McCoy is unquestionably the star, senior Ellix Wilson figures to make the transition into the starting lineup with ease. Making his first career start in the Outback Bowl, Wilson recorded six tackles, third-best behind Mayo and safety Jonathan Hefney.
As a fifth-year senior and frequent substitute player, Wilson knows Tennessee's system. Behind Wilson is former Farragut High School standout Nick Reveiz, a special teams ace who has impressed coaches with his work ethic.
At strongside linebacker, typically a position responsible for making play calls and adjustments, Adam Myers-White and Nevin McKenzie will battle for the starting position.
McKenzie, a converted safety in his second season with the Vols after transferring from junior college, has the edge because of his athletic ability. But a minor knee injury early in spring practice effectively ended his on-field time with the Vols until fall camp.
Myers-White, another senior, has seen limited playing time during his career.
"I think we've got some good competition at the (strongside) linebacker position," Chavis said following spring practice. "Right now, the four I would mention would be Rico, Adam Myers-White, Nevin McKenzie and Ellix Wilson."
Those aren't the only players who could contribute at linebacker, though.
Sophomores LaMarcus Thompson and Savion Frazier have earned praise from Chavis and both should see action this fall aside from special teams.
Thompson could move to middle linebacker after spending spring working outside, while Frazier appears to be a playmaker in waiting.
And despite the lack of proven players, McCoy is confident in his teammates' ability to be productive this fall.
"I have no doubts in my mind about the linebacker spot," McCoy said. "Ellix Wilson has been here (five) years now. I've seen him play in practice, and when he got in games he made plays. Nevin McKenzie, Adam Myers-White, come on. We've got guys that can play. I'm not worried about it all."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 127
bobbarbilly writes:
It ain't bragging if you can do it guys.
mikes70gto writes:
Dont forget about Gerald Williams and Chris Donald.I still have a gut feeling that these two will eventually be in the starting rotation.
newtonrail writes:
Assuming Gerald Williams really gets there, he will be a DE, and Donald may end up there.
Volomatic writes:
With what we have in place on defense I don't expect to see the score that high for the oppenents this year like last. They may be holding back how they truely feel about the players. They could be better or they could be worse. But to here hear McCoy talk like that gives me more assurance about what we have.
shane6#638715 writes:
What's up General?
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
rico is another hitter.
in Chavis' scheme, depth is a huge thing. I think it helps the team, as kids knwo they'll play if they produce.
bluetickhound writes:
I couldn't agree more. We will be fine at LB, we always have been. McCoy will be the next great one, and the other guys will capitalize off of the focus placed on blocking him. Now... about that DL...
dfreeman writes:
linebacker hasn't been a question for us in a LONG LONG LONG time!! I like the updates by position, this is good!!
bcbobcat82 writes:
I am still waiting on another #27 AL WILSON!!! He was and is a BEAST!! What an intimidating dude!
BSweet writes:
Love him or hate him as a DC, Chief has always coached the LBs up. That said, he has a tough job ahead of him this year. The only proven is Rico. I hope the other guys step up and get hungry. Our perceived lack of depth up front means this unit may see loads of extra action. I hope some of the younger guys on the D-line step up and surprise us too.
txsvol#372416 writes:
bcbobcat82: #27 was a one in a lifetime player for us. The closest you'll see was #7 last year. But we'll be very strong @ LB in 2008, and with Rico playing well, and anchoring our defense, he should make some All-America teams for LINEBACKER UNIVERSITY. Go Vols! SAVol
vol98champ writes:
newtonrail, finally someone who seems to know something. I agree on Williams. Little couldn't play linebacker, but he sure could play DE. Maybe Donald is the same.
orangebloodgmc writes:
I agree with Mikestogo, looking forward to seeing Donald and G.Williams in the mix.
gatorinknox writes:
Hey, DaddyVol we have a run game this year so he15man will not have to run so much. With out Mayo and no DL it could ugly for you guys in the SEC this year. After what the vols did to UG there gonna be looking for some payback.
Ironcity writes:
People seem to be selling Wilson short. Every time he blitzed last year he got right in. I thought he had impeccable timing and great instincts on the blitz. reminded me of a MLB from our championship team also named Wilson. I have to agree with nafslov, If we can't replace Karl with someone better, then were in trouble
beachvol1 writes:
Apprears that this is probably one of the thinner linebacking group that we hae had in some time on experience, and to this date, I don't undertand Chris Donald..fantastic coming out of Huntingdon High School, but has completely been a bust...I mean a guy with size and speed..never was in any trouble in High School and well respected by his peers..I hope he changes his attitude before it is too late, as he can help this team at LB...I can see the need for the Vols to go after more LB's...how about that kid at Hawaii??? Looks pretty solid on flm...follow Uncle Mapu and make the flight....
Richmondvol writes:
You guys should take it easy on Donald. He red shirted last year so this will technically be his Freshman year. It takes some kids longer to adjust to everything that comes with College, and not just on the football field. I am confident we will see great things fomr him but it will probably be next year or even the year after when he is a Junior and Senior.
