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Brown waits on NCAA ruling David Wells Staff Writer With a week and a half until the season opener against Western Kentucky, freshman Bryce Brown’s
status is still up in the air. The running back’s eligibility has come into question in recent weeks over his affiliation with his adviser Brian Butler, who may have raised money for him during his sophomore year of high school. Head coach Lane Kiffin said that Brown’s eligibility status diverts focus from the freshman’s work on the field. “I think it’s a gigantic distraction,” Kiffin said last week after practice. “I think it’s very unfortunate.” Last week, the NCAA handed down its initial ruling, which the team is appealing. Various reports said Brown would be suspended for one or two games. NCAA regulation states that a player intending to play in college or who currently is playing in college may not have a sports agent. Butler has claimed that he did not function as an agent. Senior tailback Montario Hardesty said it was important for Brown to stay focused on football during the process. “I went and talked to (Brown) about it one time when it first happened just to make sure that his head was in the right place,” Hardesty said. “All he can do right now is come out and work. And I think he is handling it well.” Rivals.com named Brown the No. 1 running back recruit in the country last year. He committed orally to Miami before Lane Kiffin was hired as head coach. He later switched his commitment to Tennessee, announcing his intentions to sign with UT in a press conference
on March 16, more than a month after National Signing Day. Since arriving in Knoxville, his talent has impressed the coaching staff. “He’s physical,” Recruiting Coordinator Ed Orgeron said. “He’s a big back with speed. He reminds me of LenDale White over at USC.” Orgeron said Brown is faster than the Tennessee Titans running back. Hardesty said that, while Brown’s loss will hurt the Vols’ depth for a couple of games, neither he nor the other running backs feel any additional pressure. “I’m not sure if it’s any added pressure for us,” Hardesty said. “We’re not even thinking about that. That will work itself out.” Throughout the NCAA investigation, Brown has not seen fewer repetitions and has been limited only by a minor hip injury. At Saturday’s scrimmage, he rotated in regularly during the second half and was still practicing with the team on Monday. After the second scrimmage, Kiffin commended Brown’s efforts to get better at his position. “(Brown) has really studied a lot, has really studied his playbook,” Kiffin said. “He’s making very little mental errors.” With everything that has gone on, sophomore Tauren Poole said the team has a responsibility to Brown. “As a running back, you do have to protect your team,” Poole said. “We just got to step up as upperclassmen and encourage him everyday just to put it behind him.”
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Crompton beats out Stephens, wins starting job at quarterback
Katie Hogin • The Daily Beacon
Senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton waits for the snap during practice Tuesday afternoon.
Staff Reports UT head coach Lane Kiffin tabbed senior Jonathan Crompton as the Vols’ starting quarterback for the 2009 season following Monday’s practice. Crompton and junior Nick Stephens battled on the practice field all offseason for the starting job, and Kiffin said the competition was a close one. “It really came down to Jonathan was a little bit more accurate,” Kiffin said after Monday’s practice. “Both guys made a number of plays during camp, both protected the ball very well with very low interception numbers, (and) very good numbers in general in all preseason games combined.” Kiffin said, despite Crompton taking the starting position, Stephens had an impressive offseason. “It’s weird to say it, but if you listed the five most improved players from spring, Nick would be one of them, even though he didn’t win the starting job,” Kiffin said. Kiffin admitted he felt safe with the Vols’ No. 2 option at quarterback. “If something were to happen to Jonathan, I feel very confident that Nick would come in and do a great job for us,” Kiffin said. “I think we’ve got two really good quarterbacks.” New Receiver In light of receiver Gerald Jones being sidelined for three to six weeks with a high ankle sprain, Kiffin announced moving redshirt freshman Rod Wilks over to receiver in order to boost the depth in the receiving corps. Wilks previously practiced as a defensive back in the secondary. “There’s no free agency to go to or trades, so we made a deal with the defense and went to Rod Wilks,” Kiffin said after practice. “We made a deal with the defense and brought him over.” Center of Focus Kiffin said senior center Josh McNeil missed practice to treat a knee injury suffered last week. McNeil’s injury could give way to fellow senior and former walk-on Cody Sullins, who may step into the starting lineup. “We’ll see how Josh comes back from his injury and then make a decision,” Kiffin said. “Hopefully we’ll have good news, and (Josh) will be able to play for us.” UT will hit the practice field again Wednesday afternoon at Haslam Field.