University of Tennessee Athletics
Seven Questions with the '07 Newcomers ??? Darris Sawtelle
August 04, 2007 | Football
Height: 6-6
Weight: 295
Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
High School: Brother Rice
Your grandfather, Darris McCord (1952-54), was an All-American here. Did he play a role in you deciding to come to Tennessee?
???I would say his legacy played a role in my deciding to come here. He never forced me to come to UT. The only school he said I couldn???t go to was Alabama. The only advice he offered me was to make my decision wisely and make sure it was what I wanted to do. He said he would be honored if I chose Tennessee, but the most important thing is my happiness and success.???
Did you talk to your grandfather about the recruiting process?
???I just talk to my grandfather about football. Recruiting these days and football are two very different things. I talk to him about the game, and I talk to my father (Sherman) about recruiting. He is a businessman, so he is wise to the whole approach coaches take. My father and my instincts were what guided me through recruiting.???
Being from Michigan, what are your impressions of Knoxville so far?
???I came from Michigan, but I came from a family that is from Knoxville, so there are some things that I was already acclimated to. There are things it takes time to learn, like your way around town. One way streets and parking are horrible here. But I love it so far.???
How was your first experience playing at the college level this spring?
???You go from being a high school All-American and being told by your coach to calm down to ???oh my, these guys are huge.??? You suddenly start paying a lot more attention to what you are doing. Aside from that, spring football was about getting comfortable with the speed of the game. Blocking a defensive end at this level lasts about three seconds from the snap to the finish. At the high school level it takes the guy two seconds just to get to you.???
Have you adjusted well to the terminology of the offense and the practice style?
"Every practice has a distinctive flow. If you???re not used to it, you???re really uncomfortable. Having been through the spring, I know the order of things and what to expect out of each part of practice. Because I know these things now, I???m more relaxed in practice and able to take in a lot more of the offense.???
Are there any older players on the team who you admire?
???I really admire guys like Eric Young and Ramon Foster. They have tremendous work ethic. Being big guys, for them to set themselves apart at things like wind sprints, that???s a lot of extra work. It???s not easy for guys to push themselves at things they aren???t necessarily good at. Squats, bench press, things like that are easy for us. Sprints and agilities are tough though, so to see them work so hard at it is inspiring.???
What are some of your hobbies away from football?
???I am a big outdoorsman. I am into hunting and fishing, that sort of thing. You can find me somewhere outdoors if I???m not playing football.???
By Tony Williams, UT Sports Information
