From ESPN.com:Â Gene Wojchiechowski: Money grabs, playoffs and more.
Here's what the UT grad wrote about the Vols:
Every so often you see a player whose talent is an instant revelation. May I present to you Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle (pronounced, Core-darryl) Patterson.Â
In the Volunteers' 35-21 win last Thursday against North Carolina State, Patterson beat All-American David Amerson on a 41-yard touchdown reception -- and he did it despite running the wrong route.Â
Later, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Patterson scored on a 67-yard end-around by outrunning Amerson, who initially had a tackling angle.Â
"I'm not surprised one bit," said Tommy Mangino, the offensive coordinator at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, where Patterson played. "Not one bit." Patterson is one of the reasons why Tennessee coaches weren't devastated when All-SEC receiver Da'Rick Rogers was recently dismissed from the team (Rogers transferred to Tennessee Tech). After seeing Patterson against NC State, it's obvious why they weren't.Â
Mangino, the son of former Kansas coach Mark Mangino, said Patterson's skill set is mind-boggling.Â
"I've been around some football players before," he said. "But I've really never seen anybody like him. He can do everything."Â
Patterson didn't qualify academically out of high school, didn't play in 2009, but eventually signed with Hutchinson and became a two-time juco All-American. Just 4 minutes and 29 seconds into his Tennessee career, he scored a TD. Fun.Â
"He didn't come from a lot," said Mangino. "His mom and sister have been there for him. No father figure in his life. ... He's a great kid."
From Yahoo! Sports:Â Forde-Yard Dash: Why so many empty seats?
Here's what Pat Forde wrote about Patterson:
