MOBILE, Ala. - His good friend Jerod Mayo didn't make the trek to Alabama because his stock was high enough as a junior last year, but Tennessee's Robert Ayers is hoping to grab some attention this week at practice for Saturday's Under Armour Senior Bowl and continue a strong tradition for the Vols in the eyes of the National Football League.
Mayo excelled in his first year as a linebacker for the New England Patriots and was named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Ayers, at 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, is an inch taller than Mayo and about 40 pounds heavier. He put together his best season as a senior in 2008 with 49 tackles, 15.5 for a loss, as a defensive end. He earned second-team All-SEC honors and will show his worth to Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio and his staff as a member of the South team.
"I still talk to Jerod a lot about the process of getting drafted and his preparation for the draft, so he helped out a lot," Ayers said Monday after finishing his weigh-in. "I also talk to some of the older guys that played at Tennessee in the past like Aaron Sears and Justin Harrell and they all tell me what it's like and what to expect. I came here to try to enjoy the experience and hopefully get the most out of my practices."
Two other Vols - running back Arian Foster and offensive lineman Anthony Parker - joined Ayers at the South team's practice, which was held across the bay in Fairhope at Fairhope High School's stadium.
The rest of the week practices for both teams will be held at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile. Ayers hadn't seen his teammates since graduation so he was looking forward to being on the field with them again.
"Every year Tennessee has at least one, two or three players come in and do well at the Senior Bowl; guys like Brad Cottum who went in the third round after missing his whole senior season because of what he did in the Senior Bowl," Ayers said. "Erik Ainge helped himself out last year, and Sears did well when he played and the tradition goes on. We just want to carry on the legacy of having guys go on to play in the NFL."
From now through Saturday, Ayers, Foster and Parker will have their best opportunities to improve their stock. They will be seen in one-on-one drills and key situational drills on the practice field.
Not only will Del Rio and his coaches get to see up close a player who could help them out down the road, but scouts, coaches and general managers from the 30 other NFL teams are on hand watching from the sidelines and the bleachers.
"It is about practice," said Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith, who was Tennessee's defensive backs coach 1993-94. "You get a chance to see them in the drills. You get a chance to see them do a lot of the things; a lot of different skills, a lot of the different things we would ask the guys to do you get a chance to see.
"And then just to see how they interact when they're out there. You can find out an awful lot about guys just watching them interact with the rest of their teammates."
Ayers credits former Vols head coach Philip Fulmer with preparing him for this week and beyond. With a successful model like Mayo, who thrived under Fulmer, Ayers is hoping to be the next in line.
"I just want to show them that I'm a guy that'll never quit," said Ayers, who has some stiff competition from other SEC stalwarts like Georgia's Corvey Irvin and LSU's Darry Beckwith. "I never give up on a play, and I get after it and I compete at a high level day in and day out. I just want to come out here and show that and hopefully I can come out an impress the coaches."
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Comments » 31
MNP78 writes:
1st. Hope the NFL scouts are impressed by Arian's dinosaur language that he speaks. Bet that guy can hold a gatorade bottle and towel like its nobody's business.
onevolfan99 writes:
not going to say first, but Good luck Robert! tear up the nfl!
VolGraduate writes:
They'll all get drafted
rockitwithrespect writes:
who proofreads this stuff? the title of the article is "Ayers aims to follow Mayo's path from Senior Bowl to NFL". and in the first paragraph the writer says mayo didnt go to the senior bowl because he was already such a badarse. (im paraphrasing). writing like that just shows their foolishness
vols1314 writes:
Well Arian Foster shouldn't. He was a big time bust this year. And if someone does draft him, then thats a waste of a pick. BUT i hope i am very very wrong. I wish he could prove me wrong.
chattaboogievol writes:
I agree in that I don't think Arian will get picked...at least not in the first 3 rounds, but for different reasons. He didn't do well this year because our Clawfensive line was offensive. :) As well as the whole passing game. How many times did you see the defense of the opposing team with 8 or 9 in the box? Not Arian's fault. However, his ability to hang on to the ball and lack of burst will definitely put a dent in his chances even greater than the chance that he had a 3+ yard gain this year.
chattaboogievol writes:
I think we do....
kbart4033#247331 writes:
Wonder if Parker thinks enough of the NFL to finally get in shape...He certainly didn't worry about his conditioning this
past fall!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
rockitwithrespect,
Yeah. I thought I just misread it but you're right on.
I also plan on following Peyton Manning's path of living in Malaysia for years.
smokedoctor writes:
Its Cottam. not Cottum.
indianacurly writes:
not sure about parker - he needs to get serious. hopefully, he'll hold his own in the drills and practice ...
http://www.draftcountdown.com/feature...
