NASHVILLE -- Brushing his flowing braids back from his face, Eldra Buckley didn't look too much different than when he rushed for a school-record 2,437 yards during his two seasons as a University of Tennesseee at Chattanooga running back in 2005 and 2006.
His day at the office as a Philadelphia Eagles special teams player and back-up running back complete following Philly's 37-19 loss at Tennessee, Buckley swiftly slipped on a pair of khakis and a conservative blue striped shirt and made his way toward the team bus.
But first he had to clarify something with a newspaper reporter about his former team.
"They scored 26 points against Furman in the fourth quarter?" he asked in regards to the Mocs' 36-28 win over the Paladins on Saturday. "Man, they're playing well. I'm just so happy for those guys."
Buckley is happy, period, these days. The 5-9, 207-pounder from Charleston, Miss., is now in his second season the Eagles' roster after spending two years on San Diego's practice squad.
The Chargers gave him a chance because of Buddy Nix, the former UTC coach who was then San Diego's director of player personnel and is now the general manager of the Buffalo Bills.
"I owe a lot to Buddy Nix," said the 25-year-old Buckley. "He's a good man."
Buckley is making a good impact with the Eagles, in part because he's again working with Jeff Nixon, the former Mocs assistant who now oversees special teams quality control.
"Eldra's really doing a good job for us," said Nixon. "He's been solid on special teams and he can run the ball when he's called on."
Buckley saw action on Sunday on special teams only. But he played long enough in last week's victory over Atlanta to pick up a 10-yard catch and run for more than 20 yards.
And when he's not practicing or playing with the Eagles, he's keeping up with many of his former UTC teammates on Facebook, especially Lavonte Barber and John Parkinson.
At least a few of those conversations have surely turned to Buckley's time on the field with Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who sat out the Titans game due to injury but is expected to start at QB when Philadelphia next takes the field on Nov. 7 against Indianapolis.
"He's awesome," said Buckley. "Every time Vick's out there you're like, 'Oh, my [gosh]. He does something you've never seen before."
Buckley says the Mocs are doing something that most Chattanoogans have never seen before hecause of their hard work in the summer.
"I've worked out with those guys every summer," he said. "They worked so hard last year and they've got some players. B.J.'s become a great quarterback. Those guys all deserve this."
But no more than Buckley deserves to play in the NFL.
"I'm just so happy to be here," he said. "I just plan to keep working hard and trying to get better."