Need_2_Know writes:
nafslov, I have to take issue with your assertion that Karl was a wasted jersey. He was admittedly not the most athletic LB we've had, but he gave his all and made a lot of big hits. And, in the spirit of a true Vol, he played hurt several times and didn't have much drop off. I'd have him back for this year in a heartbeat if he had any eligibility remaining.
TommyJack writes:
nafslov is wasted bandwidth.
budd#207344 writes:
Tommy Jack, truer words never spoken. Ryan played with heart and worked to get where he was.ANYONE who calls a VOL player a wasted jersey is a wasted a**hole
CoverOrange writes:
Have any of you ever given any thought as to why Fulmer would have and play "favorites"? Maybe because they listen and follow directions. Maybe they work harder on the practice field and weight room. Maybe they don't act like they know everything. Many kids were superstars on their HS teams and need their heads adjusted when getting to college. Ryan Karl may have had many shortcomings athletically but he excelled in heart, effort and game study. That is what any good coach wants out of all his players. Not a chocolate eclair on his desk every morning.
budd#207344 writes:
Why TurboFan! Play players who work hard, learn their assignments and play as team players as opposed to reading their high school sports transcripts. What a novel idea!!
Fear_The_Kiffin writes:
Have to agree with nafslov. Ryan Karl was and always will be a wasted jersey. But phil had to give the rednecks at least one white boy to cheer for on defense. That was all politics, everybody knew Karl shouldn't have been starting. He was nowhere near UT starting linebacker potential. Just Phil playing favorites again thats all that was. Had to give the good ole boys a good ole boy to cheer for nothing more nothing less. He was the dane bradshaw of the team. Who cares if you have heart give me atheleticism and speed anyday over a no talent white boy with heart. Get real out there in Vol land and if i hear one more Tee Martin hater on here when Payton went 0-4 against florida and didn't bring any championships to Knoxville the Quarterblack did that so please get off payton's sack and give tee martin his due. Never would have had a championship without him Payton couldn't do it, he couldn't even beat memphis lol. Bow down the superior black athelete. Oh yeah almost forgot don't forget to vote people OBAMA 08. Cant wait to go to D.C for the inauguration time to make history baby. And don't worry i know some of you are so ignorant your going to vote for George Bush Jr. aka John Mccain and continue the war that has you all whining at the pump due to the pointless war in Irag that your votes for George Bush allowed to happen so don't look so surprised as to why gas is $4 and why there are no jobs and the economy is messed up when you are to blame and your about to do it again if you vote for Mccain dummies wake up out there people. Please if you didn't graduate from college at least do not respond to my comment i do not talk with uneducated Bush voters that think Ryan Karl is going pro. lol
longtimefan writes:
DRIBBLE!
budd#207344 writes:
Hey mikesean865, why don't you learn to make it rhyme like Jessie does so at least the phooey you write is interesting. Your point about Tee is exactly what I was talking about. A player who works hard and learns his assignments and plays with the team.
TommyJack writes:
mikesean sounds like a mouth breather.
middleTNvol writes:
Mikesean why don't u save ur politics for the political boards... As I remember Tee had some help in 98.there were a few other players on the field and lay off PEYTON. 1 more thing. Where is Tee today?
longtimefan writes:
NEWS FLASH! George Bush to replace Phillip Fulmer in 2009! what more could you ask for?
stlvol writes:
Hey mikeinsane: Get your mouth off the crackpipe!
cobbwebb writes:
before the season is over reveiz will be a big time contributor, maybe not starting but playing key minutes. this kid is a beast in the weightroom and has football in his blood.donald i think could play both positions , i like him better at lb.ryan karl played hard and showed a lot of toughness but i think wilson brings more speed and athleticsm.im a little concerned with our size at lb. i dont like 210-215 lb linebackers.
VOLS85 writes:
BLACK POWER!
cobbwebb writes:
get over it the tee vs. peyton thing is getting very old. who cares they are both tenn legends and contributed a lot to this program. by the way mikesean you are an idiot rascist, people like you are what is wrong with this great country of ours here we are talking football and your dumb@ss turns it into a race issue you wouldnt know racism if it walked up and kicked you in your dumb@ss . im assuming your black , if im right ask your grandfather about racism he is the one who really suffered. i hate racism and anyone who spews its nonsense.
invisiblekid writes:
mikesean865,
First, nobody gives a d*mn who you are voting for, take the political commentary somewhere else. It's GoVOLS not GoObama, GoMcCain, or GoRonPaul.com
Second, I don't disagree with the issue that there were probably better athletes that could have been playing LB than Karl. However, it was likely Chavis' choice as LB coach, not Fulmer's. Go back to Turbofan's post at 11:40 and gain some insight on the issue of there being more to football than running fast.
Third, show me where there are any Tee Martin haters anywhere on this site.
ssukonic#254241 writes:
Turbo fan: you sound like a former coach. Sometimes you gotta go with the heart and desire guy. And you guys that think color plays into it are out to lunch. You gotta go with your best athlete and the guy who gives you the best chance to win. A Ryan Karl makes good decisions and plays his butt off and sometimes you just gotta reward that. That's a coaches decision and that's what they get paid the big bucks for. BTW--anyone know when the date is for the first practice? Man, it's time for some football!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
LB should be a very busy position in a few days. Overall from side to side they should be better but we will miss the stud Mayo.
