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UT wide receiver, Gerald Jones, talks to the media following Tuesday's practice. According to Jones, there's no need for him to play quarterback for the Vols this season. Watch »
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UT quarterback, Jonathan Crompton, is feeling a little more confident this spring. Crompton answers questions from the media following Tuesday's practice. Watch »
Receiver Brandon Warren repeatedly denied that he had ever considered quitting Tennessee's football team or transferring to another school after last season.
"Why would I want to go somewhere else? Why would I want to quit?" the former Alcoa High School star said Tuesday when asked about a report last week by Volquest.com.
Warren left that very impression on many in UT's program when he missed a handful of required commitments in mid-March. Warren, however, has been present in each of UT's seven practices this spring.
For his missteps, Warren was punished by UT coach Lane Kiffin, which included the removal of the No. 1 from his practice jersey.
"Brandon doesn't have a number for now," Kiffin said Tuesday. "We think that to have single digit numbers around here is a big deal. You've got to keep earning them every day.
"Brandon's had some screwups, hasn't been taking care of business off the field and in class the way that we'd like. He wants that number back, he's got to do the right things off the field."
Said Warren: "It's been some personal things with me, having to balance out things at home and being here but I never thought about quitting."
Warren said a family member called him and informed him of the Internet report that claimed he had strongly considered leaving UT.
"I don't know where he would get that information from," Warren said referring to the reporter.
Warren has shown more maturity over the past week according to one member of the football department. Those around him are hopeful he'll continue to uphold his responsibilities.
Warren has been spending time with defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, receivers coach Frank Wilson and senior associate athletic director David Blackburn. All are acting as mentors for the junior.
Warren was the subject of much speculation when he suddenly left Florida State following a Freshman All-American season in 2006 in which he caught 28 passes for 301 yards.
Warren left midway through the 2007 spring semester to be with his mother who has battled cancer. FSU refused to grant Warren a release to play elsewhere.
Without the release, Warren was forced to sit out a year from Division I competition.
Having left before he completed his last semester at FSU, he also needed to seriously improve his transcript before he could be accepted to UT and placed on academic scholarship.
Warren took classes at Pellissippi State - missing a season of football - in order to enroll at UT, which he did in 2008.
Warren was moved from tight end to receiver before spring practice began last month. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder has already made an impression on UT's best receiver.
"He's so versatile," junior wideout Gerald Jones said. "He's so big. He can block because he played tight end. And he's very quick and has great hands.
"It just puts another weapon outside at wide receiver for us."
Receiver is a position of need for UT after the Vols lost two of their top four receivers from 2008.
Warren played in 12 games for UT last season and caught 10 passes for 85 yards. Early in the season, UT's coaches claimed they had an offensive package for their most athletic tight end.
Former UT offensive coordinator Dave Clawson later admitted that playing Warren at all three of UT's tight end positions in preseason limited his understanding of the offense and, subsequently, his effectiveness.
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Comments » 65
TurnUpTheVOLtage writes:
Interesting, maybe this explains why we didn't see Warren as much as we wanted last year? Oh yeah, that was CPF
Greer_Vol_22 writes:
I've gotta bad feeling about this.
beachvol1 writes:
Not a kid anymore, knows what it takes to play on this team...appears he may have lost some desire to play at the college level.....
CoachNeyland writes:
He'll be fine. At least he isn't out getting arrested...
DennisVols writes:
I hope his mother has not taken a turn for the worse. Sounded like problems at home,"It's been some personal things with me, having to balance out things at home and being here but I never thought about quitting."
smashmouth98 writes:
how could he not be excited about the upcomming season and new coaching staff!!!!!!1
thevoice writes:
This smells bad. Hope he doesn't end up in the news or on the blotter some day. What is it with kids these days?
MrBamSeydu writes:
I also heard Lennon Creer is playing without a number right now? Has he gotten in trouble recently too??
PaulTheVol writes:
Is there any way we can start calling Dave Clawsen "OC Who Shall Not Be Named"?
jimvols13 writes:
Come on Warren. You have amazing talent, get out on the field baby!
pastorlee#372395 writes:
...or "The name we do not speak of."
vol_chaz writes:
the guy was one and done, and never got a chance to play with his style of qb, he'll get a pass from me..We'll see how BG does this year,and next..
Orangeblood13 writes:
heard he was much of the same at FSU. He didn't get on the field last year because he couldn't read a playbook.
Sad, he was a beast at Alcoa
belayvol writes:
Do you hear that? That's the chant allready starting around the SEC about your gators of Overated. You superboy's have backed yourself into a corner now. Greatest, fastest, best ever. Anything less than a perfect season and NC is a loss for you. Too bad it will not happen. No NC, no heisman, no maxwell smart trophy. I can hear the Timmy Tears started to well up in his eyes. Once he breaks down and gives another tearful speech, we may put the plaque outside our stadium. Timmy Falwell.
GahLee writes:
He needs to get his act together and quick, we need this guy on the field in a bad way. Not only could he be of great value as a receiver, I think that he could be even more valuable as a blocker. You line him up in the slot and have him block a LB or Safety on runs, could help break those game-breakers that we have been missing.
Go4Two writes:
Thank you maybe the kid was All American in the ACC.. HuM
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
The Fans need you bigtime Brandon!
We need your help!
You can do it and Lets see you catch a few TD's too.
