|
DB
Jonathan Hefney |
|
|
2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Phillip Fulmer
137-41,
15 years |
2006
Record: 9-4 |
|
CALIFORNIA |
WON
35-18 |
AIR
FORCE |
WON
31-30 |
FLORIDA |
LOST
20-21 |
MARSHALL |
WON
33-7 |
at
Memphis |
WON
41-7 |
at
Georgia |
WON
51-33 |
ALABAMA |
WON
16-13 |
at
South Carolina |
WON
31-24 |
LOUISIANA
STATE |
LOST
24-28 |
at
Arkansas |
LOST
14-31 |
at
Vanderbilt |
WON
39-10 |
KENTUCKY |
WON
17-12 |
OUTBACK
BOWL |
Penn
State |
LOST
10-20 |
|
2006
Final Rankings
AP-25, Coaches-23, BCS-17
|
2007
Outlook |
After
the rotating quarterback debacle of
2005 that elicited a 5-6 mar on head
coach Phillip Fulmer’s distinguished
legacy here, Erik Ainge put his stamp
on this team as its leader and savior
in 2006. The nation’s No.14
QB will again be a guiding force,
but the Vols go nowhere unless they
reestablish their usually-effective
running attack. Sophomore RB LaMarcus
Coker needs to share the rock less
– let him get into a groove
as the workhorse. Replacing all of
the primary WRs and one side of the
line mean challenges abound for the
offense before it can hit on all cylinders.
Things are similar on defense, with
new corners and tackles needing to
quickly display some superiority for
the Vols to avoid another embarrassing
result in the nation’s toughest
conference. The turnover on defense
could help in the end, but the offense,
which just flat out-scored some foes
(Air Force, Georgia) to secure UT
wins last season, has been dealt a
tougher hand. There is no margin for
adjustment, either – the season
starts out in Berkeley with a rematch
against No.19 Cal, then a home stand
sees non-con toughie Southern Miss
visit, and then a trip to Gainesville
and a home tilt with Georgia within
three weeks all means there is a huge
range within which this team can perform.
Four of their last five are at home,
but Tennessee’s destiny for
’07 will have been determined
by then. The Vols have always had
to earn their place in such a tough
conference and division, and the Orange
Nation can therefore feel good in
again expecting big things from their
team.
Projected
2007 record: 9-3
|
|
TENNESSEE
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4.5 |
DL
- 3 |
RB
- 3.5 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 2.5 |
DB
- 3.5 |
OL
- 3.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Erik Ainge, 233-348-9, 2989 yds.,
19 TD
Rushing: LaMarcus Coker, 108
att., 696 yds., 5 TD
Receiving: Chris Brown, 31
rec., 239 yds., 1 TD
Scoring: LaMarcus Coker, 6
TD, 36 pts.
Punting: Britton Colquitt,
46 punts, 44.9 avg.
Kicking: None
Tackles: Jonathan Hefney, 96
tot., 66 solo
Sacks: Jerod Mayo, 5 sacks
Interceptions: Jonathan Hefney,
5 for 75 yds.
Kickoff Returns: LaMarcus Coker,
9 ret., 20.0 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Jonathan Hefney,
17 ret., 12.1 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
P/K
Britton Colquitt |
|
|
|
TENNESSEE
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 7 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 5 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Cory Anderson-FB, Jayson Swain-WR, Bret
Smith-WR, Arron Sears-OT, David Ligon-OG,
James Wilhoit-K, Robert Meachem-WR (NFL) |
DEFENSE:
Turk
McBride-DT, Justin Harrell-DT, Matt
McGlothlin-DT, Marvin Mitchell-MLB,
Jonathan Wade-CB, Antwan Stewart-CB,
Demetrice Morley-SS (dismissed), Inquoris
Johnson-CB (inj.) |
|
|
2007
OFFENSE |
With
the offense finally under only his command,
then-junior Erik Ainge responded by leading
Tennessee back into the top 10 (for a while).
A knee problem in ’07 spring drills
led to surgery that is not expected to limit
Ainge’s mobility, though the downtime
allowed dual-threat backup Lucas Taylor
time under center that tested the defense
in different ways. The biggest area needing
help is the running game. After ranking
96th, coach Fulmer has to abandon the running
back-by-committee approach. Sophomore LaMarcus
Coker, a second-team Freshman All-American,
distinguished himself as the best out of
a trio of capable underclassmen, and he
needs to get about twice as many carries
to assure the Vol running game is what it
should be. Another big test will be how
well the receiving corps rebounds from losing
its top three guys. Transfer Kenny O’Neal,
this year’s No.2 JUCO prospect, and
Brent Vinson will push guys like Slick Shelley,
Quintin Hancock and Austin Rogers to see
who gets the starting slots – this
much talent will assure Ainge that he has
open targets early and often. Also helping
open up the downfield proceedings will be
two experienced TEs with proven soft hands.
