A slimmed-down Darrington Sentimore is no longer huffing and puffing through practice, and his perseverance has propelled him to Tennessee’s first-team defense.
Sentimore said Tuesday he pushed past Steven Fowlkes at defensive end a couple of days ago because he showed coaches that he could play the rush as well as the pass.
Sentimore, a former Alabama player who came to Tennessee after a junior college detour, said he only lost six pounds from spring, but he’s firmer and better conditioned.
“Coach Mac (strength coach Ron McKeefery) put us through a hard summer session,” he said. “Right now I’m with the first-team defense and I’m trying to stay with them.”
Tennessee coach Derek Dooley praised both Sentimore and Fowlkes, who he said displayed an outstanding attitude even as he was sidelined because of academics last year.
“(Fowlkes) was the best scout-team guy we had,” Dooley said.
* Receiver Da’Rick Rogers and defensive back Eric Gordon missed practice to attend the final day of classes for the summer academic session, Dooley said.
Freshman tailback Davante Bourque missed practice with a neck injury that Dooley compared to “whiplash.”
* Tight end Mychal Rivera could be out a few days with an injured knee, but Dooley said it was “nothing serious.”
Junior defensive lineman Joseph Ayres is getting some work at tight end to help shore up depth at the position. Freshman linebacker Justin King moved to tight end over the weekend.
“With Rivera out, we’re thin at that position,” Dooley said. “We have a lot of defensive lineman. Just like Justin King, I think Joe Ayers can give us a little value, especially as a bigger, physical guy to help us block.”
* Receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, a junior college transfer, continues to draw rave reviews from teammates in his first camp.
“CP is everything that everyone has hyped him up to be,” said quarterback Tyler Bray. “He can go up and get the ball, and he’s a big, strong receiver. He’s going to do very well in the SEC. His role will be very big this year. He’s pretty much a starter already, so he is going to play a big role.”
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Comments » 27
AlexAndersonAAradio writes:
I'm not getting my hopes high on Sentimore. It takes at least a year for a DT to develop to SEC football. We'll see. I hope he does great.
BIVOLAR_BEARE writes:
Agreed, but he seems to be progressing further along than expected..May be a diamond in the rough..GBO!
TheVolSnake writes:
Key thing is they are listening to the coaches; the effort of Sentimore pushes everyone in the fight for the starting position which makes everyone better.
I think Sentimore will start this year
hillsborovol writes:
JUCOs Chuck Smith and Chris Mims didn't take a year to develop.
lemme_axya_this writes:
I haven't read or heard much about Jacques Smith lately. Any word on how he's handling the switch from DE to OLB?
rtrchatt writes:
Maybe DS can show his new teammates the SEC/BCS
Championship rings from Alabama. He better botton up the chinstrap come October and those red elephants roll......
laraccoon writes:
i sure hope we have a pass rush this year .
RunningWithTheVols writes:
Reward for a lot of good, hard work. Awesome, young man! Way to step it up.
I like the 3-4 for us as we have to recruit better in the Deep South to get 6-7 quality DL's for the 4-3, but only need 3-4 blocker-eaters for the 3-4.
Tackling machines at LB are easier to come by.
Until we recruit GA and SC better, we are going to be challenged in the SEC. Fact. The last 10 years we have missed on every big-time player in the state of TN, even.
Dooley has us on the right course, but our biggest flaw, right now, is the kicking game. Too vulnerable to missing an easy FG, shanking a punt, or giving up a 50-yard return. Same as a TO.
We are going to have to play our best 10 athletes to compensate which exposes them to injury and fatigue until a kicker steps up.
MetroplexMojo writes:
My first game in Knoxville was watching a first year DT, Jesse Mahelona, dominate UF in 2004.
mountainbrook writes:
Did they do the "classy" Bammer thing and display it at Walmart again so they could pose for the People of Walmart site?
