Throughout Southern California’s near decade-long run of dominance in college football, one Heisman Trophy winner stands out among the others: Reggie Bush.
“Electric” was one word to describe Bush as he tore apart opposing defenses as a tailback and a receiver. “Versatile” was another as Bush solidified himself as one of the most explosive kick and punt returners in recent memory.
Tennessee — like every other school in the nation — is looking for that next Reggie Bush. In fact, first-year UT receivers coach Frank Wilson has that thought in mind every time he evaluates a skill-position player.
“Yeah, Nu’Keese Richardson,” Wilson said Tuesday on the News Sentinel’s radio show, The Sports Page. “That’s exactly what we saw in him, a guy who had big-play ability and can strike at any point on the field. We think Nu’Keese and Marsalis (Teague) are two guys that possess that type of ability that can line up in the backfield, in the slot or out wide and still give a defense a tough time.”
There is no Heisman candidate on UT’s depth chart, and that’s not the only shortcoming. The Vols’ top four returning wideouts are listed at 6-foot-2 or shorter.
The Vols have moved former tight end Brandon Warren to receiver for some more size. However, at 6-2 and 220 pounds, the former Alcoa star isn’t much bigger than UT’s projected starters.
Still, different receivers can make, well, a difference.
“You have to have some diversity,” Wilson said. “Some things the bigger guys can do better than the small guys of stature and vice versa. We don’t need a whole slew of them (big receivers), but we need a mixture of diverse athletic ability at that position.”
The Vols won’t have much height help coming in this fall. UT didn’t sign a receiver taller than 6-2. Richardson and Teague are listed at 5-10. Fellow 2009 signees James Green and Zach Rogers are listed at 6-2.
UT tried to secure two tall, top-flight receivers but were denied when 6-4 Kendall Kelly and 6-5 Marlon Brown signed with Alabama and Georgia, respectively. Signing such a prospect is one of UT’s top goals for the 2010 class.
“If you look at Coach (Lane) Kiffin’s track record, even at USC with Mike Williams and those guys, he had two of those (big) guys,” Wilson said. “And then you had Steve Smith, the 5-11, 6-foot guys.”
The concept is simple: Have the big, outside receivers beat smaller cornerbacks with their size and strength while the smaller receivers beat linebackers and safeties with their quickness and speed.
That’s a luxury UT won’t be afforded in 2009 without a big receiver on its roster.
It’s up to Wilson to change the size of UT’s receiving corps. Wilson hasn’t coached receivers in his career. A productive season by UT’s wideouts would give him more to sell prospective athletes. He tried to salvage UT’s recruitment of Brown and Je’Ron Stokes but was unsuccessful. Still, Wilson’s resume should make UT optimistic about his future recruiting endeavors.
“Hard work,” Wilson said when asked what makes him a well-respected recruiter. “There are no tricks to it, no magic wands. Being persistent, diligent. Identifying the prospects early and being persistent.”
He is trying to learn as much about UT’s receivers as possible. Spring practice starts March 10 but the preparation for such drills is long under way via video highlight evaluations.
“I was very impressed with the young men we have,” Wilson said. “Really, really think that Gerald (Jones) can do some good things.
“We can win with them. Character wins out and we have a high-character group that wants to be coached and wants to get better. I think this unit as a whole possesses that, and I think we are headed in the right direction. With the addition of the four signees, we will be in pretty good shape.”
Wilson said he’s looked for a lack of game speed in his receivers’ play last season. That could be a sign of indecisiveness — a distinct possibility in last year’s complicated offense under then-coordinator Dave Clawson.
“I’m not sure what they were taught and didn’t spend much time trying to figure out,” Wilson said. “Right now they have a clean slate and are doing their winter conditioning and workouts. Just from a conditioning phase, we are able to see them run around. I’ll be anxious once spring ball starts to see them put it all together and see where we are.”
The question most have following a 5-7 season is: “Was it coaching or talent that led to UT’s offensive demise?”
Wilson seemed cautiously optimistic that talent won’t be the issue this season.
“I think we have a chance,” he said. “I would like to get a couple more bigger guys who can get in there and be possession receivers. Right now we think we have some guys who can get in there and make plays and do some good things.”
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Comments » 281
VirginiaVols writes:
first, mabey?
