University of Tennessee Athletics
November 20, 2001 | Football
Nov. 20, 2001
Talk about helping make a difference. That's what you could say about Vol wideout Donte` Stallworth since his return to the Vol lineup against Alabama after suffering a wrist injury against Syracuse.
When he stepped on to the Bryant-Denny Stadium greensward, he made his return to the Vol lineup a successful one for him and the team as the Vols took a 35-24 decision, an unprecedented seventh consecutive Vol decision over the Crimson Tide.
That day, Stallworth had five catches for 80 yards and a score and has been on a roll since that point. He had two catches for 24 yards against South Carolina, three for 84 and one TD at Notre Dame and he broke every dish in the house with seven catches for 142 yards and three TDs against Memphis, three TDs on his 21st birthday. It was not quite a point for his every year to date, but it was close enough. It was the third time Stallworth had topped the century mark in receiving (130 yards against South Carolina in 1999 and 108 against Nebraska in the 2000 Fiesta Bowl).
He scored the Vols' first TD of the season against Syracuse and then missed every game through Georgia before coming back in a big way against Alabama.
It was a performance that caught the attention of a demanding head coach, the Vols' own Phillip Fulmer.
"Before Donte` is finished, he can be one of the best we've had, maybe the very best," Fulmer said. "He has the ability to take a short pass and make a big gain out of it. He's showing leadership and good maturity." Those are strong words, but Stallworth has shown the potential to be that type receiver since his freshman season back in 1999. At 6-0, 190, he possesses the breakaway speed combined with good size and strength.
He came to the Vols from Sacramento, Calif., after an honor-laden prep career and a redshirt year in 1998. He remembers being impressed, get this, by the love of a community and state for the PMS 021 color of orange.
"The biggest shock was seeing a lot of orange," he said. "I've never seen a lot of one certain color before, and a lot of orange was out there. Everybody is really into Tennessee football and I think that's one thing that drew me here."
He knows the tradition of Tennessee wide receivers and sees himself in that mold. "I've just looked at the some of the other guys their senior years. I'm actually still only a junior, but I've looked at some of the other guys and their senior years, and seeing some of the numbers that they've put up. I'd like to post similar numbers, like somewhere around 12 or 13 touchdowns, something like that." He seems well on his way.
He remembers his mentors in Orange and White. "When I came here my true freshmen year the guys to looked up to were Peerless Price and Cedrick Wilson," he recalled. "Those were the guys who helped me out a lot, especially Cedrick. He helped me out a lot as far as learning the plays and being comfortable with the system."
He's now one of the graybeards, one of the leaders of the receiving corps, and relishes the opportunity to guide the younger guys. "I notice some of the younger guys looking up to the older guys. When we go out there to practice, they try to look for things to do and, if they don't know, they feel free to ask us."
He talked openly about his relationship with Casey Clausen, the man who pulls the trigger on the Vol offense. "When you get a good off the field relationship with the quarterback, then you can bring that relationship on the field, and make plays for each other.
"I think Casey and I are pretty close. Right now we're suitemates in the dorm, and I think we have an extra edge with both of us being from California. We both know how things are coming from California, and I think we bonded like that before he even got here."
He was asked what his favorite thing about UT was. The answer was a combination of Vol recruiting selling points, facilities and a competitive schedule.
"I just like the facilities we have here," he said. "We have some of the best facilities in the nation, and they can get you prepared for a good season. We have a hard conference schedule and a hard schedule overall."
You may find this hard to believe, but Donte` says he's really not that exciting. "I like to go to the movies, but that's really about it," he said. "I'm pretty much a boring person. I don't do much off the field. I love to listen to music, watching movies and hanging out with my friends." He mentioned a number of recording artists us old fogies don't really know or understand, so we'll let each Vol fan check with their favorite youngster for an analysis, mentioning something called DMX and Tupac, and then a few others like JZ and a couple of other guys.
In any event, he uses that quite background to get ready for each Saturday's contest. "I pretty much go through the same thing. I always look through the program first and then, after that, I kind of go into this little mode where I'm listening to my music, both gospel and rap.
"I pretty much to do that, then before we actually start I try to stay on my own for about 10 minutes just to rethink the game plan and what I'm trying to do for the game."
He seems to have his head on straight and, looking down the road, has his own specific thoughts on his legacy as a Vol, if that is the proper word.
"I'd like to be remembered as a person who came out and gave his all on every play, and as a nice person who wanted to do everything right."
Vol fans already know he's making good on that self-forecast. Get him the ball and he'll make something good happen. That's been the case this season since that late afternoon in Tuscaloosa and everyone across the expanse of Big Orange Country hopes the trend will continue.
Tom Mattingly and Kassidie Blackstock
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