By Will Woodbery, Correspondent
KNOXVILLE — Sprawled on his back with team medical staff on hand, David Holbert thought he was in a dream.
A bad one.
Tennessee’s senior fullback went down with a gruesome-seeming knee injury during Saturday’s scrimmage at Neyland Stadium after a hit from linebacker Rico McCoy.
“I don’t know what happened,” quarterback Jonathan Crompton said. “I just heard something pop, and I looked down and it didn’t sound good or look good.”
Coach Phillip Fulmer could not specify any further details but said Holbert would most likely miss the rest of spring practice.
That’s tough news for a player who missed all of last season with a torn ACL.
“David, bless his heart, has had the hardest time with everything,” Fulmer said. “It was a good, clean, tough hit. It’s just part of football. You hate to see that with anybody, but (particularly) with a senior who’s fought through what he’s fought through to get back.”
As Holbert received treatment, both Tennessee practice teams converged at midfield and knelt in prayer.
“It’s part of football. You play hard. It’s a tough, violent game sometimes, and there’re injuries that come with it,” Fulmer said.
Baylor graduate Kevin Cooper is next on the depth chart for the fullback position.
In addition, senior linebacker Nevin McKenzie sprained his MCL, Fulmer said.
“It won’t require surgery or anything like that,” Fulmer said. “We’ll see how long it takes him to get back. So that was a blessing.”
Both injuries come a day after junior tight end Jeff Cottam fractured his leg during practice. Roster moves may result, Fulmer said.
“We’ll have to really sit down and evaluate that, because that leaves you short-handed at two spots, at fullback and tight end, which is important to what Coach (Dave) Clawson likes to do,” Fulmer said.
Mathis kicks off
Tennessee place-kicker Devin Mathis, a Baylor graduate, made nine of 15 attempts during Saturday’s scrimmage, with his longest coming from 43 yards.
“He kicked the ball well today,” Fulmer said. “I kind of messed with him a little bit there. I tried so many holders with him. We won’t do that ordinarily. When you travel in the Southeastern Conference you can only take 70. Your backup punter or your backup quarterback, somebody else has got to be the holder. We’ll figure that out as we go.”
Last year’s starter, Daniel Lincoln, missed only one of seven attempts Saturday, his longest make a 44-yarder.
Replacing Colquitt
Punter Chad Cunningham averaged 43 yards on four punt attempts during the scrimmage, but he’s still got work to do to match up with his predecessor.
“He’s not Britton Colquitt right now. But he’s making some strides as we go,” Fulmer said. “When you have something where it’s not supposed to be, you work on it and you try to improve around it.”
Fulmer said Colquitt, who was suspended for the first five games of the 2008 season after his arrest for driving under the influence in February, was practicing and performing well.
Morley gets a pick
Junior defensive back Demetrice Morley nabbed the only interception during Saturday’s scrimmage.
The pick was especially sweet, considering Morley hadn’t played in Neyland Stadium since 2006. He was dismissed from the university for academic shortcomings in January 2007 and gained readmission a year later.
“It felt real good. I haven’t had that feeling in a while,” Morley said. “I want to get used to having that feeling.”
So would his coaches.
Defensive coordinator John Chavis said Morley has entered spring practice as a more complete player compared to his freshman year.
“I think he actually knows a little bit more,” Chavis said. “He’s had an opportunity to grow a little bit, and actually from a football standpoint he knows a little bit more. He’s playing well. You don’t lose the talent. He had some experience. He didn’t let that go to waste either.”
Morley also had three tackles and a 6-yard Saturday.
Chavis said the defensive line still needs to improve in pressuring the quarterback.
“We need to get our sacks back up where they need to be,” Chavis said. “The last couple years we’re not anywhere near where we need to be. You have to realize, when you start getting sacks, sacks are drive stoppers.”
E-mail Will Woodbery at sports@timesfreepress.com
