Defensive tackle Marlon Walls has been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse and will join Tennessee's football team this week.
"I’m hitting the road tonight, got practice tomorrow," the former Olive Branch (Miss.) High School standout said. "I’m ready to roll."
Walls, who was originally recruited as a linebacker, spent last season improving his grades and playing defensive tackle at Hargrave Military Academy.
Walls said he now weighs 290 pounds and has been working out and studying UT's playbook as he anticipated the NCAA's decision.
When UT coaches Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron called him this afternoon, he knew he was on his way.
"I knew what time it was," Walls said. "It was time to go."
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Comments » 52
kjneel#238751 writes:
Sweet! We need him. Get ready to work hard!
CT_VOL writes:
Now that's what I'm taling about!
Frank
stinky_pinky writes:
this is big news....more depth
TrueVolFan writes:
Sweet! Hopefully he has had his nose buried in the playbook and will take just a few weeks to a month to be ready to contribute. Another skilled DT will be nice to have! Go Vols
Bigger_Al writes:
Yes! He may not be ready to contribute until 2010, but its good to have him on campus.
G8er_H8er writes:
That is great news. Only problem is the NCAA Clearhouse has drug their feet again and cost this kid at least two weeks of practice time.
Glad to have you Marlon now make something happen.
adamsck#591720 writes:
Man, this is great news. And timely. Get up there and get ready, Marlon. So glad you are now a Vol officially.
Volomatic writes:
You also have to remember Walls isn't coming in out of high school. He's used to playing in a more up tempo game. Its not going to take him long to get the plays down. The problem is making sure he can keep up with Coach K's practices. If he is as ready as he claims, I give it 2 weeks and we'll know he is there.
SWVAVOL1 writes:
Great news for Marlon Walls. He is a outstanding young man. He will get to fulfill his dream of playing for the Vols.
givehim6 writes:
Good timing, sounds like we need a health body on the D side.
StroVol writes:
Love that "I knew what time it was, it was time to Go!!" yeah baaaaaaby!!
FLVol writes:
The pieces are falling into place. This is going to be a great year! I can feel it. We are flying under the radar. Here's to making some noise in the SEC and the nation this year.
IceVol writes:
Good to have another body behind Wes's bad knees.
VolsRaysBucs writes:
This is good, very, very good. This guy could potentially be the gap shooting tackle CMK has been looking for, assuming he still has some of his backer quickness. I'm not so sure the future of the DL is as bleak as some fans around the SEC may think.
bonescat writes:
Wow, from a LB to a DT, I hope he kept most of his speed. A 290lb. middle linebacker would be pretty fun to watch though. Fullbacks may bail on a play if they see him coming at speed. Having the 290lb. Walls at Middle Linebacker would nullify the middle of the field for Tebow the Almighty. I hope Walls really shines for us. It may help us tap into wealth of talent in Olive Branch, MS. It will also show other prospective college players that when you work hard and fix your grades, you can fulfill your dream of playing college football and get a degree(hopefully). Congrats Marlon, you earned it!
bhjohnso#207063 writes:
"I knew what time it was," Walls said. "It was time to go."
I like the sound of that.
DooleyNoted writes:
Bring it!!!!!
Ironcity writes:
Great to hear for Marlon. He's a def tackle so the play book is pretty thin so that won't take long to master. I doubt he will be in ant kind of shape to help us before October. My guess is he will need more strength and he will hit the weights and redshirt.
gatorhator5033 writes:
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
We've been waiting for you man.
Go open up a can of kick butt!!!
You the Man, period.
GerryOP writes:
Well aboard Mr. Walls. You are now officially a Volunteer!
23 -- Fear The Kiffin...
stayingorange writes:
Awesome.
smashmouth98 writes:
redshirt? you're crazy!! We need depth at DT & he WILL be a factor this year!!
BSweet writes:
Great news! Can't wait til he gets here. There is definately oppurtunity to be had at DT.
oldsmokey67 writes:
H_LL yeah.now go and knock the sh_t out of a Gator.
samjrr writes:
It's Time
Txvol57 writes:
This guy is a beast!!! He is a freak athlete and he WILL contribute this season!!
murrayvol writes:
Good...no, great news. Welcome aboard Marlon. All that hard work is about to pay off.