We should do fine at LB if they don't get injured by d-linemen being driven back into them.
We need the Butkus-Reynolds-Walker-Wilson-Kiner ATTITUDE at LB.
Fear_The_Kiffin writes:
I know the Payton reality check may have hurt some of your feelings but its the truth he brought no trophies to knoxville. I'm not a colts fan i'm a vol fan so who cares what payton is doing now and what tee martin is doing now. In college Tee Martin got it done and brought the trophy home Payton in all his greatness couldn't do that sorry guys. And i didn't mention NFL careers because UT is a college team last i checked and this is a UT page not a Colts page so please realize what the discussion is concerning before you make yourself sound dumb as hell like middleTNvol. And to a Vol fan please tell me how a colts championship equates to a UT championship? Please explain that to me middleTNvol since you said where is tee today. And thank you uninformed political minds for not touching that subject, must be some be some bush voters on here cause yall got really quite on that tip. GO OBAMA!!!! GO VOLS!!!!
cobbwebb writes:
backward volfan, i love tee martin, hell al wilson and big john henderson are my favorite players. tee was the man i will never forget tee martin and 1998 season as long as i live. but why cant we like tee and peyton both i dont have to choose one over the other. GO VOLS !!!!!
cobbwebb writes:
i hate to hurt your feelings mikesean , but mccain and obama both are knuckleheads. now with that said go spew your political nonsense on csnbc.com not on here. peace out brotha!
gohawks1 writes:
I'm gonna vote for givim6 for president - he talks good sense.
VOLS85 writes:
Mike,
That is the problem that you have, you want people to do things for you instead of doing things for yourself, hence your political diatribe. Don't come onto this site and spew your hate about race and your political views. If you want to talk about education, it seems as if you were shorted growing up. You cannot put a coherent sentence together. It almost seems ironic that you bash Bush supporters when your ignorance is glaring. You're an obvious racist, and you continue to set the rest of your race back when it seems as if everyone else wants to move forward.
On another note, I think our Linebackers are in great shape for this season...hopefully we can put together another 2005 type defense!
CoverOrange writes:
Ikid, I think you may have meant GoBobBarr.com, Ron Paul didn't make the finals. Not that that matters here.
I think I'll go mow my yard even if it is 90 degrees outside. Wait for this nasty board rash to clear up.
cobbwebb writes:
if you vote for mccain cause your white , or obama cause yore black, or even hillary cause your a woman then your a fool !
invisiblekid writes:
"LB should be a very busy position in a few days. Overall from side to side they should be better but we will miss the stud Mayo."
Agreed pdhuff, Mayo was a big loss and I don't think anyone we have can fully replace him. McCoy could come close but overall, the LB unit should get better with some addition by subtraction. I appreciate Karl and his efforts, but there were times that he just looked overmatched last year, especially from a speed standpoint. No secret that Fulmer and company gets wrapped up in the senior leadership angle at times though. The LB's aren't getting anywhere near the ink of the DL but the questions that need to be answered there are almost as important.
cobbwebb writes:
aaaaagggggghhhhhh ! i cant believe this knucklehead pulled me in , im actually talkin politics. go away mikesean we wanna talk sec and football here not racism and politics
Fear_The_Kiffin writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
cobbwebb writes:
i think we will have a lot of speed at the lb unit this year, and watch out for reveiz kid could be a sleeper. started out as special teams standout, does that remind any of a certain # 27 that used to play for the vols
cobbwebb writes:
i kid i agree mayo will be tough to replace
Fear_The_Kiffin writes:
And no i'm not a racist just a realist. How can i be racist if i'm half white. just calling a spade a spade. But since your all convinced that i am thats fine call me mikesean X. LOL Yes you are a fool if you vote for MCcain just because your white or Obama because your black. I'm voting for OBAMA because i'm into politics and know he is the candidate that will pull us out of a war that is killing our great nation not to mention thousands of honarable men and women in our military. You can't label me sorry i know you would like to but i'm nothing you have said i'm not whining about the economy i'm telling you not to because your vote for Bush created this mess in the first place and a vote for Mccain is just a continuance of Bush and the War in iraq that Mccain said he would keep us in for 100 more years. Get informed out here. Thats my intention, just to motivate people to really know what they are voting for before they ruin our country for another 4 years.
cobbwebb writes:
any way, naval i think our d line will surprise and give our lbs a chance to make plays and use their speed to blow plays up. i just hope we dont have any major injuries along def front
Fear_The_Kiffin writes:
Ok now that i feel i have done my duty as a patriotic american and have sparked your interest in the election and the issues hopefully you will do some research on your own to know who and what you are voting for this election. Please don't mess up the nation any further GO OBAMA END THE WAR IN IRAQ BRING THOSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HOME AND OUT OF THE POCKETS OF BUSH AND HIS FRIENDS WITH THEIR NO CONTEST BIDS THEIR COMPANIES ARE GETTING MILLIONS FROM IN IRAQ. CLASS IS OFFICIALLY ENDED BACK TO FOOTBALL.
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