Rebels' Maples commits to Vols

Maryville's Tyler Maples could have other taken visits. He could have listened to what other coaches had to say.
But it would have been a waste of time. Maples is now and has always been a Volunteer.
``I grew up watching Tennessee football,'' said the Rebel junior. ``Anyone who has grown up here, who lives here, they have a passion for Tennessee. I always knew this is what I wanted.
``I wanted to be a Vol.''
And so he shall be. Maples -- Maryville's speedy wide receiver/defensive back/return specialist -- verbally committed to the University of Tennessee Tuesday afternoon. He becomes the Vols' second official commitment for 2007 season, joining Austin-East athlete Anthony Anderson.
Tennessee took criticism for its weak instate recruiting for this year's class. The Vols finished with four instate players -- including Alcoa tailback Dustin Lindsey -- in a class of 22 new prospects.
With Anderson and Maples -- both Knoxville area players -- each choosing to commit prior to their senior season, the 2007 class seems to be headed in a different direction.
It's something that Maples is hopeful for.
``Ask anybody and they'll tell you local players will play harder and give more effort,'' said Maples, who scored an outstanding 23 touchdowns for the Rebels in 2005. ``The whole program is going through a change right now, and I want to be apart of that. Any local player would. They're worried about winning, and that seems to be what they need.''
Maples received significant looks from Vanderbilt and attention from Alabama. But a constant flow of letters and phone calls isn't what the rising senior wants for his final year under MHS coach George Quarles.
``He told me he wants to be able to focus on the season ahead,'' said Quarles, who also coached Maples' brother Ryan in 1999 and 2000. ``I think that speaks a lot about the player he is. He really cares about things and pours himself into it. He wants to be around a winning team.''
Assuming Maples signs with the Vols next February, he will become the seventh Rebel under Quarles to reach the Division I level. Few of them may make the impact Maples could, Quarles said.
``He's a very versatile player, but he's just so fast,'' Quarles said. ``He's just special, and you can't imagine how valuable his speed is going to be for him.''
Maples ran a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash earlier this season and plans on continuing to work the number down. Tennessee assistant coaches Dan Brooks and Steve Caldwell each recruited Maples, who plays with Caldwell's son, Lendl.
At this point, Maples said he would prefer to play receiver at the next level -- a position Quarles said he could excel in -- but really it doesn't matter. He just looks forward to realizing a dream.
``I want to be a part of it all,'' Maples said. ``Running through the `T' with 108,000 people cheering for you. Who wouldn't want to be a apart of that?''

Tennessee Opens Spring Practice With Familiar Question

The Tennessee Volunteers began spring drills Thursday, and coach Phillip Fulmer said he wants to have an established starter at quarterback by the end of spring practice.
The Vols are coming off a disappointing 5-6 season. Eric Ainge, a rising junior, entered the first day of practice at Number One ahead of redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton.
Fulmer said he believes the Vols will be good at quarterback, where no one stepped forward last season. David Cutcliffe, who returned to Tennessee to replace Randy Sanders at offensive coordinator, is in charge of the quarterbacks.
He's been tutoring them on football philosophy -- not just how a play works but why.

Tennessee football team's spring drills will be under the microscope

Usually for Tennessee, spring football is a time for key players to get healthy, while the young or unproven guys on the roster make a case for playing time the following fall.
But this isn't your usual spring for the Volunteers, who begin drills this week.
The Vols' spring workouts will be watched more keenly than usual - not only by the coaches, but also by the massive Rocky Top fan base following the team's first losing season since 1988.
Here are the five key questions that stand out, each of which will receive in-depth attention as the spring sessions progress.
1) Is Cutcliffe the answer?
After an underachieving year by the offense, Phillip Fulmer literally went "old school" to fix the problem, bringing back David Cutcliffe after the resignation of Randy Sanders. The Vols compiled a record of 62-11 during Cutcliffe's previous stint as coordinator, before he left to take over the Ole Miss program.
From a schematic standpoint, there wasn't much difference between the offense Cutcliffe ran and the one employed by Sanders, who learned under Cutcliffe. However, last year the explosive capability of the Vols' offense was noticeably absent.
Meanwhile, consider this. If Cutcliffe succeeds this coming season, he'll be one of the hot names surrounding any head coaching vacancy. Should Cutcliffe bolt, we'll be evaluating some other guy's effectiveness as offensive coordinator a year from now.
2) Who's the quarterback?
Talk about another case of déjà vu. For the third consecutive spring, the Vols face a quarterback controversy.
Rising junior Erik Ainge enters the spring atop the depth chart at signal- caller after a dismal season last fall. As it turns out, he played much of the campaign with a nagging turf toe problem.
It's Cutcliffe's job to try and help Ainge recapture the magic he at times displayed as a freshman.
Don't forget about redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton, a highly touted recruit who missed all of last year recovering from shoulder surgery. Either way, you'd think Fulmer and Co. would do their darnedest to avoid another shuffling of quarterbacks, as was the case last season.
3) Who will step up at linebacker?
Somebody needs to, because all three starters from last season were seniors.
As of now, the top healthy candidates are Ryan Karl, Ellix Wilson and Marvin Mitchell. Big things are expected of redshirt freshman Rico McCoy, who has the same kind of buzz that surrounded tailback Arian Foster coming out of his redshirt year.
Perhaps the best linebacker on next season's team won't be available this spring due to knee surgery. Jerod Mayo received high praise from veterans like Kevin Simon and Omar Gaither this past fall, and they said he had the potential to be the next great UT linebacker.
4) Can Trooper turn around the receivers?
In 2005, Bret Smith, Robert Meachem and Jayson Swain combined for 1,138 yards and 13 touchdowns. Last fall, that same trio combined for 986 yards and just seven TDs as part of an underachieving year for receiving corps that embodied the disappointing results of the season.
Enter Trooper Taylor, who moves over to coach the wideouts after two years managing the running backs. Taylor got concurrent 1,000-yard rushing seasons from Cedric Houston and Gerald Riggs Jr., finally seemed able to motivate Riggs before his injury and tutored Foster during his ascension. Taylor received an assistant head coach title and big pay increase in 2005 because he relates well to players and had success on the recruiting trail. After a subpar recruiting haul this year, Taylor may feel some heat if the receivers underachieve again.
5) Is this Turk McBride's season?
For years, people have been talking about the potential of the soft-spoken giant from New Jersey. Now, McBride has just one more chance to live up to the hype.
A Parade All-American in high school, McBride was hobbled by foot and ankle problems last season, missing two games and recording only 16 tackles.
But in each of the past two years, a defensive lineman emerged from relative obscurity to post a big season. In 2005, it was Jesse Mahelona. Last year, it was Jason Hall.
There's no reason McBride can't follow that trend.