LDDFC912 writes:
CPF...."I would need to watch the tape I really don't know."
john#208876 writes:
"He's got that high motor that everybody likes to talk about," said Olive Branch defensive coordinator Pete Cordelli. "And he doesn't stay blocked. The biggest thing about Marlon - he's a finisher."
Ed Orgeron, UT's assistant coach, apparently picked up on those attributes when he was the coach at Ole Miss. But Walls' commitment to the Rebels didn't survive the coaching change. He signed with the Vols after Orgeron was fired, then enrolled at Hargrave when he failed to qualify academically at UT.
The way Walls is described by his high school coaches, it sounds as though he could be a better fit for UT's new staff than the old one. The up-tempo practice regimen, which coach Lane Kiffin and his staff introduced in the spring, should serve Walls well.
"You love coaching a guy like that," Cordelli said. "He plays hard every play."
Cordelli also is curious as to what defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin will do with Walls. He was a graduate assistant coach at Arkansas when Monte was the defensive coordinator under Lou Holtz and remembers how adept Kiffin was at utilizing a player's particular skills.
"Knowing Monte, he will find a way to use him," Cordelli said. "He's really good at that. Monte also does a great job of getting kids to play hard and believe in a plan."
Walls' new coaches might be tempted to move a 280-pounder inside, but his high school coaches still envision him on the outside.
"If they play him at tackle, he'll probably be the quickest defensive tackle in the league," Samsel said. "Just in my conversations with him, every time I talk with him, he says he hasn't lost a step, even though he's gained the weight.
"It's hard to find a guy like that coming off the edge as a pass rusher. It's easier to find a linebacker."
Sounds good, I hope his high school coach is right - we'll soon see! Coach Neyland said one good blocker is worth three ball carriers, I'm guessing one stud DL is worth about three LB's!
Go Vols!
vol4gzus writes:
LDDFC912...." I would need to get over the past and move on, but I can't." You need to get over it!!! The former Coach was all Orange and White thank you sir. 30 + years of service to the University of Tennessee!
Leave him be and move on. He is gone. So grow up and be happy with new opportunities with the new staff and a new year...please...pretty please....
Welcome Marlon we're glad you didn't have to be the next Gerald Williams waiting til you're on Medicare b4 you can play.
The_Real_UT writes:
Does he have 3 years of eligibility left?
vol4gzus writes:
Elaine don't you know the sky is falling? No we're not desperate just thin on the Dline. He is a welcome addition to provide not only needed depth,but athleticism as well.
bruno9793 writes:
That a baby marlon. Im callin it rite now. All american DT by his senior year. The best thing is, hes loves the big orange.
bruno9793 writes:
hes considered a freshman. he went to prep school not a jc
99PairsOfJortsOnTheWall writes:
Just really fired up for some football. Guess you aren't, so go watch some softball you clown!
Txvol57 writes:
I love it!! LOL.....Im sooo glad I dont have to hear that again!!!
Txvol57 writes:
He has all 4 years...It was just one year of prep school...I dont think you lose a year if you go to prep school
HallowedHill writes:
YES!!!!! I'm ripping off my shirt now...
TommyJack writes:
Coolio
LDDFC912 writes:
I agree. But I just had to do it. <wink>
cmoore7 writes:
Not as desperate as the Gator locker room is gonna be when it's tied up at the half.
Elaine's reply: nuh uh
txvolsfan writes:
Desparate to skin a gay-tor!!!
When we sing Rocky Top all night long after we beat Gay-Tors in the mud pit!!!
WWWWOOOOOOWWWWWW
TXVOLSFAN
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Great news. We need a ton of DLs.
GainesvilleVol1 writes:
I don't think we can fly under the radar with what Kiffin has said, but it was necessary. However, I expect a couple of suprises from this year's squad. I love the taste of Big Orange Kool Aid!!
GO VOLS!!!
blitzshoot writes:
ggreat news
Vol43 writes:
Well said my fellow US Navy friend. Well said, indeed.
StroVol writes:
Bottom line is... you don't know as much as you think you do.
CLEMSONVOL716WASBANNED writes:
Long time, No hear from....I haven't been on the other site for a few days..any new info on the "big fish"?
vols14 writes:
thank god
Voluvr writes:
Yeah and then we're going over to s carolina to get some gas at one of those full service stations down by campus.
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