Bullard set to play

Friday, May 6, 2011

KNOXVILLE-Alex Bullard's wait didn't reach the summer.

The NCAA ruled quickly on the offensive lineman's bid for eligibility next season through a hardship waiver, clearing Bullard to play this season with the Volunteers instead of having to sit out a season after he transferred from Notre Dame in January.

That information came Thursday from Jimmy Stanton, UT's associate athletic director for communications.

The 6-foot-2, 309-pound Bullard, a former four-star recruit out of Brentwood Academy, redshirted a year and played in just three games with the Irish before the death of his father prompted a move closer to home.

Fortunately for the Vols, Bullard chose to walk on in Knoxville and became one of the biggest surprises of spring practice with his size and ability. He was working on making a switch to center when he moved out to first-team right tackle after Ja'Wuan James' spring was cut short with mononucleosis.

"Alex was a surprise just because he landed on our program and we didn't know much about him," Vols coach Derek Dooley said after UT's spring game. "He really just played great. He's going to really help us."

Now that help will come this season.