All padded up: Vols put on full equipment for first time in fall camp

By Ryan Callahan
of The Daily Times Staff

KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee junior linebacker Rico McCoy was only supposed to be taking a brief rest every time he went to the sideline late Wednesday afternoon at Haslam Field.

He was just too interested in what was happening on the field.

A handful of the Volunteers' younger defensive players, including a couple who changed positions this week, stole the show during the team's first practice of fall camp in full pads, a workout that lasted almost three hours and included a 58-play scrimmage.

McCoy, several of his teammates and coach Phillip Fulmer all came away with mixed reviews on one of the most anticipated days of preseason drills, when players are allowed to wear full gear for the first time after the NCAA's mandated four-day acclimation period.

But no one could complain much about a few of the team's up-and-coming defensive prospects, including newcomers Gerald Williams, Willie Bohannon and Steven Fowlkes.

"I was impressed with the younger guys out there," McCoy said. "(Sophomore linebacker) Gerald Williams came right back in the swing of things. I saw him out there making plays. The D-ends did really well today -- Willie Bohannon, Steven Fowlkes. Those guys made some good plays today as freshmen."

Fowlkes, a 6-foot-5, 213-pound true freshman from College Park, Ga., opened fall camp at wide receiver but moved to defensive end Tuesday.

He didn't waste any time making an impression.

"He just moved to defensive end, and he took the challenge of coming out and trying to compete, trying to get better," senior defensive end Robert Ayers said. "That's a good sign when you've got a young guy coming from receiver to defensive end, when it's a whole different mindset playing defensive end (compared to) receiver."

Referring to Fowlkes and Bohannon, a 6-3, 230-pound true freshman from Mobile, Ala., Ayers added, "Those are two guys that I'd say have a bright future ahead of them."

A few of this year's key players, though, might have some work to do in the 25 days remaining until the Sept. 1 opener at UCLA.

Fulmer said the practice was "a good start for us" but pointed out a few areas that could use some work, particularly in the team's first full scrimmage of the fall Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

"(There are) a million things we've got to take care of. First and foremost is the ball," he said. "That will obviously be a great emphasis as we go along. We had a couple balls on the ground and an interception, but that's how you learn.

"There were some really positive things on both sides."

On offense, Fulmer pointed to senior Arian Foster and junior Montario Hardesty -- the top two tailbacks on the depth chart -- as players who stood out at times, along with true freshman tailback Tauren Poole.

"They look fast," Fulmer said. "I can't wait to get up there and see the film."

Another true freshman, Rodriquez Wilks, switched from wide receiver to defensive back for the first time Wednesday and turned a few heads in his first practice as a defensive back.

Sophomore defensive end Chris Walker also added one of the highlights of the scrimmage, a tackle on a play that was "down the field about 20 yards," Fulmer said.

"It took a few plays for us to get back in the swing because it was the first time (playing in full pads) since the spring game," junior starting quarterback Jonathan Crompton said. "But I thought overall we did a good job. Everybody's getting better."