University of Tennessee Athletics
2008 Key Returnees
March 10, 2008 | Football
91 ROBERT AYERS
DE, 6-3, 270, Sr., Clio, S.C.
Set to play significant leadership and starting role after sparkling as reserve in 2007 ... Paced Vols last year with 12 tackles behind line of scrimmage, resulting in minus-40 yards of offense ... Also tops with four sacks ... Career-best three TFLs against Arkansas State after contributing two apiece against California and Southern Miss ... Six tackles against A-State were career high ??? Contributed at least a shared TFL in nine of season???s 14 games ... Finished third on defensive front with 34 total tackles ... Also third on squad with four quarterback hurries ... Played in 35 career games with two starts ... Career Totals: 64 tackles, 16 TFLs and six sacks.
DB, 5-11, 195, So., Fairburn, Ga.
Honors: Defensive Freshman of the Year (CollegeFootballNews.com), Freshman All-America (FWAA, Rivals.com, CollegeFootballNews.com), SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year (Sporting News), All-SEC (Coaches 2nd, AP 2nd), SEC Freshman of the Week (Nov. 10 and 24).
Finished sixth among SEC interception leaders and ranks third nationally among freshmen with five interceptions ... Interception return yardage total (222) ranked second nationally and second in SEC history book ... Started every game of his young collegiate career ... Interception return of 96 yards for TD at Florida tied for third-longest in UT history and was longest in 35 years ... Became first defensive player???and just third player overall???in Phillip Fulmer era to start season-opener as true freshman ... Returned two interceptions against Arkansas for combined 98 yards ... Set career-high with 14 tackles and had one PBU against Kentucky ... Career Totals: 86 tackles, two TFLs and five interceptions.
TB, 6-1, 215, Sr., San Diego, Calif.
Honors: 2007 All-SEC (Associated Press 2nd, Rivals.com 2nd) ... 2005 Freshman All-America (Rivals.com 2nd, Sporting News honorable mention), 2005 Freshman All-SEC (Coaches and Sporting News), SEC Freshman of the Week (Kentucky).
Enters senior season with UT career rushing record in sight ... Currently stands seventh on UT???s career rushing list ... Only needs 685 yards to break record ... Rushed for 1,193 yards during his junior year which was the ninth best singles season mark in UT history... 12 rushing TDs in junior season, most by Vol runner since Jay Graham had 12 in 1995 ... First Vol freshman to start at tailback since Jamal Lewis in 1997 and first to have 100-yard rushing games in first five career starts since Chuck Webb in 1989 ... Rushed for career-high 223 yards against Vanderbilt in 2005 ... Career Totals: 519 career rushes for 2,394 yards (4.6 per att.), and 22 TDs ... Caught 64 passes for 576 yards (9.0 per rec.), and 2 TDs.
OT, 6-6, 325, Sr., Henning
Honors: 2007 All-SEC Rivals.com (2nd), 2005 Freshman All-SEC Coaches.
In addition to All-SEC second team selection by Rivals.com, among 24 players selected by ESPN analyst Mark May to 2007 All-MayDay Team ... That squad is composed of college football???s ???Toughest of the Tough??? ... Foster started all 14 games and was instrumental in Tennessee leading nation in fewest sacks allowed with four ... Suffered broken thumb in pregame drills before Vanderbilt contest but still played entire game and did not miss any snaps rest of season ... Owns 32 career games played with 16 starts ... Twice has been named recipient of UT???s Harvey Robinson Award for most improved offensive player during spring practice (2005 and 2007).
PK, 6-0, 204, So., Ocala, Fla.
Honors: 2007 All-America (FWAA) ... 2007 Freshman All-America (Rivals.com 2nd, Sporting News honorable mention, CollegeFootballNews.com honorable mention) ... 2007 All-SEC (Rivals.com, Associated Press 2nd, Coaches 2nd) ... Freshman All-SEC (Coaches, Rivals.com, Sporting News) ... Groza Award Semifinalist ... ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV ... SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (South Carolina).
115 points in freshman season is the most by a kicker in Tennessee history and trails only Gene McEver (130 in 1929) and Reggie Cobb (120 in 1987) ... Hit first eight attempts to set best career start in UT history ... 21 field goals made is third most field goals made in a single season in Tennessee history ... ... Knocked down career-long 48-yard FG to send South Carolina game to OT ... Hit game-winning 27-yard FG in OT against Gamecocks ... Career Totals: 21-of-29 field goal attempts ... 115 pts ... Long of 48 yards vs. SC.
LB, 6-1, 215, Jr., Washington D.C.
Honors: 2007 All-SEC (Associated Press 2nd, Coaches 2nd)
Enjoyed breakout campaign during sophomore season, finishing with 108 tackles after only having 38 hits in his freshman season ... Led or tied for team lead in tackles in six of 14 games sophomore season ... Second on team and sixth among SEC leaders with 106 tackles ... Led team and set career-high with 14 tackles and one TFL against South Carolina ... Had first career interception against Southern Mississippi ... Career Totals: 144 hits (83 tackles and 61 assists),7.5 TFLs, Five PBUs, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one sack.