TheVolSnake writes:
Defensive back Cameron Sutton The 6-foot, 175-pound corner 3 star runs a 4.45. Committed to the Vol’s
voloffaith writes:
You are the gift that keeps on giving/agitating......I'm glad you don't ever talk about having class because you are sadly not qualified as you continually display that good 3rd grade playground bravado.... bravado is false confidence
Try humility occasionally..."pride comes before the fall..."
PUL4VOLS writes:
Darr Sent. is working hard. That is great. I hope he gets a lot of playing time and becomes a solid player.
Huttdawg100 writes:
On Swain and Rucker, Swain keeps talking about the impact Mahelona had on that 2004 team. He suggested that if Dan McCullers can do what Mahelona did for that team, we're in for a good year on defense.
Mahelona was a really nice guy. I remember walking out an English class in 2004, and he bumped into me. He was nice, soft spoken (he looked like he was half asleep), and apologetic. He asked where the Architecture building was. He was HUGE!! RIP JM!!
On Sentimore:
He knows the defense. We need his physical presence at Defensive End, but we need his knowledge of Sunseri's 3-4 defense more. Getting players lined up correct, making on the field adjustments, etc. is gonna be very important.
ChattaVol1 writes:
Jacques Smith, number 1 prospect from Tennessee is a VOL!!!!
exlineman writes:
Just wondering since Bodeanvol and Handicapper have been identified on here with their list of screen names, who is this kid? Seems like his many negative posts that he might be a relative or fan of B J Coleman and is still sore over B J's downfall at UT.
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
Sentimore was in the 2 deep at Bama before JUCO and was doing well. He has SEC experience and I fully expect him to make plays from day 1. Patterson is the one I can't wait to see.
coach799 writes:
So Tiny Richardson missed your list? Think before you type.
GO VOLS!!
gc_scvol writes:
That you, Peabody Jim?
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Dooleys been talking up having more plays that impact the game and he's right..One of those is stopping a drive with a timely sack on third down;which we had very little of last year..If Sentimore or anybody else up front can improve that number Iam all for it..Knocking a team out of field goal range with a sack or TFL can be a nice momentum changer..The good news keeps coming from Patterson in this camp!!!This group of WR's is looking lethal and hands down the best in the SEC.Having our big 3 on the field at the same time will be a DC's worst nightmare..Only thing that can stop them would be more bone head play calling by Chaney
hueypilot writes:
I guess we keep taking them because they're better than the other ones we're recruiting. You would think that the depth chart at Tuscaloosa might be a little more impressive than the one in Knoxville wouldn't you?
SouthPaVol writes:
I think DT and CP will both excel this year. Offense will score points; hope the defense comes up with some surprises--like a couple sacks and TFL per game.
My left-handed comment: Wonder what CDD and Chaney thought about Bray announcing CP as practically a starter? I realize Bray is trying to take on leadership responsibilities, but wish he would do his job instead of usurping our coaches' authority.
civilianvol_formerly_marinevol writes:
I don't know much about the 3-4 defense, but it would seem to me that the role of the OLB would be very similar to the role of the DE in a 4-3.
RashaadSalabeb writes:
Tell it! Get out there and hit somebody! D-Line we need penetration!
Go Vols!
lstbodeanvol writes:
Dude, you have no idea what you are talking about Bodeanvol & 1stBodeanvol are STRONG TENNESSEE VOL SUPPORTERS HERE FOR THE TEAM AND COACHES CHECK THE POSTS OVER THE LAST 2-3 YEARS SO THE KID APPEARS TO BE "YOU" GO VOLS GO COACH DOOLEY GO TENNESSEE VOL FANS !!!!!!!!
johnlg00 writes:
WR's rotate a lot, so several guys will have substantially similar minutes, no matter who starts. Patterson has obviously become one of the ones in that mix and is getting similar numbers of reps to the other receivers in practice. That is probably what he meant by it. It's not like Bray, before a game, handed the head official a lineup he filled out himself in ink without consulting Dooley.
longtimefan writes:
I agree imagine 3 DYNAMITE receivers on the field at the same time! with tylers arm and these guys WOW! should be fun to watch!
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