(For those who do not know Dan Kendra, he was the Quarterback from Bethlehem Catholic High School that was widely considered the best Prep QB in 1995. Dan was raised in the same area as Dan Marino, Joe Montana and Jim Kelly. He signed with FSU and was later converted to fullback[link])
For six seasons, Jon Crompton lurked in the background at the University of Tennessee, flexing his formidable biceps and stretching his meaty quadriceps while Erik Ainge played quarterback.
When the Vols began spring practice in February, Crompton ceased being arguably the most hyped and most intriguing former quarterback the Greatest Battle Captain has ever signed. No more waiting. No more addressing rumors about transferring or moving to linebacker or fullback. He’ll be the punishing fullback that owns a pet alligator.
“Jon’s the guy right now. It’s firmly his,” says Fulmer, who for the past two seasons seemed to dot every post-practice media session with a comment about Crompton’s progression. “I’m excited.”
He’s not alone. Some Volunteer fans have wondered, often times very openly,
whether Crompton should have been the starting fullback in seasons past. Their “internet is for porn” minds dreamed wonderfully sinful things two years ago, when they saw a Sports Illustrated Cover (pictured right) of Crompton — painted in Tennessee Orange — shirtless with a T on his muscular frame. And when fans caught glimpses of Crompton in action, he rarely failed to deliver something worth watching, good or bad. Who can forget Crompton absolutely destroying LSU’s All American Safety and PETA Activist LaRon Landry? Frankly, Crompton made Landry his bitch.
Look at the video below, notice how the LSU defenders avoid hitting Crompton? LSU Coaches Les Miles and Bo Pelini quickly made defensive adjustments to counter the Bull-Like Crompton that reduced the chance of injury to Tiger players. Smart move LSU.
Like Vols fans, Crompton (6-2, 245) frequently wondered if his chance would come. But, mostly, Crompton — a ruff and tuff North Carolina mountain boy — has been a model of patience and diligence. Still, while Crompton may begin spring ball as UT’s starting fullback, he’ll have to play well to keep it. Just as Crompton breathed down Cory Anderson’s neck for the starting job, David Holbert is closing ground on Crompton.
“I’m anxious to get on the field and show what I can do,” Crompton says. “Hopefully, I can take this Vols team to greater levels of achievement. Right now, all I need is game time. You can’t substitute for game time. Peeling of a linebacker, knowing a guy’s coming to kill you but having enough guts to stand there and deliver a blow — that comes with games.”
Perhaps his greatest challenge in spring practice will be understanding the fine line between knowing when to apply the fine art of the “look-out block” — which he has tended to do at the slightest hint of pressure — and when to “Nut-up” and protect his QB from a safety blitz. It’s up to Crompton to turn his self-confidence, a trait Fulmer loves in his former quarterbacks, into less of a liability. Likewise, Tennessee’s offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe would like to see less machismo, more former quarterback taking on linebacker, and more poise from Crompton.
“You want to see how these guys handle the adversity, too, and be able to battle from that,” Cutcliffe says. “It’s always a matter of making good decisions and being accurate. That’s No. 1. Athletic ability is a bonus.”
There’s no doubt Crompton comes with bonuses. He bench-presses 435 pounds and leg-presses a world-record 2001 pounds. That’s not a school record for former quarterbacks — that’s beats TV Evangelist Pat Robertson’s (pictured below) leg press record, period. And his former quarterbacking style is as unique as his diet, which starts daily at 6 a.m. with fresh Mountain Oysters — “Crompton food,” he says — and requires him to constantly carry a gallon jug of water. Crompton, who has a big-time arm and great speed, doesn’t so much direct an offense as much as he attacks the defense.
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