Position switches aren't an uncommon part of college football. Moving from one side of the ball to another though is a bit uncommon, and successfully negotiating a switch from offense to defense seems to be among the trickiest moves to pull off successfully. It's a move that Channing Fugate began negotiating in the spring when he began making the transition from full back to inside linebacker.

As things stand now, it was a fortuitous move for both Fugate and the Vols. With the exception of thinned out tight end spot, no place on the team where depth is as much of an issue as it is at inside linebacker.

With Herman Lathers missing, or limited for, large chunks of fall camp, Fugate has taking advantage of the extra reps, steadily working himself up the depth chart into a back-up role at middle linebacker.


CLARK STILL STRIVING

Fugate isn't the only Vol on the defensive side who's risen out of depth-chart limbo during camp to make a bid for a role on the team.

Redshirt sophomore Greg Clark has steadily been making a case for himself as a reserve role player at nose guard after spending his first two years in the program without threatening to challenge for regular playing time.

At 6-2, 323, Clark is well-suited for the nose guard spot, and the move to the 3-4 helped his chances to carve out some playing time immensely.

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