VirginiaVols writes:
it's not as fun as I thought. Go Vols!
vol_in_bigten_land writes:
Finally some football news!
mike2ray#532619 writes:
Sweet. I can't wait to see this group in action in the fall. I think we're all cautiously optimistic.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
kmarti26 writes:
first
vol_in_bigten_land writes:
Has anyone heard anything about Charles yet?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Strikes about the right note of cautious optimism with me. Didn't know he hadn't coached WRs before; somewhat of a gap in the offensive staff, maybe.
bsc819 writes:
Go Vols!! August wont get here fast enough
vol_in_bigten_land writes:
Offense will be fine.Look at the first year Trooper T. Coached WRs.
blitzshoot writes:
A quarterback next year would be nice too.
PennVol writes:
Need an accurate QB or we'll have to run reverses to get the ball to receivers.
appalachianvol writes:
aahh! I needed some good news.
vol_in_bigten_land writes:
I think JC will do OK. He is better suited for Kiffin's offense. Start supporting the team and be optimistic.
turner_c writes:
WRs was CLK's position specialty. If he didn't think Wilson had "it", he owuldn't have hired him. I just don't see any gaps.
bugman (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
checkerboards writes:
The lack of speed was somewhat due to the new offense, but it was also due to quarterback play. It's hard to go full speed when you know the quarterback is going to over or under throw you by 10 yards. My hope is that CLK and the offensive staff can get our three quarterbacks to stop overthinking themselves and just play football.
I think that the right coaching and system will help our quarterbacks get better. Look at what Coach Cut was able to do with Ainge after the Randy Sanders era. I'm not saying we will have an all-SEC qb, but at least we can complete passes.
Volsfanstuckintx writes:
It scares me to say this but I believe JC will be the starter come the first game of the season. I'm just hoping that it was coaching that did him in last year, and that maybe we will see the same guy who played good enough to beat the eventual national champions a few years back. There is no doubt that he has the arm to do so.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
guys, he is not going to say 'as a group, we suck at receiver', even if it's true.
Paige is a fast one, and Jones?? I think he is overrated. I'm guessing we play ssome tricks, like splitting out our big tight ends to create some matchup issues.
As I've siad a few times, the athlite UT recruits is too dumb to run the spread effectively. Do NOT be surprised to see BG do well this year for Clawson. Now, waht we DO have is a bunch of highly-rated, apeedy players all over the field.
JMHO, but the QB's and the line WILL do better this year becasue they WON'T have to think, just DO.
I'm speaking a little harshly, but it's how I see it. Clawson needed 3 or 4 recruiting classes to get what he wanted here....such as Taj Boyd.
BTW, I think we may miss out on all 3 late signers. That's okay, really, they won't make or break us. The big offensive tackle would have helped, and maybe a big receiver. We got neither. AT RB, we have enough to get by.
CoastGuardVol writes:
Well, it is what it is. Spring time is here. GO VOLS!!!
golfballs03 writes:
Teague on offense?
Orson Charles wants to wear #7 in college. How convenient that Matt Stafford is not using it anymore at Georgia...
vscebail#247785 writes:
I was "cautiously optomistic" last year. This year I will sit back and take the "let's wait and see" approach. I still don't think that Crompton can get it done. "It" meaning a winning season and a BCS bowl.
golfballs03 writes:
he needs to step it up. he's got the skills.
BTW, T. J. Houshmandzadeh is only 6-1
BIGEJ writes:
Enough already about Fulmer; the Fulmer era is over; great, bad, or indifferent; put the past behind you...and GO VOLs
MrBamSeydu writes:
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volnbig11land writes:
hahaha, nice name.
I'm in Dayton. Hard to listen to the buckeyes constantly run their mouths!
MattDillon writes:
I think Crompton will be a different q.b. also.No one is as dissapointed with him as himself. He is a talented young man who , i feel, can't wait to redeem himself.I mean its hard to play q.b. when nobody is on the same page.That was the case most of the time last year.I for one are willing to give Crompton a clean slate before passing judgement.
golfballs03 writes:
oh yeah, and TJ is considered more of a "possession reciever."
Quintin Hancock is out biggest true reciever at 6-3. Maybe there's a chance this new staff can get something more out of him. Same thing with Ahmad Paige, I think there is more promise with him.
