KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Freshman wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson did not attend Tennessee's brief Sunday night practice.
Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin offered no specific explanation for the absence.
"We're dealing with an issue with Nu'Keese," Kiffin said, promising more information on Tuesday.
Attempts to contact the Pahokee, Fla., native and his family Sunday night weren't immediately successful.
Several Vols (4-4, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) stayed on the sideline during practice for health reasons, but Kiffin didn't rule any of them out for Saturday's game against Memphis.
Junior starting middle linebacker Savion Frazier was helped off the field late in Tennessee's 31-13 win over South Carolina on Saturday night with a knee injury, but Kiffin said Sunday's diagnosis was better than initially feared.
"It just seemed bad coming off the field," said Kiffin, who said there was a chance Frazier could play against Memphis.
Defensive linemen Gerald Williams, a junior, and Marlon Walls, a freshman, were held from practice with ankle injuries, and junior defensive end Chris Walker missed another day because of a sore lower back. Junior linebacker LaMarcus Thompson sat out after leaving the South Carolina game with a stinger.
"This is why everybody needs to be working hard," said linebackers coach Lance Thompson, whose group has suffered a rash of long-term injuries. "We practice (reserves) like they're one play away. Unfortunately for us, that's happened three times with linebackers."
Redshirt freshman Herman Lathers, Frazier's primary backup in the middle, said Sunday night that he has dealt with a blood problem the past two years. He didn't disclose the name of the condition Tennessee's staff but said he undergoes several tests weekly before getting cleared to play.
"I think it's a long term thing, with how I'm dealing with it," Lathers said. "As far as the training room goes, they say the only situation (to fix it) is removing my spleen — which I really don't want to have happen — so I guess it's going to be long term.
"I never know when I'm going to play, but I'm always up and ready and prepared for it. I just stay ready and stay focused, and I play when they let me play."
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Tennessee Lady Vols 82, Auburn Tigers 64
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 30
adimatteo#261830 writes:
any update on Richardson issue. Hate to see problems there, just a rich area for talent, would be nice if all went well for him and Vols...
darbhoo writes:
So does anyone actually know what the issue is? Surely one of you is plugged in to the truth to get it out in the open.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Iam not sure why Nuke thought he would come in as a freshman and start at WR over 3 veteran players; If he was that good he would have proved it while Moore and Jones were recovering..I like the kid but he was overrated in high school because playing against a nobody safety in high school and playing against all the talented DB's in the SEC are 2 totally different things; I would much rather see a 6'3" highly regarded JUCO receiver playing than a 5'10" Nuke; I also don't understand how he thinks he'll do better at another school unless it's a Memphis or So. Miss....Playing at FLA the results would be the same; Demps and Rainey make him look like nobody!! As far as our future WR we are looking fine; Moore and Jones should return because they would be 5th or 6th round guys if they got drafted at all; Call me crazy but I believe Zach Rodgers in 2 years will be our 3rd down go to guy; He has good hands and very deceptive speed and good tackle breaking ability..As long as we don't lose Ambles or Meline we will be looking at one of our best WR group in years...Didn't mean to write a novel here but it's good info and would like to hear you guys opinion and this important news!!!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
By the way what happened to James Green???
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Nuke is homesick??? Give me A F##king break!!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Good observation..Teams know right away that all Nuke's going to do is try to run it wide and hope for the best..If your going to have that package it takes 3 or 4 plays to get the desired result..If you want to know how to do it successfully just look at some Miami Dolphin film
THEKIDWI writes:
Hey, did you go away to school or leave home for any reason at that age? A long time ago at that age i felt that way from time to time. It's to be expected and it happens.
If that's all it is we can consider ourselves lucky. He's a talent. He'll come around. I'm sure being away from home and getting the PR duties taken away (rightfully so at this point) all added up. It'll pass.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Yes I did..Joined the Army right out of high school;No money;No support;No family support;No friends...Man up or get eaten up!!!
THEKIDWI writes:
Fair enough licknpromise. I'd say your more the exception than the rule.
And judging from the anger that clearly still resides in you you're surely not looking for any sympathy, but just the same it's a shame that was your circumstances at such a young age.
Perhaps take a look at it from someone else's point of view. Not everybody was forced to enlist due to no friends, family or funding.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Don't mean to sound heartless but Nuke wants to be in the limelight;He wants to play at the highest level..He GOT everything he asked for..Nothing wrong with saying this is too much too fast..I wish for him a great future but he's one of a 100 or more new recruits having the same conflicts
Hardrocknox writes:
Let me guess , A big win and it being Halloween , my guess is breaking team rules of "over indulgences ".
98reax writes:
licknpromise, Poppy ran over a speed bump (a gopher hole) on the way up the Cumberland Mountains to visit Grandpa, I fell out of the wagon, the folks moved on, unaware of baby's untimely exit.
I was able to knock down a few squirrels with my slingshot. I was a pretty good cook for a little kid. Fortunately, I'd learned to make a fire at the age of two.
The folks never came back for me and I did not starve. I became familiar with the raccoon and that's why I'm a Volunteer.
