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KNOXVILLE -- Brandon Warren's first official practice with the Tennessee football team marked the end of an unexpectedly difficult year for the former Alcoa High School standout.

His final sigh of relief might have to wait a while longer.

Warren, who joined the Volunteers for their first practice of fall camp Saturday inside Neyland-Thompson Complex, still is awaiting responses from the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA on appeals that could make him eligible to play this season.

A freshman All-America tight end at Florida State in 2006, Warren needs to be granted appeals related to his failure to make sufficient progress toward his degree and complete his second semester as required by the NCAA when he left the school in February 2007.

Warren, who is allowed to practice with the team but currently is listed on UT's roster as a non-scholarship player, said Saturday morning during the team's Media Day at Neyland Stadium that he's "being patient" with the situation.

"It's not that I don't think about it by the hour, by the minute," he said. "I wish the process would hurry. But I understand that they're dealing with a lot, too. I'm sure there's other players in the country in similar situations, so I just have to be patient and wait my turn.

"I feel like it's coming soon."

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer seemed frustrated with the conference for delaying its decision on Warren.

"Apparently, the commissioner is up to his neck working with the TV contracts and so on," Fulmer said. "We just have not gotten an answer back, which I think is long overdue. ... We hope to get some kind of resolution to that shortly."

In the meantime, Warren donned his new No. 1 orange home jersey and reflected on an 18-month span full of twists and turns.

He called his decision to leave Florida State "something I had to do," referring to his mother's battle with cancer in 2005 and persistent medical problems that prompted his departure, and said initially signing with Florida State over UT in February 2006 was "a mistake."

Warren also expressed frustration with legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden for his refusal to grant Warren an unconditional release from his scholarship, a decision that ultimately prevented him from enrolling at UT until this year.

"I had met with Coach Bowden a couple of times before I decided to leave. I wanted to meet with them, talk to them and let them know how I felt," Warren said.

"He told me they weren't going to let me go, no matter what I did. It was just a crazy situation. With them knowing everything about everything, it just kind of took me by surprise a little bit because Coach Bowden is supposed to be a Christian man and all that. I didn't really understand it."

Earlier, Warren had said he didn't "have too many bad feelings" toward Florida State but wished school officials had "made the right decision" on his release.

"My mom had letters from Coach Bowden and the (other) coaches, get-well letters," he said. "It's business, and sometimes we're treated like ... I don't know. I don't even really want to discuss Florida State, honestly."

Warren enrolled last year at Pellissippi State Technical Community College, where he spent three full semesters to solidify his academic standing.

He finally transferred to Tennessee in early June and attended voluntary summer workouts with teammates.

Also a standout defensive end at Alcoa, Warren said he plans to play tight end for the Vols but didn't rule out the possibility of taking snaps on defense for a team that has lacked a consistent pass rush in recent years.

"I want to play tight end. That's what I've played at this level," he said. "I haven't played defensive end at this level. ... I'm learning (both tight-end positions) right now. Once I get that under my belt, I might go on third downs and chase the quarterback a little bit."

Even after sitting out for a year, Warren said he joins the Vols in the best shape of his career. He worked out twice daily for most of the summer and did extra running "to catch up a little bit."

The only thing holding back Warren now is a matter that's out of his hands.

"I'm just being patient right now," Warren said. "When they come to a decision, I'm sure I'll be pretty excited. I've got a pretty good feeling about it. I just know it's a process, and I have to wait my turn."