Brad Cottam uses his 6’8 frame to
his advantage, staying in protection with
the same optimal effect that he offers in
going downfield. Just as athletic is monster
senior left tackle Eric Young (runs a 4.8
40), who has starting junior left guard
Anthony Parker and center Josh McNeil back
to secure that side. McNeil was a first-team
Freshman All-American, making senior Michael
Frogg expandable to the open right guard
slot. Most of the two-deep up front is 300+lbs,
making better footwork and increased mobility
challenges needing to be met if UT is to
get the ground attack back in top form.
|
|
QB
Erik Ainge
|
|
|
TENNESSEE
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Erik
Ainge-Sr (6-6, 220) |
Jonathan
Crompton-So (6-4, 230) |
TB |
Arian
Foster-Jr (6-1, 225) |
LaMarcus
Coker-So (5-11, 195)
Montario Hardesty-So (6-0, 205) |
WR |
Austin
Rogers-So (6-2, 185) |
Quintin
Hancock-So (6-3, 200) |
WR |
Lucas
Taylor-Jr (6-0, 185) |
Casey
Woods-Sr (6-5, 215) |
TE |
Brad
Cottam-Sr (6-8, 270) |
David
Holbert-Sr (6-1, 259) (FB) |
TE |
Chris
Brown-Sr (6-3, 250) |
Jeff
Cottam-So (6-8, 260) |
OT |
Chris
Scott-So (6-5, 305) |
Ramon
Johnson-Fr (6-5, 310) |
OG |
Ramon
Foster-Jr (6-6, 325) |
Vladimir
Richard-So (6-4, 297) |
C |
Josh
McNeil-So (6-4, 280) |
Michael
Frogg-Sr (6-4, 290) |
OG |
Anthony
Parker-Jr (6-3, 305) |
Jacques
McClendon-So (6-3, 330) |
OT |
Eric
Young-Sr (6-4, 305) |
Steven
Jones-Sr (6-4, 305) |
K |
Britton
Colquitt-Jr (6-3, 205) |
Daniel
Lincoln-Fr (6-0, 204) |
|
|
2007
DEFENSE |
The
Vols defense, which finished with an out-of-character
ranking of 50th overall, needs attention
across the board if they are to have this
squad competing for the East division title.
Senior ends Xavier Mitchell and Antonio
Reynolds are solid in many ways, but they
will have to produce more big plays for
UT to finish better than they did in ’06
for run defense (72nd). Sophomore Demonté
Bolden is the Vols lone hat inside with
significant real game reps, but we expect
the youth movement to be part of the eventual
improvements up front. End Walter Fisher,
the second-best overall JUCO-transfer last
year, and this year’s No.2 strongside
end Ben Martin are joined by two of 2007’s
other four-star tackle recruits (Langley,
Melancon) to constitute enough talent to
soon get the Vol line back up to snuff.
A huge part of Tennessee’s overall
results will hinge on how long that takes.
Both outside starters at linebacker return,
and they will be a huge boost in bolstering
the fledging efforts up front. Will the
No.1 ILB prospect, Chris Donald, get reps
in the middle as a true frosh? Ellix Wilson
is a bulked up ex-DB whose range will help
him really excel as the likely new starter
at MLB, so this unit is strong with depth
- Rico McCoy also excelled as a freshman,
he on the weakside behind junior starter
Jerod Mayo. The nation’s top corner
recruit, Eric Berry, will compete for one
of the vacated corner slots – his
4.33 time in the 40 assures he doesn’t
get redshirted. Vinson also played at corner
in prep; so much inexperience will surely
need time to adjust and gel, so expect the
corners to get picked on until they prove
they need to be avoided. It doesn’t
help that strong safety Demetrice Morley
was dismissed for grades (an unfortunate
University High School in Miami product),
but soph Antonio Wardlow has enough experience
there that Morley won’t be missed
by midseason. Jonathan Hefney is an all-SEC
product at free safety who will buoy the
secondary’s rebuilding efforts. Overall,
there are a few areas needing serious focus
before this D is ready for the tough September
slate.
|
|
LB
Jerod Mayo
|
|
|
TENNESSEE
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Xavier
Mitchell-Sr (6-2, 255) |
Wes
Brown-So (6-4, 256) |
DT |
Dan
Williams-So (6-3, 310) |
Chase
Nelson-So (6-4, 256) |
DT |
J.T.
Mapu-Sr (6-4, 290) |
Demonte'
Bolden-Jr (6-6, 290) |
DE |
Antonio
Reynolds-Sr (6-3, 270) |
Robert
Ayers-Jr (6-3, 260) |
SLB |
Ryan
Karl-Sr (6-0, 218) |
Adam
Myers-White-Jr (6-2, 215) |
MLB |
Jerod
Mayo-Jr (6-2, 230) |
Ellix
Wilson-Jr (5-10, 225) |
WLB |
Rico
McCoy-So (6-1, 215) |
Dorian
Davis-So (6-2, 215) |
CB |
Antonio
Gaines-Sr (5-9, 180) |
Art
Evans-Fr (6-1, 185) |
CB |
Marsalous
Johnson-So (5-9, 180) |
Roshaun
Fellows-Sr (6-0, 185) |
SS |
Jarod
Parrish-Sr (6-3, 200) |
Sinclair
Cannon-Jr (6-2, 215) |
FS |
Jonathan
Hefney-Sr (5-9, 185) |
Antonio
Wardlow-So (6-0, 185) |
P |
Britton
Colquitt-Jr (6-3, 205) |
.. |
|
|
|
2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Punter
Britton Colquitt’s average of nearly 45
per try will again equal a top 15 net effort in
his native Knoxville. The parade of big-footed
candidates for the open slot at kicker should
only benefit UT in the end as they all vie for
the start. Hefney is solid as the team’s
punt returner, but Coker has to improve at KR
to keep coach Fulmer from constantly trying out
other speedsters.
|
|