VolQuest.com - Inside the Fort

September 16, 2012

Paul Fortenberry
VolQuest.com Staff Writer

Winston-Salem, N.C., tight end Lucas Wilson was ready for his first Tennessee game Saturday when the Vols hosted the Florida Gators and despite the home team losing the 6-foot-5, 226-pounder said it was still a great visit.

"It was good. I was looking forward to it all week and with it being a big game the atmosphere was great," Wilson said. "Despite the loss and those couple of big plays that Florida had late in the game that turned the table it was good. I loved it."

Wilson had never been to an SEC game before and the environment he encountered was like nothing he had seen in past visits.

"Really, the atmosphere was unlike anything I had been to before. I've been to some ACC schools but nothing like it was at Rocky Top," Wilson said. "Just how the atmosphere was, it was something different that I hadn't experienced before."

He was able to speak with several coaches on his visit, including Jay Graham, Jim Chaney and Charlie Coiner.

"I talked with coach Graham, coach Chaney and coach Coiner," Wilson said. "It was just some casual, low key talk about how things have been going but other than that nothing really significant."

During the game Wilson kept an eye on Vols' tight end Mychal Rivera as he accumulated four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. He liked how he was utilized.

"I watched Rivera a lot. I kind of tried to do that and I saw some good things," Wilson said. "The way he was playing you kind of get to a little bit of everything. It's a good balance where you're not going to be doing a whole a lot more blocking than running (routes)."

Wilson has started to think more about recruiting recently and has it basically narrowed down to three schools who he's keeping contact with.

"I've definitely started to think about it a whole lot more. I'm really hoping to make a decision soon. I just have to see how it all plays out here in the next little bit," Wilson said. "I still have a lot of contact with the coaches at South Florida and also the Air Force and I've thought for a while I'd like to be a pilot, but I'm not sure how that's going to work out. Them and Tennessee, those are the main schools."

He hopes to do something sooner rather than later.

"I'm planning on doing it within the next couple of weeks," Wilson said. "I don't know exactly what I'm waiting on but it should be within the next couple of weeks is what I'm thinking.

MAIL CALL

Paul my question is this: Do you think that the style of running game that we use most of the time (the pistol) do you think that is an attractive style of play for guys like the 'Derricks' or do you think that even matters because if they had a guy like that that UT would change schemes? - Steven

I think the Vols are playing to their strengths and that has been the passing game and they are most comfortable doing that in the shotgun or pistol. Bray has also said in the past he is more comfortable with that and they believe they can run out of it. Now, when it comes to recruiting I think running backs just want to know they would be given the ball. Alabama runs a lot out of the shotgun and pistol and running backs are flocking there. So, I don't think it hurts their recruiting at all, running in the pistol.

If you were a recruit, what do you think you would have taken out of this weekend in Knoxville? Put yourself in the shoes of a recruit and give us what your take-aways would be. - Joe

I would have taken away the atmosphere first and foremost and what all of Saturday was, not just the game or the fourth quarter. Most guys I've talked to talked about the whole environment and atmosphere on campus Saturday. I think that was the number one takeaway.

I think you see promise with the Vols, but they are still missing pieces. I think most noticed they were right there for three quarters and then just lost momentum after the busts. It's never as bad as some think and never as good as others.

BY THE NUMBERS

Before Derrick Henry made it to Knoxville for the weekend, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound running back had another outstanding performance running the ball Friday night. Henry ran for 303 yards on 41 carries and scored five touchdowns in Yulee's 42-14 win over South Lake.

The performance added more records for Henry, who tied the Florida state record for consecutive 100-yard games with 37 and with 8,753 career rushing yards he moved within 51 yards of tying Emmitt Smith in all-time rushing yards in the state of Florida. It's no wonder why the Vols and Alabama are after him as hard as they are.

For the season Henry has rushed for 881 yards on 87 carries with 12 touchdowns in three games.

WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE

Plenty of Tennessee targets were on the road this week and Ole Miss was a hot spot for a few. The Rebels hosted both Beau Sandland and Jonathan Rumph (who will be in Knoxville this weekend) as official visitors.

Also on Ole Miss' campus as unofficial visitors were Mack Weaver and Dee Liner.

Montravius Adams, who may visit the Vols unofficially later in the year, was at Michigan State for his official visit.

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