KNOXVILLE — Nick Reveiz has legendary University of Tennessee football bloodlines.
Unfortunately, the family tradition is kicking.
The son of Fuad Reveiz and nephew of Carlos Reveiz has never cared to kick the ball. Several coaches have made him try, but one kick is all they ever need to see.
“I’m terrible,” he said last year. “An embarrassment to the family name.”
Nick Reveiz would rather run and tackle people.
And he can do that.
But he’s 5-foot-8.
“Nick is an athlete that, to be honest with you, if he was 6-feet or 6-1, he probably would have been recruited by everybody in the country,” UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said. “He’s 5-8, but he’s a heck of a football player.
“He can run, and he plays with great pad leverage.”
Reveiz came to UT a nonscholarship player with no size but capable credentials. He was named All-State and a Mr. Football lineman finalist as a senior at Knox County’s Farragut High School in 2005. He had 130 tackles as a senior, and 151 the season before. Both years, he was the state’s 215-pound wrestling champion.
Smaller colleges offered him football scholarships, but his primary plan was always to walk-on at UT. Last week, the third-year sophomore was placed on scholarship for at least this season. He plays on every special teams unit, and junior college transfer Gerald Williams’ uncertain eligibility status elevated Reveiz to second-team middle linebacker.
“That’s special, when you see those guys work hard, and they don’t come in with anything, and nobody gives them any kind of chance to do much,” UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. “Nick’s completely changed his body. He’s always had the temperament, but he’s gotten himself bigger and stronger.
“I don’t know how short some of the linebackers in this country are. He’s a little bit undersized, I’m sure, but he makes up for it with his toughness and his quickness and his intelligence and, most of all, just his attitude.”
Nick’s brother Shane, a redshirt freshman walk-on linebacker for the Vols, was cleared to re-join the team this summer after surgery in January to remove a growth on his heart.
“Just a great Tennessee family,” Fulmer said of the Reveiz’s.
No ‘Chattanooga’ package
Fulmer said he’s been pleased with the team’s new “Chicago” package, which features sophomore offensive tackle and Windy City native Ramone Johnson at tight end.
Johnson is 6-5, 315 pounds, and he’s been unsuccessfully lobbying coaches to run a passing route in the run-heavy package.
“When we had a couple of big offensive tackles, Antone Davis and Charles McRae, a lot of times we’d flip those guys to the same side,” Fulmer said. “It gives you some punch coming off the edge, particularly if teams don’t adjust just right. I like the look of it so far.”
Junior guard Jacques McClendon played some tight end for The Baylor School, hauling in a touchdown pass against The McCallie School as a senior. He reminded Fulmer of his feats this week, but there are no plans for a “Chattanooga” package.
“I told Coach (Fulmer) that whenever they’re ready to get me the ball, I’m ready,” McClendon said. “But I guess the world’s not ready for that.
“We’ll see where it goes. I’m not giving up.”
