Bolden turns heads in University of Tennessee practice
Thursday, August 7, 2008
KNOXVILLE — Chattanooga became the main event Wednesday evening, when the University of Tennessee football team donned full pads for the first time this preseason.
Former Tyner Academy defensive tackle Demonte Bolden defeated former Baylor School offensive guard Jacques McClendon in the marquis matchup of UT’s “Tennessee Drill,” a full-contact battle where offensive and defensive players plow into each other in a small area ahead of a running back.
“Coach Fulmer put the hometown guys against each other to build it up a little bit,” Vols junior defensive tackle Dan Williams said.
Bolden, a senior, broke UT’s defensive tackle bench press record this offseason, and McClendon, a junior, smashed the overall school record with a remarkable 645-pound pench press.
“There wasn’t a trophy on it or nothing,” Bolden said. “It was just competition — offense versus defense — to get better.”
Sixty-play scrimmage
The team ended practice with a 60-play scrimmage that was closed to the media. Specific details were not readily available, but several players complimented freshman defensive ends Willie Bohannon and Steven Fowlkes.
Vols starting quarterback Jonathan Crompton said the scrimmage was “just OK.”
“It’s a good start for us,” Fulmer said. “There are a million things we’ve got to take care of; first and foremost is the ball. We had a couple of balls on the ground and an interception.”
Crompton shied away from offering even vague statistics, but said the scrimmage “gives us something to build on.”
Faison done
Former minor league baseball player Vince Faison’s college football career is over. Faison, 27, followed doctors’ advice and gave up football with high blood pressure. Faison enrolled in January after an eight-year minor league baseball career. He was a first-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 2000. Fulmer said Faison will be “a student coach for us.”
Notes
Florida State tight end transfer Brandon Warren didn’t dress for Wednesday’s practice with a class conflict, according to Fulmer. Warren watched part of practice from the sideline, with a backpack and street clothes.
Freshman Rodriguez Wilks, brother of UT junior corner Marsalous Johnson, was moved from wide receiver to safety. Fulmer said the 6-1, 220-pound Wilks could find the field earlier at safety, where the Vols lack depth.
Junior defensive tackle Chase Nelson’s knee injury could be somewhat significant. “It looks like he is going to be out a while,” Fulmer said.
Freshman center Cody Pope sat out practice in street clothes after leaving the field Tuesday with a still undisclosed illness. ... Junior tight end Jeff Cottam (leg) sat out a second consecutive day. ... Sophomore linebacker Savion Frazier injured his ankle early in the scrimmage and was being evaluated after practice.