MoralVictory writes:
Nukeese expected to start because thats what Lane promised him..I hope the kid sticks because UT is gonna need him.
kpoe#210172 writes:
I hope he gets his head on straight. Right now he’s an immature freshman. Unfortunately,twice he’s decided to air dirty laundry on his Facebook page. IF this is about playing time, he has shown nothing to earn any more than the limited opportunities he has been given. Being dragged down running the wildcat, running bad routes as WR and my favorite, playing hot potato with punts in the return game, is not at the level of SEC, or any other major conference.
Eventually he may be a fine, even excellent player, or could be a complete bust, it's too soon to know. After the win this weekend, to gripe publicly is not being a team player. He was use to being a star and having all the accolades and attention at Pahokee. For his sake, I hope he figures out that it’s time to grow up, realizes what a great opportunity he has and most importantly, that nothing is guaranteed. He is surrounded by a good group of coaches, at a fine university where he can get a good education and play football in the nation's top conference. For alot guys,that's an damn enviable position to be in. If he doesn't get it,than wish him well, because there's not one player bigger than this team or the staff.
lomas98 writes:
Wasn't another Pahokee star visiting this past weekend. Maybe Nuke spent time with one of his buddies too late on Saturday night or Sunday morning.
jimr07 writes:
How do you know Lane promised anything? Are you one of these so-called insiders?
pomp_and_circumstance writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
volnsc writes:
Pomp, did you get this from a reliable source? !
michealgibson21#260794 writes:
Most of this is all speculation. Only a few people know what is really going on and it will all come out eventually. Until then, if you don't know, shut up and wait for the facts like the rest of us.
mattgb7c writes:
I heard that he wanted to go pump gas for a living.
Elkabong1940 writes:
I don't know if you keep up with current events, but nobody pumps gas for a living anymore - everything is self-service.(just kidding)
MoralVictory writes:
I was going to text Nu'Keese but Lane said it would be an NCAA violation to text an "unhappy camper" while on his campus ..even if it's not
dowhatsright writes:
Herman, take care of yourself and do what the trainers and doctors say. It's good you caught it.
Southland writes:
in response to licknpromise777#651578 writes:
in response to darbhoo:
So does anyone actually know what the issue is? Surely one of you is plugged in to the truth to get it out in the open.
Nuke is homesick??? Give me A F##king break!!
Why doyou have to try to use the language oftrash on a post. Our society needs to
learn a little or a lot of class. Profanity is the result of a weak mind trying to express itself.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Why is that so hard to believe? He is a small-town kid, growing up around people he has known all his life, who has probably never been anywhere much in his life and no doubt has a large, close extended family. Couple that with a lack of production and/or playing time, and I can see how anyone might feel a bit down right now. After all, there are lots of otherwise pretty good people who just can't hack it in the military, for example, for just those kinds of reasons. It does no one any good to put such people down; not everybody reacts the same to challenging situations. I hope he turns out to be more mature than that, but, if he isn't, no hard feelings, that's just the way it goes sometimes.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I doubt CLK promised Nuke he would START; he told him and everybody else they would have a chance to COMPETE for starting positions. Nuke has had plenty of chances to show what he has compared to everybody else. Right now, it seems that that is not enough and he is disappointed. For a kid who has likely been a star his whole life, this has probably been a real come-down for him. I hope he can work his way through it; otherwise, I wish him well elsewhere.
atlvolsfan writes:
I have to agree with you johnlg00#206211. There are no beans to spill. Anybody watching Nukeese, Janzen, Greg, Bryce, David or any of our freshmen's playing time since the opener against WKU has seen that Kiffin made good on recruiting promises.
Everyone has had their chance to prove their abilities on the field. Even against 2 - #1 teams in the same season and in the best conference in football. This kid has been a local celebrity likely for years. Now he's at a higher level, a new city and playing against the best competetion in CFB every week.
He's made a couple of bonehead moves in games, dropping balls on returns, etc. Freshmen mistakes. He needs to dial it back a notch, eat a slice of humble pie and get back up and compete. A real competetor at this level is more concerned with earning his spot in this offense/special teams and not placing blame on the coaching staff, etc. History has shown us that the Brandon Warren's of the world, with twice the talent of most players can produce nothing without a right attitude. If he keeps whining, let him go back to Florida. These are kids, but they've chosen to play a man's game.
uwishuwereassmartasme (Inactive) writes:
amateur staff?? Seriously, do you know anything about football or coaching? If you think that we have an amateur staff, you are highly misinformed!!
MoralVictory writes:
Nu'keese picked up at WPB airport by Chris Dunkley ..heading back to Pahokee where they wear no shirts or shoes
atlvolsfan writes:
Kiffin just said in the 12:30 press conference that "everything is fine". He said Nukeese puts a lot of pressure on himself to perform well and get the playing time he wants.
Kiffin said they talked for a while yesterday and he reassured Nukeese that he was going to be a great player. Then said he just needs to do the little things in practice and be committed to getting better. Kiffin also said that Nukeese faces normal pressures that even Freshmen who don't play sports face. Unrealistic expectations. So, it sounds like an attitude isssue and the realization that life at the next level doesn't come as easy as when you're a HS football star.
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