Volgrad777 writes:
Foster gets drafted easy, hes not an every down NFL back , but hes a solid prospect for a 3rd down back , catches the ball well out of the backfield. This year really wont count against him that much , scouts know the info , his entire body of work is pretty impressive. Probably 3rd 4th round pick in my eyes.
tnbigg writes:
Good luck to Foster and Ayers. Ayers did a very good job last year. Anything and anyone associated with that disgraceful offensive line...you know...the ones who were supposed to be among the best in nation preseason...deserves NOTHING. "Deserve" means that you "earned" something. The only thing that line "earned" is to be written off immediately as the worst line in Tennessee football history...the perfect match to the dubious record they helped the team earn...the worst record in Tennessee football history. The tribute Ayers gave is better reflected in Parker - his off field and on field performances exemplified...bring on the new era and get rid of the old...F O R E V E R...
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Bigg, Dupree told me all 1st rounders had to learn to circumsize before they could be drafted. Something Melon told him.
Have any idea what he's referring to?
Puzzling.
orangevolz writes:
Don't worry. Foster will get drafted and prove you wrong. No doubt about it....he is NFL material.
shoalcreekvol writes:
I noticed the same thing. Unbelievable. They mention a whole bunch of guys who DID go to the Senior Bowl and then to the NFL, but then say Ayers hopes to follow the ONE that DIDN'T go to the Senior Bowl. Ridiculous.
Unfortunately the "Sports Editor" is too busy chasing his favorite teams around to worry about what's on a UT site. Where's the famous Deputy Sports Editor (read: Assistant to Regional Manager) when you need him? Or is he still banned from using a computer?
shoalcreekvol writes:
I think the Titans could use him. After the way Crumpler ended their chances this year, they could really use a guy who won't fumble near the goal line.
Oh, snap. Nevermind.
tennesseebee writes:
1st to wish you guys the best of luck!
1stPoliceJustSayNoToPosting1st writes:
Why did you type 1st? Are you an idiot?
1stPoliceJustSayNoToPosting1st writes:
"not going to say first" You might as well of with a stupid comment like that.
LAVol writes:
I was at the practice and all three players looked good. I think Foster will do good in the NFL. He has the size, strength and skills to be productive in that league. Yes he had a bad senior year, but my goodness who didn't in that horrible offense? Being able to see the best players up close as well as being there with scouts and NFL coaches is one of the greatest events I look forward to every year. The game is OK but the practices are the best part. Everyone should at least go once.
SignalMtnVol writes:
Foster will have to be a lot more physical than he was here. No doubt that he was a good back here overall, but he was incosistent, especially fumbling at the worst possible times. But, if not for the injury and work ethic his sophomore year, and / or the catastrophe that was Tennessee football '08, he would have been UT's all time leading rusher. He has the size to be a power back, but always tried to be a finesse runner, even without real "breakaway" speed. Never made sense to me that the coaches didn't bust his arse and tell him to hit the hole like a freight train.
vols1314 writes:
I think he will get drafted, I just think he will turn out to be nothing. But good luck.
tnbigg writes:
Wait...let me think...aaahhh...could it be...I mean...just maybe...that you refer to a certain...how shall I say it...gayter???
miamiVOL writes:
GL Robert
Bass_Vol_1998 writes:
I think Foster will get drafted- but on day two.
He is a great, complete, back. His overall speed may be lacking just a bit, but you don't become the #2 all time at tennessee by being sorry.
With that said, the FUMBLING is his real problem. He has fumbled away so many games it makes me sick. And to make it worse- he STILL dives with the ball out all the time. I am glad he will never fumble away a game for UT again. I also was glad he got the 27 jersey at the store so I could buy it (I claim that it is an Al Wilson jersey- maybe should have held out for a 14).
If a pro team is confident they can cure the fumbling- they should pick him.
TommyJack writes:
Lay off the KNS staff. At least a couple of them are busy posing as gator interlopers. Takes away from proof-reading time.
Bass_Vol_1998 writes:
Foster is/was a great back.
But you are right about playing four years. That has everything to do with moving up the all time list. Most of our top 10 only had two years of starting.
And I agree completely about the fumbling. One big fumble on sunday will be the end of his playing days.
jimr07 writes:
if foster did not have some potential he would not have been invited to the senior bowl. scouts i have listened to on the NFL network seem to think very highly of him. i forgot, where did you coach or were you an NFL scout?
jimr07 writes:
everyone forgets that foster had a very good junior year. i still blame last year on coaching. he was predicted, pre-season to set a new rushing record. i do not recall him fumbling his junior year
Bass_Vol_1998 writes:
he fumbled against UF.
Berry had a pick 6. Then we 3 and outed the gators. Got the ball back down 8 points midway through the 3rd quarter. He fumbled, it was scooped up and returned for a TD and the rout was on.
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