Vols player injured by running into brick wall

Knoxville — A frightening injury put a damper on Tennessee’s highly anticipated first practice in full pads under new coach Lane Kiffin, with fans invited to watch Friday.

Wide receiver Ahmad Paige suffered an undisclosed neck injury when he ran into a brick wall in the corner of the end zone at Neyland Stadium late in the Volunteers’ practice, silencing a crowd of about 2,000 fans.

Kiffin said Paige was able to talk and had movement in his arms and legs, but he was placed on a backboard and transported to a nearby emergency room as a precaution.

“Any neck injury you have to be very safe with,” Kiffin said. “He did run into the wall down there. He does have movement in his legs and in his arms, so that’s great, obviously. But obviously, we’re being very safe with it and getting him over to the emergency room now.”

Paige, a rising sophomore who did not catch a pass last season, was attempting to haul in a deep fade pass from quarterback Jonathan Crompton in the left corner of the end zone against tight coverage when he collided with the wall.

Trainers attended to Paige for the final 15 minutes of practice. Concerned teammates later huddled in the corner of the end zone around Paige before he was carted off the field.

“He was a little bit scared, but I think things seemed as good as they could at that point,” Kiffin said of Paige.

Crompton said he threw to Paige after spotting him in one-on-one, press coverage.

“Obviously, nobody intended for that to happen to him,” Crompton said. “We’ve all got Ahmad in our prayers, and everybody should because Ahmad is a great kid. We hope nothing is wrong with him because he can be a big asset for this team.”

The Volunteers, who opened spring practice in helmets and shorts Tuesday and Thursday, moved to the stadium for the second half of a workout that was open to the public.

Up to 10,000 fans were invited to the stadium, which is undergoing a major renovation this offseason. A handful of supporters lined up outside the gates more than two hours before the team arrived.

Tennessee put on a good show at times. Junior All-America safety Eric Berry intercepted a deep pass from Crompton, and running backs Montario Hardesty and Lennon Creer broke off multiple long runs in a scrimmage during the middle of the practice.

“I think the running game was way better than I expected the first day,” Hardesty said. “Our whole offense starts with the running game.”

Creer also was on the receiving end of one of the longest pass plays, a screen from sophomore quarterback B.J. Coleman.

But Crompton and Coleman, who are competing for playing time while junior Nick Stephens recovers from a broken throwing wrist, both made mistakes. Crompton fumbled two snaps, and Coleman missed a few open receivers.

Crompton and center Josh McNeil both ran a lap around the field after botching the first snap Crompton took during the scrimmage.

“The ball is so valuable,” Kiffin said. “The turnover margin is how you win and lose games, more than anything else that you do. Guys take laps for fumbled snaps or offsides or false starts, penalties that can be avoided.”

Kiffin vowed to hold physical workouts throughout the spring in hopes of sorting out the team’s wide-open depth chart. Only junior All-American safety Eric Berry currently is penciled into a starting spot.

Practices under former coach Phillip Fulmer traditionally were closed to the public.

Tennessee will take the next 10 days off for spring break before resuming spring drills March 24 with the first of 11 additional practices leading up to the Orange and White Game on April 18.

“For the first week, for three practices, I’m very pleased with where we’re at,” Kiffin said. “It’s good to have this break right now so guys can get away and then come back, and we can keep installing stuff and continue to grow as a team.”