Crompton: 'I'm still going to be the guy'

Vols to open up quarterback position

By Drew Edwards

Originally published 10:31 p.m., September 28, 2008
Updated 11:48 p.m., September 28, 2008

When Tennessee takes the field Saturday, it just might have a new starting quarterback.

Or maybe not.

Following Jonathan Crompton’s continued struggles in a 14-12 loss at Auburn on Saturday, UT coach Phillip Fulmer said backup quarterback Nick Stephens will split first-team snaps with Crompton during practice this week in an effort to determine who will start Saturday against Northern Illinois (TV: Pay-per-view, 7 p.m.).

“I’d much rather the guy we anticipated being the starter play well and execute like we want,” Fulmer said during his weekly teleconference Sunday. “But that’s not happening for us on a consistent basis right now. I think we have to take a look at our options.”

According to Fulmer, who said the competition is “legitimate,” the main criteria will be consistency and “the mental part of the game.”

Crompton, 1-4 as a starter counting a 2006 start at Arkansas, has struggled with consistency so far in his first season as UT’s full-time starter.

“It brings out the best in me and I have every confidence in the world in myself that I’m going to be fine and I’m still going to be the guy,” Crompton said Sunday night. “That’s just how I go look at it.”

Against Auburn, Crompton was 8-of-23 for 67 yards. During the fourth quarter, he was 0-for-6. Those eight completions were a team low since Rick Clausen went 8-for-20 for 69 yards in UT’s 2004 loss to Auburn in the SEC championship game.

The 67 passing yards against Auburn was Tennessee’s lowest total since the Vols had 67 in a 20-17 overtime victory over Florida in 1998.

Crompton’s best performance of the season was a 19-for-31 day for 240 yards and two touchdowns against UAB, the Vols’ only win this season in four games.

That victory also provided Stephens’ only game action since arriving on campus in 2006, aside from a junior-varsity game last fall against Hargrave Academy.

Against UAB, Stephens was 1-of-2 for 42 yards and rushed once for 5 yards.

Fulmer said he doesn’t have a deadline set to name a starter for Saturday, and both players are expected to play against Northern Illinois (2-2).

“We’ll just kind of have to play that by ear,” he said. “I don’t think it’ll go right up to game time, anything like that, but we’ll see.”

Wide receiver Gerald Jones, who attempted his first pass of the season Saturday out of the G-Gun package, also is an option. Fulmer said that Jones likely would see more time at quarterback this week. He also said that the number of plays available for Jones at quarterback will grow this week, too.

“It would depend on how (Stephens and Crompton) do,” Fulmer said, “but I think we’ll expand the package anyway.”

Fumble Explained: The fumbled handoff between Crompton and tailback Arian Foster that resulted in an Auburn touchdown was a result of Foster holding his right elbow too low on the exchange, Fulmer said.

"It hit Arian's elbow," Fulmer said. "He didn't quite have his elbow up as high as he should have."

Injury Update: Starting middle linebacker Ellix Wilson (shoulder) is probable for Saturday. Wilson injured his shoulder in the fourth quarter against Auburn.

Sophomore Nick Reveiz, a former walk-on from Farragut, likely would be the first option if Wilson can't play. Defensive end Gerald Williams, who began the season at middle linebacker, likely would remain at defensive end, Fulmer said.

Starting defensive end Wes Brown (knee) will be limited in practice this week, Fulmer said, but should be available Saturday.

Practice Report: Linebacker Rico McCoy did not practice Sunday night to finish a paper for a class, Fulmer said. Offensive lineman Vladimir Richard (knee) also did not practice.

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