Tennessee's Hardesty closing in on 1,000-yard season
www.volquest.comOriginally published: November 05. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: November 04. 2009 11:24PM
KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee senior tailback Montario Hardesty only needs 169 rushing yards to hit the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
The previously injury-plagued Hardesty, who has been labeled by first-year UT coach Lane Kiffin as the prototypical player for the Vols' system, has plenty of teammates on his side.
"It will be a good thing for him, the (offensive) line, the receivers who have blocked downfield for him and for everyone," quarterback Jonathan Crompton said Wednesday.
Kiffin said he continues to be impressed by what Hardesty brings to the table each and every week despite eight games of punishment.
"The knock coming in was that he gets banged up too much," Kiffin said. "He continues to play through injuries. He is extremely banged up. He runs so physical. I love the style that he plays with. It's easy to play that style in the first quarter. It's easy to play that style in the first game. It's easy to play that style when you are not banged up.
"But when you are banged up like he is, wearing a shoulder brace, and he is still in there running people over and attacking people, it's a great message to your young players and everyone in your program."
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