KNOXVILLE - Injury-riddled Tennessee senior defensive end Ben Martin went down again Thursday, leaving the indoor complex on crutches after suffering a lower leg injury.
Martin, a former five-star recruit from Cincinnati, has struggled to meet expectations throughout his career in part because of injuries.
"We'll see if it's serious or not. I don't know yet," Volunteers coach Derek Dooley said after practice. "I think it might be an Achilles' (tendon) or something. It's not his knee. I think it's something else. I just don't know yet."
Dooley admitted being frustrated at not having a true opportunity to watch the talented senior play off the edge.
"I've never seen Ben since I got here," Dooley said. "He didn't go through any snaps in the spring. He's been kind of this mystery to me. He hadn't been 100 percent since I got here.
The silver lining is that defensive end is UT's deepest position. The Vols have as many as four pairs of ends who could be ready to help by the Sept. 4 season opener against UT-Martin.
"It's been a really tough road for Ben," junior linebacker Austin Johnson said. "It definitely hurts, but he'll push through it."
Practicing patience
Dooley said he was generally pleased with his newcomers' first practice late Wednesday night, but he added that youngsters are given much more room for error.
The coach said he has "no patience" for silly practice errors from his veterans, new system be darned.
UT again will split the practices today before convening as a full team Saturday.
"Y'all have asked me if I have patience. I do with (young guys)," Dooley said. "I have a lot of patience with them. I don't scream at them, because they just don't know. They don't understand the tempo, the pace. They also don't know what to do.
"It's night and day. That's another reason why we have two practices."
Kicking competitions
Dooley said highly coveted freshman Michael Palardy will continue to work on field goals, kickoffs and punts despite the Vols also signing Matt Darr, viewed by many as the nation's top incoming punter. Dooley said seniors Daniel Lincoln and Chad Cunningham were "two good, productive players ... and we're not looking to replace them" but that Palardy and Darr would get chances to win the first-team jobs.
Dooley called Palardy and Darr "two really talented freshmen, and I'm not afraid to say that."
"And we'll see where that talent takes them," the coach added.
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