Man you can be great but you got to want it and make it happen.Just show up!!!!!
teampenny#658108 writes:
LK is the new sheriff. I like how he is managing the team. My biggest surprise is no players have talked about transferring . Go Vols
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Agree 100%. It sucked last year, but an incomplete body of work to say the least. I say BG does fine within a couple years and we thank Dave for helping to usher in a fantastic new era of TN football! (Apologies to CPF, but it's true.)
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Is it occurred to anyone that maybe CLK (weird, like calvin klein) may be holding him to a higher standard than showing up and sleeping? Maybe the issue is not that he is missing class, but that his grades are putting him in a potentially problematic situation. Maybe there is an attitude problem as well. It is difficult to say but we all wish him the best of luck!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Come on, young man, don't throw this opportunity away.
Get after it on and off the field.
ravensearay writes:
Exactly!!!!
rockydog writes:
Doug Matthews reported on his show yesterday that Lennon Creer has quit the team. Anyone got any info on this? Is it true? I hope not.I hate to lose speed like that.
GreenDevilVol writes:
You still want to put $1000 on that statement,thats what I thought.
GreenDevilVol writes:
Warren will be fine,he is still having personal dealing at home,which would hamper the most seasoned of players. family matters are just that,family matters,Warren will over come and earn his spot on the offense.
To those whom report such nonsense on the net;get a life and see if you can go through life without a sick relative (mother) that doesn't bother you in the capacity that this has Warren.Dude needs a break, he and Kiffin will get it worked out !!
Docrok writes:
Any word on Creer yet???
jimr07 writes:
i was thinking the 63 was his I.Q. or is that too high?
Docrok writes:
Dont be so hard on the guy, cause the reality is had Fulmer gone with a more traditional OC and TN had won say 8 or 9 games last year we would be stuck with Fulmer and would not be this excited about UT football again!
NoChildLeftaDime writes:
Did any one else note the irony that Ed Orgeron is mentoring the young man on maturity?
jdcvols#230433 writes:
Could not agree more...I really don't know who was worse Wade Houston, Raleigh or this idiot.
jdcvols#230433 writes:
Your right but suffering through last year was horrible. The team NEVER improved offensively all year. I still believe the guy is an idiot.
Docrok writes:
A blog that Orgeron was arrested for fighting in a bar or for domestic violence really doesnt give one much of an idea! Despite what interlopers and others may say it is likely that those very circumstances could happen to anyone! Fights break out in bars all the time and rest assured even the most mature and quiet person is not immune! Simply put if someone that is drunk decides that something about you just pisses him off then rest assured before the end of the night he is going to take a swing at you! And heated exchanges between spouses occur quite regularly and its really difficult to distinguish who is at fault there! And it takes only minimal probable cause to make that arrest! I have read the book about Coach O's time at Ole Miss and I am thinking that the guy is really being sold short on his character!
Docrok writes:
I am not disagreeing with that! I am just saying being thankful that last year was such a catastrophe!
BoroVolFan writes:
Has anyone heard anything about Creer quitting the team? i've seen it on a message board or two claiming "mutliple sources," but no actual reports...
Docrok writes:
I have surfed the web for awhile but cant find anything confirming those rumors!
BoroVolFan writes:
I saw the rumor floating around the message board http://fvsports.com/forum/showthread.... , but Scouts insider board said "Creer was held out of Tuesday's practice due to a knee injury he suffered in Saturday's scrimmaging. And, as I reported today, he has been wearing a practice jersey without the usual "3" on it, which suggests he is in Kiffin's doghouse"
aurora0317 writes:
That would be a shame if it's true. He's a very talented player; I wish he would take that as a challenge to become a better player instead of wussing out and quitting.
golfballs03 writes:
Florida State is trash
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I hate to think it, but he just might be afraid of the competition. From what I have read, Hardesty and Poole have had great springs and with Brown and Oku coming in the fall, Creer might be seeing the writing on the wall.
Docrok writes:
I agree with that!!
cjraney writes:
I fail to see what FSU or Bobby Bowden has to do with BW's development on the team. Bowden's refusal to release him is unrelated to UT spring practice '09.
kevin151 writes:
Not only does Crapton suck, but he needs to get rid of that mustache.
Docrok writes:
Yea I just got a txt alert from WIVK that states that Pearl was offered a 21 mil contract to be the coach of the Tigers?????????
Orangeblood13 writes:
Man I hope your right Bob, I don't want to hear this "it is always the best in year 2 phooey"
Volunatic writes:
Amen to that. I'd love to have the same thing happen here that happened at Richmond-- Clawson left, and the next season the school wins a National Championship.
GO VOLS!
99gator writes:
i normally don't get involved in petty stuff like this.....
but, i have to ask....
did you have those links bookmarked in your favorites or did you have to look them up?
aurora0317 writes:
they're calling WMC liars on SI...
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009...
aurora0317 writes:
this was put up 6 min ago... but the source is jimmy hyams so take it as you want...
http://mrsec.com/send-article?sec_sen...
aurora0317 writes:
found this about lennon creer. it says he missed practice because of his knee
http://southcarolina.scout.com/a.z?s=...
and this says he lost his number along with warren
http://kentucky.scout.com/a.z?s=48&am...
Docrok writes:
I just got done listening to some guy from Memphis talking about how much better the Memphis BBall job is better than TN! What an idiot!! The SEC is the best conference in everything as evident by Calipari exiting Memphis for KY despite Memphis being willing to match the money
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