Division Eastern Division AP No. 12 Head coach Phillip Fulmer | Coaches No. 12 2007 record 10–4 (6–2 SEC) | |
Conference Southeastern Conference | ||
The 2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They won the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference before falling to the eventual national champion LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship Game. The Vols capped off the season by defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the Outback Bowl to finish with a record of 10–4.
Contents
- Preseason
- Starting lineups and coaches
- Offense
- Defense
- Special teams
- Top newcomers for 2007
- Team players drafted into the NFL
- References
The team was led by head coach Phillip Fulmer. The Volunteers played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. The 2007 season was the last at Tennessee for four assistants on the staff. Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe left to be head coach at Duke, taking assistants Matt Luke and Kurt Roper with him, while wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor accepted a co-offensive coordinator's position at Oklahoma State.
Preseason
Tennessee headed into the 2007 season looking to build on an average 2006 campaign to UT standards where the team went 9–4 with narrow losses to eventual national champion Florida and also to LSU. This year the team returned 11 starters (2nd fewest in SEC). The schedule was ranked 6th toughest in the country entering the year, with road games at California, Alabama, and Florida.
Tennessee also played key games against Georgia, South Carolina, and Arkansas at Neyland Stadium.
Starting lineups and coaches
Head Coach: Phillip Fulmer (16th year)
Offense
Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks / Assistant Head Coach: David Cutcliffe
Offensive Scheme: Multiple (I-Form, Shotgun and Singleback)
Player Development / Wide Receivers / Assistant Head Coach: Trooper Taylor
Offensive Line: Greg Atkins
Running Backs: Kurt Roper
Tight Ends / Off. Line / Dir. Recruiting: Matt Luke
Offensive recap
Coaches
Head Coach Phillip Fulmer hired David Cutcliffe, former 6-year head coach at Ole Miss, after being the Tennessee offensive coordinator from '93–'98. Tennessee scored 30+ ppg in each of his first 6 years as the offensive coordinator and went from 18.6 to 27.8 ppg in 2006. In 2007, Tennessee ranked 54th in total offense, 73rd in rushing offense, and 35th in passing offense. The scoring offense ranked 36th.
Quarterbacks
Senior Erik Ainge suffered a knee injury in spring but started each game of the season. Ainge was hampered by a finger and shoulder injury suffered in the season opener at California. Ainge finished behind Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and Andre Woodson in all-conference voting, earning honorable mention honors.
Runningbacks
Arian Foster saw the majority of time at tailback, with relief appearances by LaMarcus Coker, Montario Hardesty, and Lennon Creer. Coker was eventually dismissed from the team following the South Carolina game for a violation of team rules. Foster finished the season with 1193 rushing yards.
Receivers
The Wide Receivers were led by Juniors Lucas Taylor and Josh Briscoe, along with redshirt Sophomore Austin Rogers. Taylor had 73 receptions for 1,000 yards while Rogers caught 56 passes for 624 yards.
Offensive Line
The Offensive line returned three starters in T Eric Young, G Anthony Parker and C Josh McNeil. The remaining two positions were filled by improved junior Ramon Foster (T) and Chris Scott (G). Young was injured late in the season and was replaced by Jacques McClendon at guard, while Scott moved to Young's tackle position.
Tight Ends
Chris Brown started most of the season at TE due to a preseason injury to Brad Cottam. Cottam returned late in the season when it appeared that the NCAA would deny his redshirt appeal.
Starters for the majority of the season.
Trent Baldwin
Defense
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers / Associate Head Coach: John Chavis (20th year)
Base Defense: Multiple (4–3 and 3–2–6 "Mustang")
Defensive Line: Dan Brooks
Defensive Ends: Steve Caldwell
Defensive Backs: Larry Slade
Position Outlook
Coaches
2007 Was the 13th season as Defensive Coordinator for John Chavis. The Defensive staff had been together and unchanged since the 1999 Season, with Dan Brooks, Steve Caldwell and Larry Slade.
Defensive Line
The Defensive Line was stabilized by senior DE's Xavier Mitchell and Antonio Reynolds, who started each game of the season. Senior DT J.T. Mapu started against California but was replaced by Sophomore Dan Williams. Sophomore DeMonte Bolden started at the other tackle spot.
