If you watch a Philadelphia Eagles game, you will very likely hear Omar Gaither's name called a number of times. The former University of Tennessee player has quickly turned from fifth-round pick to starting linebacker.

"I think they expected me to be a special teams player only when they drafted me," Gaither said. "You don't take a guy in the fifth round and expect him to play. But, halfway through the season I got my first start and I've started ever since."

Gaither is in his third season in the NFL and has already made a name for himself.

"The NFL is a business. When they realized that I could start for less money than Takeo Spikes, they let him go and put me at weakside linebacker," Gaither said. "It was just a personnel decision.

"Playing weakside gives me the opportunity to use my speed and athletic ability. I'm the one chasing down the play from behind most of the time."

Gaither said that his time in John Chavis' system at Tennessee gave him an edge over the other young players with the Eagles.

"Coach Chavis' defense is so complicated, as far as college schemes go, that when I got to the NFL it wasn't a big deal," Gaither said. "Chavis is an NFL coach who just happens to be in college. I was more prepared than any of the other players from major schools because of what we had run at UT.

"I know that the program is going through some struggles right now, but I feel very strongly about how the defense is playing. I watch every game and the defense has played very well. The way they're playing is a tribute to Coach Chavis, Coach (Dan) Brooks, Coach (Steve) Caldwell and Coach (Larry) Slade. They're playing as well as anyone in the country."

For Gaither, patience was a virtue while at UT.

"I waited my turn. To be real honest," he said,

"I wasn't one of the big-timers when I was there. You had guys like Kevin Simon, Kevin Burnett, Keyon Whiteside and so on and so on. There were a bunch of guys who were big-time players. I wasn't one of those big-name guys, so I had to bide my time and wait my turn. In my years at Tennessee I missed one practice. You could count on me to be out there every day working hard to improve. I missed that practice because I strained my back bending over to pick up a sheet of paper."

Gaither was a blue-collar type player who never got the credit he deserved, but he's getting it now.

"I have my own radio show in Philly called, 'The Omar Gaither Show.' It's on every other Monday night in New Jersey. I also have a TV show on Sunday night's after the games. It's on the ABC affiliate in Philadelphia.

"I guess the reason they want me on the air is because I'm a bit of a talker. That's why Coach Chavis called me, 'Radio,' when I was at UT. He said it was because I was so loud and obnoxious."

Gaither isn't just loud and obnoxious off the field, opposing players would say he is on the field as well.

"I had two sacks against Pittsburgh a few weeks ago and Ben Roethlisberger got sick of hearing me," Gaither said. "I love to motivate my teammates by trash talking a lot on the field."

Although he knows he's worth a lot more than what he's being paid, he says he plans on honoring his four-year deal.

"A lot of guys holdout while they're still under contract," Gaither said. "I just think I need to work hard and play as well as I can and let all that stuff take care of itself. When I signed the deal, I gave my word that I would honor it and that's what I'm going to do.

"I want to stay in Philly and I hope that they'll want to keep me after next season. But, I have no control over that."

One thing he does have control over is what he can accomplish off the field.

"I went to Harvard last summer and took a real estate class," Gaither said. "It was really good for me. We learned about how to evaluate properties and how to analyze the market you're in. I'm already doing some real estate. I have some rental properties back home in Charlotte, North Carolina. I'm also doing some stuff here in Philadelphia. It's been good for me to do some things away from the game because it won't last forever."

A number of former Vols are making the program proud. Gaither is definitely one of those players. He's as humble as can be and is making an impact on a number of communities.

"This summer we did a free football camp for kids at my high school. Two hundred kids showed up for the camp," Gaither said. "Yeah, I'm a trash-talking, obnoxious guy sometimes. But, down deep I love kids and am trying to give back in any way that I can."

Mark Packer hosts the Locker Room, presented by Parkwest Medical Center, on Sunday at 10 p.m. on MyVLT2.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.