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Vols hoping to run past Memphis

By By Trey Williams
Press Sports Writer
twilliams@johnsoncitypress.com

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It’s easy to rush to judgment for Tennessee’s matchup with Memphis.

The Tigers (2-6) visit UT tonight at 7 (ESPNU) after allowing 275 yards rushing to East Carolina in their previous game, a 38-19 home loss in a nearly empty Liberty Bowl on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

It’s hard to believe they’ll have an answer for Tennessee senior Montario Hardesty, whose gained 841 yards and scored eight touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry against better defenses. And after getting all of the attention in the preseason, true freshman Bryce Brown has quietly put together a solid debut (75 carries, 345 yards, two TDs) in Hardesty’s shadow.

“I think the back (Hardesty) is as good of player as we have played against,” said ninth-year Memphis coach Tommy West, a former Tennessee tight end. “Both of them (Hardesty, Brown) are really good players.”

Increasing the degree of difficulty, West expects to be without defensive lineman Jada Brown (neck) and defensive back D.A. Griffin (ankle), who were injured against ECU.

West said the Tigers defense played “soft” against Skip Holtz’s Pirates. He hasn’t seen anything soft about first-year UT coach Lane Kiffin’s Volunteers.

“Tennessee is playing with confidence on both sides of the ball,” West said. “They’re outstanding on defense, and have been from the start of the season. Now their offense has caught up.”

Tennessee (4-4) has been impressive in its past three games, handily defeating Georgia (45-19) and South Carolina (31-13) at home and losing on the final play when a field goal was blocked at then-top ranked Alabama. Consequently, UT is favored by 26 points against Memphis.

Of course, Peyton Manning’s sixth-ranked Vols were heavily favored when they lost 21-17 at Memphis in 1996. It’s the Tigers’ lone victory in the series’ 21 meetings.

Memphis nearly won in Knoxville on homecoming in 2005. The Vols held on, 20-16.

“I would imagine this is the biggest game of the season for them,” Kiffin said. “I know they have a bunch of Tennessee kids on their roster. We don’t have to look any further than the last time they came in here and almost beat Tennessee.”

The Vols aren’t without issues. Receiver Nu’Keese Richardson isn’t happy with his role and fellow true freshman Janzen Jackson, a safety who’s playing like a senior, reportedly could serve a one-game suspension tonight.

And middle linebacker Savion Frazier suffered a season-ending knee injury against South Carolina. Frazier was replacing Nick Reveiz, who was lost for the season to a knee injury against Ohio on Sept. 26.

Redshirt freshman Herman Lathers and true freshman Nigel Mitchell-Thornton will replace Frazier.

“They are going to have to step up, because this is such a valuable position,” Kiffin said. “We saw what happened when Nick Reviez went out. In the transition to Savion Frazier, we played about six quarters of our worst defense (against Ohio and Auburn).”

The Vols are also without veteran defensive back Marsalous Johnson (thumb surgery), who broke up a pass at the goal line and had a key quarterback hurry against South Carolina. Kiffin said Brent Vinson will replace Johnson as the nickel back.

Still, injuries aside, the Vols’ momentum in Kiffin’s rookie year — and the lack thereof in what sure feels like the tail end of West’s career with the Tigers — should more than offset any emotional letdown from the Vols or game-of-the-year performance from Memphis.

Notes: UT senior linebacker Rico McCoy leads the SEC with four forced fumbles. The Washington, D.C., product led UT in tackles for the fifth straight game with 10 stops against South Carolina and forced two Gamecocks fumbles. ... Five Vols on the two-deep are from the Memphis area: tight end Jeff Cottam, linebacker Greg King, defensive tackle Dan Williams, defensive end Chris Walker and receiver Marsalis Teague. Memphis punter Matt Reagan is from Knoxville. ... Curtis Steele leads Memphis with 596 yards rushing and five TDs in six games. He rushed 19 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns in a season-opening 45-14 loss to Ole Miss. It was a 17-7 game with less than 13 minutes remaining. ... Will Hudgens passed for 313 yards and two TDs against ECU. Duke Calhoun leads the Tigers with 50 catches for 764 yards and five TDs.