Linebackers
The Vols had a steady group at Linebacker for the 2007 season. Senior Ryan Karl and Sophomore Rico McCoy manned the outside spots, while Junior Jerod Mayo earned All-SEC honors at MLB.
Defensive Backs
The Defensive Backfield saw a slew of injuries and changes. The season started with Jonathan Hefney and Jerod Parrish at safety, while Antonio Gaines and Marsalous Johnson started at cornerback. However, only Hefney retained his spot, as injury and impressive play allowed Freshmen Eric Berry, Brent Vinson and Dennis Rogan to emerge for the unit. Junior College transfer DeAngelo Willingham also saw significant time.
Starters for the majority of the year.
Special teams
Position Outlook
Freshman Daniel Lincoln replaced departing Senior James Wilhoit and earned All American Honors. Britton Colquitt returned as punter and took over Wilhoit's duties on kickoffs. Rogan emerged as the main kick and punt returner, with Lennon Creer joining him as kick return following Coker's dismissal.
Starters for the majority of the year
Top newcomers for 2007
- Eric Berry, CB, #14, 5'11", 194 lbs., Creekside HS (Fairburn, Georgia)
- Chris Donald, LB, #40, 6'2", 220 lbs., Huntingdon HS (Huntingdon, Tennessee)
- Ben Martin, DE, #90, 6'5", 230 lbs., La Salle HS (Cincinnati)
- Gerald Jones, ATH, #4, 6', 185 lbs., Millwood HS (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
- DeAngelo Willingham, CB, #24, 6', 205 lbs., College of the Desert [Palm Desert, California] (Walterboro, South Carolina)
- Nevin McKenzie, S, #20, 6'3", 210 lbs., Trinity Valley CC [Athens, Texas] (San Antonio, Texas)
- Brent Vinson, S, #13, 6'2", 180 lbs., Hargrave Military Academy [Chatham, Virginia] (Hampton, Virginia)
- Lennon Creer, RB, #3, 6'1", 202 lbs., Tatum HS (Tatum, Texas)
- B. J. Coleman, QB, #18, 6'4", 210 lbs., The McCallie School (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
- Darris Sawtelle, OL, #76, 6'6", 290 lbs., Brother Rice HS (Birmingham, MIchigan)
- Ahmad Paige, WR, #82, 6'3", 175 lbs., Sterlington HS (Sterlington, Louisiana)
- Art Evans, ATH, #25, 6'1", 185 lbs., Evangelical Christian HS (Lakeland, Florida)
- Donald Langley, DT, #58, 6'2", 295 lbs., Seneca Valley HS (Germantown, Maryland)
- Chris Walker, DE, #84, 6'3", 220 lbs., Christian Brothers HS (Memphis, Tennessee)
- Denarius Moore, WR, #83, 6'1", 180 lbs., Tatum HS (Tatum, Texas)
- William Brimfield, DT, #96, 6'6", 287 lbs., Hunter-Kinard-Tyler HS (Neeses, South Carolina)
- Kenny O'Neal, WR, #1, 6', 195 lbs., City College of San Francisco [CA] (Oakland, California)
- C. J. Fleming, CB, #26, 5'10", 173 lbs., Highland Springs HS (Highland Springs, Virginia)
- Anthony Anderson, CB, #36, 6', 175 lbs., Austin-East HS (Knoxville, Tennessee)
- Savion Frazier, LB, #43, 6'1", 209 lbs., Gar-Field HS (Woodbridge, Virginia)
- Cody Pope, OL, #77, 6'5", 275 lbs., Cathedral Catholic HS (San Diego, California)
- Daryl Vereen, RB, #9, 6'1", 200 lbs., North Mecklenburg HS (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- Kevin Cooper, FB, #45, 6'1", 245 lbs., Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
- Todd Campbell, WR, #11, 6', 183 lbs., Franklin HS (Franklin, Tennessee)
- Tyler Maples, WR, #11, 6'2", 180 lbs., Maryville HS (Maryville, Tennessee)
- Dennis Rogan, RB, #41, 5'10", 175 lbs., Fulton HS (Knoxville, Tennessee)
- Deshaun Barnes, S, 6'2", 195 lbs., Lincoln HS (Tallahassee, Florida) – DNQ
- Rufus Williams, DE, 6'3", 225 lbs., Astronaut HS (Titusville, Florida) – DNQ