Crompton 'enthused' about getting start

Coleman moves past Stephens to No. 2

By Drew Edwards

Originally published 11:31 p.m., November 16, 2008
Updated 11:31 p.m., November 16, 2008

Tennessee will begin its 11th game of the season the way it began its first four.

That is to say junior Jonathan Crompton will start at quarterback.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Sunday night that Crompton will start for the Vols (3-7, 1-5 SEC) in Saturday's game at Vanderbilt (6-4, 4-3), six games after being benched in favor of Nick Stephens.

Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. (TV: WVLT).

"I'm enthused," said Crompton, who last started in UT's 14-12 loss at Auburn on Sept. 27. "I'm going to go out here and do the best I can. We've got to go out and win these last two games."

Crompton has played in each of UT's last two games and engineered UT's lone scoring drive in a 13-7 loss to Wyoming on Nov. 8.

Against the Cowboys, Crompton was 11-of-27 for 91 yards and a touchdown.

It's been a quick slide for Stephens, who started the last six games beginning with UT's 13-9 victory over Northern Illinois on Oct. 4.

His first career interception snapped a streak of 106 passes without a pick - and it went 68 yards for a touchdown against South Carolina.

That play landed him on the bench for the second quarter.

Two more interceptions in nine passes against Wyoming, which led to all 13 of the Cowboys' points, cost him more than his starting job.

Redshirt freshman B.J. Coleman passed Stephens on the depth chart as well and will practice with the second team this week.

"Nick had done such a good job for a good period of time of taking care of the football, although there was some plays along the way that could have been intercepted," Fulmer said. "He's had a really bad couple of games as far as the other team getting their hands on the ball."

Coleman, who could see action against the Commodores, completed 22 of 31 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns in a UT's junior varsity game Thursday night against Hargrave Military Academy.

"I think everybody's realistic to know that playing against prep school, even though they're a good team and all, is not nearly like playing against a Southeastern Conference defense," Fulmer said. "The speed of the game or the looks or anything. B.J. did a nice job in the JV game, and I was really glad to see that. That certainly helped our confidence in him."

Receiver Gerald Jones expressed confidence in whoever lines up at quarterback.

He also said he hoped Coleman would get a chance under center.

"I think he deserves a chance," Jones said. "He did pretty good - really good - in the JV game. Why not? Give him a chance and see if he can lead this team from here on out. But I'm not the coach, so it's not my call."

Ultimately, though, Fulmer hopes the Vols won't have to make another switch at quarterback.

"Hopefully, there won't be a leash, that somebody will go in there and do very well with what we're doing," Fulmer said. "We've got to go in and be productive at quarterback. Right now, we have a very unusual situation for us that we're just not getting the consistent play that we would like."

Injury Update: Tailback Montario Hardesty (stress fracture), defensive tackle Dan Williams (ankle), tailback Arian Foster (thigh bruise) and defensive end Chris Walker (back) are all expected to be available against the Commodores.

"That's why I said the open date came at a good time," Fulmer said. "Hopefully those guys will all be at 100 percent by the time we get to Saturday."

A Little Different: Asked about the difference between Crompton and Stephens, Jones said there's one major distinction.

"I don't want to say what's different, what's good or what's better, (but) the difference is Crompton's a lot slower with his reads than Nick," Jones said.

'Dogs to Dores: One early line has the Vols as a 3 1/2-point underdog against Vandy.

The Commodores are bowl eligible for the first time in 26 years and could finish 8-4 with wins against UT and Wake Forest.

"(Vandy coach) Bobby Johnson's done a good job since he's been there," Fulmer said. "They've got a good-looking football team on both sides of the ball."

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.