By Matt Dixon
Correspondent
NASHVILLE – Persistence paid off just for Gerald Williams to enroll at Tennessee.
His persistence was evident again Saturday night in the Volunteers’ 24-10 win at Vanderbilt.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound senior was a force against the Commodores all night, even though his most impressive play didn’t end up in the box score.
“He was active,” UT coach Derek Dooley said. “Blocked a field goal, and he had the pick-six that didn’t count. That’s unfortunate – guys dream about that.
“But Gerald has just had a great attitude. He hasn’t played his best all the time, but he just keeps bringing it every week, and I’m proud of him.”
Williams had a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown called back because of a personal-foul penalty on defensive tackle Malik Jackson.
“I can’t get mad at Malik,” Williams said. “He was just making a hustle play, and besides, if he doesn’t make that play, I don’t get the interception.”
Jackson said Williams wasn’t so understanding immediately.
“He was mad,” Jackson said about the penalty on his late hit on Vanderbilt quarterback Larry Smith. “I felt bad after it ’cause I took his play away, but stuff happens and I’ve just got to pay him back somehow.”
On the Commodores’ next possession, Williams blocked a 45-yard field-goal attempt and returned it 8 yards to preserve a 14-3 Tennessee lead midway through the third quarter.
“I saw him scoop the field goal up and take that interception back,” UT cornerback Prentiss Waggner said. “I think he was reminiscing those linebackers days that he had when he first came to Tennessee, so that was big for Gerald.”
Williams totaled a career-high eight tackles, including one sack and another half-tackle for loss.
His previous high was seven tackles against Oregon earlier this year.
“Gerald had a great game,” Jackson said. “He really came out and played today, I think, one of the best performances of the D-line.”
Williams signed with UT in 2005 as one of the top middle linebackers in the country from Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. After failing to get cleared by the NCAA, he spent the 2006 season at Fork Union Military Academy (Va.) and played the 2007 season in California at the City College of San Francisco.
Williams moved to defensive end after arriving in Knoxville. He played a reserve role in 2008, recording 12 tackles. He started the first two games of the 2009 season and notched 15 tackles and recovered a fumble.
Action Jackson returns
Sophomore free safety Janzen Jackson made his presence felt in the most opportune time for the Vols.
Vanderbilt drove to the UT 13-yard line, trailing 17-3, with six minutes left in the game.
On a first-and-110, Jackson intercepted a Larry Funk pass at the goal line and returned the ball 43 yards.
“It was big,” Jackson said. “We need a turnover or a stop right there in the red zone because we knew that they would have another chance to get the ball if they scored. That was big for us.”
Contact Matt Dixon at sports@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6273.
