University of Tennessee Athletics
A PLAYER OF VISION
October 06, 2006 | Football
Oct. 6, 2006
By Austin Ward, UT Sports Information
There are a lot of fast guys in college football.
Maybe not many with LaMarcus Coker speed, but enough to know that there's plenty other ingredients needed for the running back recipe to come out right.
Like, say, vision.
Coker has that, too - a major reason the freshman from Antioch has soared to the top of the Vols depth chart in his first season in the backfield.
But what sets him apart from the other blazers around the nation?
What gets him around the corner for an 89-yard touchdown run - the third-longest in Tennessee history - while seeing his first significant action for UT?
What does he see?
"How about we just score now?"
He sees a field sloppy from the torrential downpour, and a Marshall defense that's already rundown and ready now to be run over.
He and quarterback Erik Ainge see something they like on the left side of the Thundering Herd defense, and Coker sees an immediate opportunity even if his signal-caller doesn't.
"We were in the huddle, and (quarterback Erik) Ainge was like, `We're backed up. Let's just get two first downs and get some field position," Coker said, recalling a conversation before the Vols' first play of the fourth quarter from their own 11-yard line. "`Then we'll worry about scoring.' Everybody was laughing and said, `How about we just score now?'"
Ainge may have been a realist, but Coker proved it was no joke. In a flash, Coker was streaking down the sideline and those first downs were an afterthought. So, too, was Marshall after the scoring scamper put the Vols up 20-7.
"We ran a zone play and Ainge actually switched the play to the other side," Coker said. "Actually, all the linemen were watching the defensive line, so I cut it back to the left. (Wide receiver Jayson) Swain picked up a block. I ran an angle and next thing I know, me and Chris Brown were in the end zone celebrating."
It wasn't Coker's first trip to the end zone this year - he caught a touchdown a week earlier against Florida - but the burst did push him to the forefront of the UT offense for the first time.
After finishing with 146 yards on just eight carries against Marshall, Coker was named the starter at running back for the first time a week later against Memphis.
"It was a surprise," Coker said. "I knew I had a good game, but I didn't expect them to start me right off the bat like that.
"I was grateful for the opportunity, but at the same time, I was happy and it was a confidence boost. It let me know that the coaches have a lot of confidence in me and believe that I can get it done."
He could see that his time had finally arrived.
"I've got to make the most of it."
It wasn't hard to see where Coker stood coming into the season.
Sophomore standout Arian Foster was going to be the featured back for UT, and fellow freshman Montario Hardesty was the first to break through with a highlight-reel touchdown run against California.
Coker had exactly nine carries in the three games before stealing the show against Marshall - which didn't really seem to indicate that he was making much progress on the depth chart.
But Foster suffered an ankle injury, and Hardesty had sometimes been ineffective. Given his shot, Coker turned some heads - if for no other reason than that was the only way to keep up with him.
"I said, `Man, he's fast,'" coach Phillip Fulmer said of the touchdown run. "I'd seen that in practice before, but I think LaMarcus is emerging as a back that can be counted on to get consistent yards for us.
"He's really good."
Coker just needed an opportunity, and it was one of those other necessary tailback traits - patience - that helped him get it.
"You try to trust the coaches, and they tell you that you're going to play, but it's kind of frustrating waiting for your turn," Coker said. "At the same time, you've just got to trust them.
"It's hard to wait. I was playing special teams, and I was grateful for the opportunity to be on the field. I just kept telling myself, `When the opportunity comes to get in at running back and touch the ball, I've got to make the most of it.'
"I can't let any plays get by. Can't slip up. I've just got to do everything I can every play, every time. Whether it's passing, catching, running the ball, special teams, I just want to help the team out anyway I can."
"You can always improve."
There were impressive numbers to look at - 26 carries for 125 yards in a 41-7 rout of instate rival Memphis - but Coker saw something else after dismantling the Tigers.
There's a loose football on the ground, freshly dislodged from Coker's hands.
He'll see it all week, as he prepares for his second consecutive start as the Vols travel to play one of the nation's best defenses at Georgia.
"You're never going to have a perfect game," he said. "You'll have a good game, but you'll never have a perfect game.
"I watched the film and saw the things that I needed to improve on, so this week I've put a little bit of extra emphasis on stuff like that. The good things that I did, I'm just trying to stay consistent and get better in every aspect of the game. I don't think I'll ever be satisfied with my play.
"You can always go up."
Those are the words that Fulmer wants to hear from any freshman, let alone one expected to lead what could be a three-headed running back monster against the Bulldogs. Coker and his coach both know that Marshall and Memphis are not Georgia - which means that the freshman gets to prove himself all over again.
"We'll see how he does, but I like his attitude right now and I like his toughness," Fulmer said." Against Marshall and Memphis, that's not how you build a career. You build a career on games like this, against teams like Georgia, Florida, LSU and Alabama.
"You can't make those mistakes (like the fumble) in these kinds of games, for sure. When you're ahead 27-0, you can get away with some of that. But that it'll get you on the bench about as fast as anything."
From Coker's perspective, there are some things that are better left unseen.
