Kiffin on pumping gas, evaluation of players

Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin was interviewed Thursday on The Sports Animal by Jimmy Hyams and John Wilkerson this afternoon. Here are some of the highlights:

*Kiffin said the ESPN report earlier this week about receiver prospect Alshon Jeffrey was disappointing and really discouraging.

Kiffin said he talked to Jeffrey this week. Kiffin said Jeffrey denied saying that Kiffin told him he would be pumping gas like all of the other prospects that went to South Carolina if he chose to sign with South Carolina.

*Kiffin said Tennessee’s quarterbacks completed 73-percent of their passes on Tuesday, the first day of spring practice.

*Kiffin lauded Gerald Jones, calling the receiver the most valuable player of Tuesday’s practice.

*Brandon Warren, who was moved from tight end to receiver end before spring practice began, showed flashes but struggled at times on Tuesday. The same held true for Aaron Douglas, who was moved from tight end to offensive tackle.

*Jacques McClendon didn’t participate fully in practice on Tuesday because he was ill. The offensive guard tried to practice through a fever but was pulled from practice by trainers.

*Safety Demetrice Morley will return to practice today after missing Tuesday as punishment for being late for a meeting earlier in the day. The senior will have to work his way back into the rotation, Kiffin said.

*Kiffin jokingly (maybe) invited anybody who could throw a football to join the team as a walk-on to give the Vols more depth at quarterback in practice. Kiffin said holder Bram Cannon threw some on Tuesday.

UT is down to two quarterbacks – Jonathan Crompton and B.J. Coleman – since Nick Stephens suffered a broken wrist last week.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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