EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth in a series previewing Auburn’s 2008 football opponents. This week: Tennessee (Sept. 27). The series will run weekly.
Longtime Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge ended his often-turbulent Volunteers career last season with a 10-4 record, an appearance in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game and an Outback Bowl win against Wisconsin.
Not bad, considering the Vols started 1-2 and suffered two losses by more than 20 points.
Ainge’s successor will have big shoes to fill.
For the moment, the job belongs to junior Jonathan Crompton, Ainge’s backup the past two seasons. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder threw just 12 passes last season, but beat out redshirt freshman B.J. Coleman and sophomore Nick Stephens in the spring.
If Crompton struggles with a tough early schedule — a season-opening trip to UCLA and a Sept. 20 home game against Florida precede the Vols’ Sept. 27 trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium — either of the youngsters could get a second look.
Whoever lines up under center will spend plenty of time handing off to star tailback Arian Foster. The senior ran for 1,162 yards and scored 12 touchdowns last season, tying a school record.
Keeping Foster healthy is a priority: Backups Montario Hardesty and Lennon Creer aren’t ready to be SEC-quality starters.
Few observers had high hopes for the Vols’ receiving corps last season, thanks to the departure of ace wideouts Robert Meacham and Jayson Swain.
But the trio of Lucas Taylor, Austin Rogers and Josh Briscoe combined for 175 receptions. All three are back in ’08; the 6-foot, 185-pound Taylor should be one of the SEC’s top playmakers this season.
Four starters return on the offensive line: All-SEC left guard Anthony Parker, center Josh McNeil, right tackle Ramon Foster and left tackle Chris Scott. Junior Jacques McClendon, who started six games at right guard, will compete with Vladimir Richard for the top spot this season.
Tennessee’s defense took an unexpected hit during the offseason, when star linebacker Jerod Mayo passed up his senior season to declare for the NFL draft. Replacing Mayo’s SEC-leading total of 140 tackles won’t be easy.
Junior Rico McCoy, a second-team all-conference selection, is the unit’s biggest star. He and senior middle linebacker Ellix Wilson will provide leadership on a young defense.
The defensive line is also short-handed, especially at end. Senior Robert Ayers, who had 33 tackles in ’07, is the top returner. Ayers is expected to start alongside junior Wes Brown, but sophomores Ben Martin and Andre Mathis are coming on strong.
Depth is better at tackle, where UT returns 310-pound noseguard Dan Willams and senior Demonte Bolden, along with senior Walter Fisher and touted rookie Donald Langley.
Sophomore safety Eric Berry, one of the nation’s top freshmen last season, leads a talented secondary. Cornerbacks DeAngelo Willingham and Brent Vinson join Berry as returning starters in the defensive backfield.
The wild card in the secondary is junior Demetrice Morley, who sat out last season after being dismissed from the team for academic concerns. Morley has reportedly gotten his grades together and could be the X-factor on the Vols’ defense.
cmickle@oanow.com | 737-2561
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