Rico McCoy
Dan Williams

KNOXVILLE -- When most people start doling out praise for the University of Tennessee's stout defense, they start with coordinator Monte Kiffin and All-America safety Eric Berry.

Some also credit senior weakside linebacker Rico McCoy, the Southeastern Conference's second-leading tackler. Many mention the speed-rushing prowess of junior end Chris Walker, especially when he's healthy.

But Volunteers coaches and players know two more names who have, with much less notoriety, made an immense impact the past three seasons.

Senior tackle Dan Williams and junior cornerback Dennis Rogan continue to compile big performances in big situations, yet the undersized duo is hardly recognized outside East Tennessee.

"People mention Eric Berry or myself, but you can't mention us without Dan Williams and Dennis Rogan," McCoy said. "They're not getting the attention, but you best believe the team knows, and the coaches know, and the other teams know. And we appreciate it."

Head coach Lane Kiffin had no problem with that assessment.

"Dan and Dennis played OK at the beginning of the year, and we were OK on defense," Kiffin said. "And then they played great lately, and we played great on defense. Dennis is playing great ... and Dan has been a force."

But neither has gotten much outside attention for it. Perhaps size is a factor. Neither is cut from an ideal cloth for many systems. Williams is shorter than his listed 6-foot-3 height, and Rogan isn't the 5-10 he's listed at, either.

Lane Kiffin understood that thought process on a general level but said he didn't have a problem with either player's size.

"I think they do fit for us," Kiffin said. "We're not ever going to recruit defense built on size. That's not how we do it. People do it, and they've been very successful with it, but we're more about speed and technique and how tough you are. And both of those guys have played extremely physical.

"They're not the tallest at their position, but our (style of) defense has had a lot of 6-foot, really good defensive tackles over the years."

Williams was considered by many a throw-in to better-known teammate Malcolm Rawls, an offensive lineman who since has transferred back home to Memphis.

Rogan, despite racking up statistics and awards during one of the most prolific high school careers in Tennessee history at Fulton in Knoxville, wasn't handed a UT scholarship offer until Phillip Fulmer and the Vols' previous staff were satisfied with his academic progress. The soft-spoken standout signed with the hometown Vols despite holding offers several months earlier from Miami, Virginia Tech and Ole Miss.

Williams and Rogan battled small personal issues early in their careers -- Williams was too heavy, and Rogan squeaked by the NCAA clearinghouse -- and both have largely overcome those issues. Williams has reported back to preseason camp on the heavy side a few times, and Rogan was suspended for the Ohio game this season because of an "administrative issue," but both have long since proven themselves to be satisfactory Saturday performers.

"I can tell by playing behind Big Dan that he's a heck of a ballplayer right now," McCoy said. "He's playing some of the best ball in the country, I think. I love playing behind him. He's taking up at least his gap, and sometimes he's taking up two gaps at a time. He's playing really good ball right now.

"I wouldn't have as many tackles without playing behind Dan. Dan's taking up a block or two every play, because he demands that attention."

Berry was equally complimentary of Rogan, claiming the corner "shut down" Alabama's Julio Jones and Georgia's A.J. Green the past two seasons.

Rogan's ability to play well at cornerback and safety allowed the Kiffins to tinker well into preseason camp before settling on a starting four in the secondary, and he's also a capable return specialist.

"Dennis has had a lot of great games, but because he's at the corner position, he really doesn't get enough action his way," Berry said. "I think a lot of people don't realize see what he's really done over the years. He's just one of those types of players that if they have a No. 1 guy on their side, we're going to put Dennis on him, and just let everybody else play.

"He's small, but he's ... just down to get it. That's just how he is. Whatever it is that you need Dennis to do, he's going to do it, and he's going to do it well."

McCoy and UT junior wide receiver Gerald Jones, like many others, noticed Alabama isolating its Jones against Rogan in the deep zone last week and trying to complete jump balls into the end zone. The Vols' Jones recalled thinking, "That's just not going to work," despite the Alabama receiver standing about seven inches above Rogan, with much longer arms.

"We talk about Dennis's forearms all the time," Gerald Jones said. "His forearms are huge. It's like he just does curls all day long. He's so strong. He's just an athlete, man.

"He's got little-man syndrome. That's got to be what it is. He plays with a lot of intensity and a lot of anger. And it pays off."

Williams has collected five tackles per game this season. That average matches the career high of Alabama star Terrence Cody, who also plays noseguard and commands constant double teams.

Rogan has registered closer to six stops per game, and his lone sack was a safety that put the Vols in position for a last-minute win over UCLA. He's also recovered two fumbles -- including a late, pivotal one at Alabama -- and intercepted Georgia's Joe Cox.

"I can't say where we'd be without those guys ... but we wouldn't be as good, I promise you that," Berry said.

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