Unfortunately, our de facto "posession" wr is Rogers. He's show that he can make good catches, but he's a little inconsistent
vol_in_bigten_land writes:
It is hard to play QB when you are not happy or comfortable with the system you are in. It is also hard for the O-line to block in a system like Clawson's they can't passblock the traditional way because they have to be ready for the QB to take off running. Which also requires a mobile QB.
vol_in_bigten_land writes:
I agree they will all be more productive. I liked Fulmer but he recruited kids just to have a highly rated recruiting class, not for their talent.
utmdm writes:
Always wonder why we never hear his name. Is he in deep do with the coaches?
wildmed writes:
Glad to see Coach Wilson has a great attitude about his receivers. Tennessee can be a good team without eleven superstars on the field at the same time. Still, I'm very eager to see what Coach Kiff & Co can do with a full year of recruiting. I expect terrific results! Go Vols!!
wagee12 writes:
gatorzz writes:
I haven't seen you guys this excited since you hired Coach Clawson.
Yes, Dave Clawson has been made the scapegoat, seems the buck never seemed to reach the right desk. LOL
Perhaps we should not forget that we have a 6-8 tightend who is a senior and if he can avoid the nagging injuries that have impeded his career, then there's a really big target right there.
In 2007, Quinton Hancock caught 16 passes and averaged over 10 yards per reception. Here is hoping that Coach Wilson and CLK can help this guy have a great senior season. He is 6-3, 210 and runs about a 4.6 forty.
Don't forget, CLK's first job at Southern Cal was as the wide receivers coach. He should be a big help to Coach Wilson as he adjusts to tutoring receivers instead of running backs.
golfballs03 writes:
art evans is up against some serious competition in the defensive backfield this year. i think janzen jackson might prevail
bud0323 writes:
This spring practice will be very interesting. I can't wait to see how the players will react from a practice with coach Kiffin. I'm interested to see who's going to be our quarterback. Remember besides Crompton, we also have B.J. Coleman who looked good against Vandy, and Nick Stephens.
Go Vols.
volroadwarrior writes:
2011. That is the year we should excel. In 2009 we have a lot of holes to fill. In 2010 we lose the whole OL and have to break in a new QB, plus EB will be in the NFL. So, 2011 should be our break out. I would be very much surprised, but ecstatic if we can make a BCS bowl in the next 2 seasons. I will be happy if we can go to a New Year's Day bowl and pull an upset over either FLA and/or BAMA.
SCarolinaVols writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
senracjr writes:
I haven't seen you this retarded since yesterday.
golfballs03 writes:
oh, and what about teague? i thought that he might actually start at corner this year, but wilson is talking about him as a reciever? I know he's got the ATH tag, but what will be his true position?
gohawks1 writes:
Just ask them what their bowl record is against SEC teams... that oughta shut 'em up.
TotalPackage1 writes:
First...That's great! Now, it's almost 7 pm EST so brush your teeth and put your PJ's on...time to get ready for beddy-bye...PLEASE STOP.
golfballs03 writes:
Eric Berry's departure will hurt, no doubt. But with the talent we're bringing into the defenseive backfield, I don't think it should really dampen our expectations too much. The QB postion is another issue. Coleman and Stephens will be here, and maybe by that time they will elevate their game to SEC starter-worthy.
Bearwuzacheater writes:
calling Gatorszz a retard is a serious insult to all mentally handicapped people!
Lean_and_Hungry writes:
Telling news from the NFL combine: Our guys are putting up some of the lowest number of reps in the bench press. Maybe Johnny Long should have done less towel-twirling and spent more time getting the guys stronger.
Kiffin_fan writes:
It's been three months since they were with Long. Maybe they should have done more by themselves for their own good.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
OKEMO say
MrBanSeydu must be 12 year old boy
MrBanSeydu hide behind internet with childish insult
OKEMO now have 8 wives, 5 with child
OKEMO has spoken
now pay homage
volzcrushm writes:
hey guy, you might be right but i hope not. There are lots of ways to patch things in one year...not to mention two or three. Jucos can do some immediate contribution as can transfers. Seeing how this new coaching staff is so agressive, and the fact we still have some very good athletes, I would say this year is 9-3. next year 11-1.
TommyJack writes:
OKEMO wear high heeled moccasins and live in rainbow teepee.
QDog writes:
Hey Gator Get some new material.
jcherrie#219531 writes:
Yeah - and we haven't seen you post this yet - except for about a dozen times.
You can make friends or you can torment people. It's your choice.
You're an embarrasment to a great school and a great football team.
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