University of Tennessee Athletics
Tight End Catching On At Tennessee
October 26, 2001 | Football
Oct 25, 2001
By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS
AP Sports Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Jason Witten didn't want to be a tight end at Tennessee - and for good reason.
Traditionally, the No. 9 Volunteers (4-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) have used the tight end as a blocker who got few passes thrown his way.
Witten was forced into the position when a regular was injured, and he feared the odds were against him. But he turned the situation to his favor - and turned around Tennessee's tight end strategy to boot.
Between 1997 and last year, Tennessee tight ends caught a total of 17 passes. Heading into Saturday's game against No. 12 South Carolina (6-1, 5-1), Witten is poised to tie or exceed that statistic by catching his 17th of the season.
The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder played as a defensive end when he arrived on campus last year as a freshman, and the move to tight end required adjustment.
"I started thinking they're not going to throw to the tight end. Sure enough, the first game I played, I caught a pass and went the rest of the year and didn't get any. It was really frustrating," Witten said. "But now I think it has all worked out for the best."
Indeed, the Vols say.
The sophomore had a career-high seven catches for 91 yards and one touchdown last week against Alabama. It was the kind of game Tennessee has been hoping for from Witten.
"It looks like he's going to be able to fulfill all of his potential," coach Phillip Fulmer said. "He could have been a really fine defensive player. We just need to clone him."
Witten caught three passes against Georgia, but was wrapped up quickly by defenders.
"I had a couple of catches here and there, but it wasn't really what I was wanting or I think this team was wanting," Witten said.
He worked hard in the open week to use his strength and size to break tackles.
With the Alabama defense paying more attention to receivers Donte Stallworth and Kelley Washington, the middle was wide open for Witten.
Several times, he dragged multiple defenders and got more yards after contact.
"It was nice to get it to the tight end and see him running like you expect an athletic 265-pounder run," offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said.
With Witten in mind, Tennessee coaches consulted with their NFL counterparts at the Tennessee Titans over the summer to talk about how to better incorporate the tight end into the offense. Pro Bowl tight end Frank Wychek has been the Titans' leading receiver the past five seasons.
Witten still had a "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude before the season began.
"It meant a lot to me that they were trying to get better as coaches," he said. "To see guys like Wychek do what he does, (I thought) maybe we can do it on the college level."
Witten played mostly linebacker and some tight end in high school under coach Dave Rider, his grandfather.
His family believed he would go to Virginia Tech because his uncle went there and his older brother, Shawn, is a junior receiver for the Hokies. But Witten chose Tennessee after Fulmer came for a visit.
"He kicked back and took his jacket off. I really liked that because he was like one of my friends and trying to get on the same level," Witten said.
