ARTICLE TOOLS

E-mail story

Comments

Printer friendly version

iPod friendly version

Share This

Text Size: A A A A

University of Tennessee: Cooper was bright spot in Vols’ opening defeat

By: Wes Rucker
(Contact)

Included in this article

Kevin Cooper

KNOXVILLE — Silver linings are tough to spot this week in the University of Tennessee football complex.

In fact, the brightest one doesn’t really want to talk about it.

Sophomore Kevin Cooper from Baylor School started bringing back the fullback position to UT’s offense Monday night at UCLA.

But the Vols lost, so getting Cooper to talk about it is a tall task.

“You never can be satisfied with what you do, especially in a loss,” Cooper said after Wednesday’s practice. “I gave 100 percent effort on every play and we fell up short, so you can’t be too happy. But I think I did well for really being out there the first time.”

As late as Monday night’s kickoff, Cooper wasn’t sure what role he would play against the Bruins. He’d been listed as the first-team fullback since spring practice — when senior David Holbert suffered a serious knee injury — but playing time was still difficult to decipher.

First-year coordinator Dave Clawson’s offense features a wide variety of formations, and several indications were that he favored two-tight-end sets with Luke Stocker and H-back Brandon Warren.

Warren is capable of lining up at wide receiver, tight end and fullback, and he’d made big plays since enrolling at UT during the summer. Cooper is versatile, but not that versatile.

“It’s just about whatever works well in the game plan,” Cooper said. “(Warren) is an incredible player, and getting him on the field helps us win. If I can get on the field, I think that can help us win.

“It doesn’t matter, because we just want to win as a team.”

The Vols didn’t win Monday, but they found a fullback. A position essentially the past few years seems rejuvenated.

“Coop really, really did have a good game,” junior tailback Montario Hardesty said. “He was real physical on his blocks and everything like that. Coop has made some real good progress. I think he’ll be a good one.”

Senior tailback Arian Foster said Cooper “has become a man.

“I’m proud of him,” Foster added. “I watched him work through the spring and this whole camp. He’s taken a lot of criticism in the past, and I’m super proud of him. I’m a fan of his.”

Cooper’s numbers won’t scare any defensive coordinator. He picked up 1 yard on his only rushing attempt, and he totaled 27 yards on four pass receptions.

He was undeniably efficient, though. Two of his catches resulted in first downs, including one on UT’s go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter. His other two receptions went for 9 and 7 yards on first-down plays, and the 7-yarder came moments before Hardesty’s go-ahead touchdown run.

“He definitely stepped up, and he’s helping us out,” senior offensive guard Anthony Parker said. “If you’re at a program like Tennessee, and one guy goes down, you need another to step up. And that’s what he did.

“You see it every day in practice. He goes hard, practices hard, and he knows what’s going on. I didn’t expect him to do anything less than he did.”

Those practice-field improvements led to Cooper’s increased role, according to head coach Phillip Fulmer. Like many second-year college players, Cooper redefined his body during his first full offseason. He looks and plays better.

“I thought Kevin played very well, extremely well,” Fulmer said. “Not just with his hand on the ball. That was obvious. He played exceptionally well blocking, protecting. The few routes that he had, he caught the ball well. He played well on special teams.

“Spring was still a learning experience for everyone, but he had a good summer through fall camp. I thought he improved himself and consequently got in the game a lot.”

Cooper has nearly three full seasons of eligibility left, and freshman fullbacks Austin Johnson and Ben Bartholomew have four. The Vols also hold commitments from two big high school senior tailbacks — 235-pound Dominique Allen from Paris, Tenn., and Chattanooga native Toney Williams, a 225-pounder who plays at Milton High School near Atlanta.

Williams had 379 total yards and seven touchdowns in Milton’s victory over Chattahoochee last Fridady, and he doesn’t return kicks or punts. He scored six times on the ground and once on a pass.

For now, though, Cooper seems pretty secure atop the Tennessee depth chart.

“Coach Clawson likes to play with the fullback a lot, and the last couple of years we just kind of took the fullback out of the scheme,” Hardesty said. “Coop kind of stepped up in the spring and played good, and coaches had confidence to play him a lot in the game.

“I think they have even more confidence in his play after Monday.”

Comments