OG, 6-3, 305, Sr., Jonesboro, Ga.
Honors: 2007 All-America (Associated Press 2nd, Rivals.com 3rd) ... 2007 All-SEC (Associated Press, Coaches, Rivals.com)
Tennessee lead SEC and nation with only four sacks allowed in 2007 ... Vols offensive front allowing a quarterback sack this year every 134.5 pass plays ... Helped Tennessee offense produce a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver in 2007 ... Lived up to billing as preseason All-SEC by Sporting News and preseason third team All-SEC by coaches ... Started all 14 games his junior year at left guard after making dozen starts at right guard in 2006 ... Has started the last 23 games he???s played in (missed 2007 Outback Bowl because of injury) ... First career start was as center at LSU in 2005 comeback win.
DB, 5-10, 185, So., Knoxville
Honors: SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (Vanderbilt)
All-around play has led to action at cornerback, safety, punt returner and kick returner ... Helped Vols to largest fourth quarter rally in Neyland Stadium history by returning punt 45 yards to set up winning field goal against Vanderbilt ... Saw first extensive time on defense against Louisiana-Lafayette, finishing with career-high six tackles ... Had UT???s longest kick return of season, 78 yards, against Arkansas on only attempt of game ... Also returned four punts for 32 yards and had three tackles against Razorbacks ... Returned three punts for 24 yards, two kickoffs for 48 yards and had three tackles, including his first career TFL, at Kentucky ... Career Totals: 19 hits (14 tackles, 5 assists), one TFL, one PBUs ... 17 punt returns for 165 yards (9.7 avg) ... 13 kickoff returns for 383 yards (29.5 avg.).
WR, 6-0, 185, Sr., Carencro, La.
Honors: 2007 All-SEC (Associated Press 2nd)
Second in the SEC with 1,000 receiving yards and third in catches with 73 ... Began season with 100-yard receiving game in three of first four outings to start season ... His 73 catches stands second on UT season record chart and only three shy of tying Robert Meachem (76) for all-time best ... Career highs in catches (11) and yards (186) at Mississippi State ... Most game receptions by Vol since 2001 and most receiving yards since 2002 ... Teamed with Austin Rogers to become first Vols wide receiver duo to each eclipse 100 yards in contest since 1997 SEC Championship Game ... Topped previous career total of 101 receiving yards with 103 in debut start at Cal ... Career Totals: 87 career receptions for 1,101 yards (12.7 per rec.) and five TDs.
OTHERS TO WATCH
98 Demonte Bolden, DT, 6-6, 290, Sr., Chattanooga
8 Jonathan Crompton, QB, 6-4, 220, Jr., Waynesville, N.C.
65 Jacques McClendon, OT, 6-3, 320, Jr., Cleveland
50 Josh McNeil, C, 6-4, 280, Jr., Collins, Miss.
7 Demetrice Morley, DB, 6-2, 195, Jr., Miami, Fla.
21 Austin Rogers, WR, 6-2, 185, Jr., Nashville
79 Chris Scott, OT, 6-5, 310, Jr., Riverdale, Ga.
13 Brent Vinson, DB, 6-0, 190, So., Hampton, Va.
55 Dan Williams, DT, 6-3, 310, Jr., Memphis
| 2007 Honors |
| ALL-AMERICA |
| Daniel Lincoln, PK, FWAA |
| Anthony Parker, OG, AP (2nd), Rivals.com (3rd) |
| FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA |
| Eric Berry, SS, FWAA, CollegeFootballNews.com, Rivals.com |
| Daniel Lincoln, PK, Rivals.com (2nd), Sporting News (HM), CollegeFootballNews.com (HM) |
| ALL-SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE |
| Eric Berry, SS, Associated Press (2nd), Coaches (2nd) |
| Britton Colquitt, P, Associated Press (2nd), Coaches (2nd) |
| Arian Foster, TB, Associated Press (2nd), Rivals.com (2nd) |
| Ramon Foster, OT, Rivals.com (2nd) |
| Jonathan Hefney, FS, Coaches (2nd) |
| Daniel Lincoln, PK, Rivals.com, Associated Press (2nd), Coaches (2nd) |
| Jerod Mayo, LB, Associated Press, Coaches, Rivals.com |
| Rico McCoy, LB, Associated Press (2nd), Coaches (2nd) |
| Anthony Parker, OG, Associated Press, Coaches, Rivals.com |
| Lucas Taylor, WR, Associated Press (2nd) |
| Eric Young, OT, Associated Press (2nd) |
| Eric Berry, SS, Freshman All-SEC (Coaches, Rivals.com, Sporting News) |
| Daniel Lincoln, PK, Freshman All-SEC (Coaches, Rivals.com, Sporting News) |
| Denarius Moore, WR, Freshman All-SEC (Coaches) |
| Brent Vinson, DB, Freshman All-SEC (Rivals.com) |
Wednesday, May 27
Saturday, April 11
Saturday, April 11
Saturday, April 11
