WR changes balanced by Wilson

Frank Wilson has dealt with bad luck, bad routes, bad attitudes and one decision that was even worse.

Somehow the Tennessee wide receivers coach has handled them all.

The Vols have survived offseason defections, a season-ending injury, a player kicked off the team early in the season and one more this week after Nu'Keese Richardson's arrest - all of them coming at Wilson's position. But heading into Saturday's home finale against Vanderbilt (TV: ESPNU, 7 p.m.), UT has still managed to become one of the most prolific passing teams in the conference, and that doesn't usually happen without somebody catching the football.

"That's the thing this group has shown," Wilson said. "They're resilient and have character, because there's a lot of times we could have pointed the finger or blamed it on chemistry or continuity because one guy would be there, then the next week he would not be there.

"We stayed through the course and continued to work hard and develop as a group, as a whole. Those young guys at times had to step up and make plays and be accountable, and they did so. We're still not where we want to be, but we're making strides and I think we're heading in the right direction."

The ship has seemed to veer off course a few times, but even with so much uncertainty dating back to the spring, the Vols (5-5, 2-4 SEC) have cobbled together a passing attack that ranks third in the league despite dealing with a long list of losses leading up to Richardson.

Ahmad Paige and Tyler Maples both decided to transfer. E.J. Abrams-Ward was dismissed from the team. Austin Rogers is sitting out after suffering a season-ending injury in the summer. Brandon Warren was kicked off the team after having words with Wilson on the sideline during a loss to Auburn on Oct. 3.

But UT has made the best of what's left on the roster, and along with improved play from quarterback Jonathan Crompton, it hasn't had much to complain about other than a lack of depth as it prepares for the Commodores (2-9, 0-7).

"(Wilson) has done a great job," UT coach Lane Kiffin said. "Think what he's gone through. I think since we've been here this is five scholarship receivers that aren't here anymore that were here at one point, so he's had to really plug guys in and he went through a bunch of injuries at the beginning of the season.

"It's really good to see, and a lot of credit goes to him for sticking with the plan. We didn't make big changes, we just kept going back to work and it's paid off for those guys."

The Vols would clearly prefer to have more of them to work with, but a wide variety of circumstances has made that a challenge.

The latest appears to have taken the biggest toll, but Wilson is well prepared to handle the losses by now.

"It's tough, especially in that case with Nu'Keese because we recruited him, but also it's the reality of the business," Wilson said. "Young men have to be accountable, but it's always tough because it's somebody's child. You form that relationship with them and you help foster that and go through that maturation process with them, so when you lose them, it's tough.

"You learn how to move on and capture the guys that you have there, and hopefully everybody will learn a valuable lesson. Unfortunately it's from their mistakes, but hopefully we'll get better from it."

Wilson is running low on guys to absorb the message. But the receivers who are left have at least handled the improvement part.

Bumps And Bruises: LaMarcus Thompson's availability still has not been determined after he suffered a stinger in his shoulder late in the loss to Ole Miss last week. Tests were negative after the game, but the linebacker didn't practice Tuesday.

"He's still very sore," Kiffin said. "We're going to have to continue to monitor him throughout the week."

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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