Quote:
Originally Posted by dalemurphy
-undisciplined early in college career
-injuries
-bad scheme
etc...
I don't know too much about Ayers!
|
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/518624
Ayers redshirted as a 230-pound outside linebacker for Tennessee in 2004. Having bulked up to 250 pounds prior to the 2005 campaign, he shifted to left defensive end.
He backed up All-SEC choice Parys Haralson, as he delivered five tackles (three solo) and a six-yard sack in nine games.
The redshirt sophomore shifted to right end the following season, playing behind Antonio Reynolds, but was
hampered early in the 2006 season by a left hand fracture suffered in August camp. He would produce 25 tackles (17 solo) with one sack in 13 games, earning two late-season starting assignments.
In 2007, Ayers was a reserve behind Antonio Reynolds. Even though he was used off the bench, he
led the team with four sacks and 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also collected 34 tackles (25 solo) with two pass breakups and four quarterback pressures.
As a senior, Ayers caught fire at midseason to deliver 49 tackles (34 solo) with
three sacks, leading the team and league with
15.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also had six pressures and his first career interception.
Character: Ayers has
kept himself out of trouble since his 2005 arrest for involvement in a fraternity fight. He had problems with the coaching staff earlier in his career and even his head coach publicly stated that he had
issues dealing with authority and others, not heeding advice from the squad's veteran players. But over his four years, he matured to the point where he served as one of the team's captains in 2008.
"When Robert got here,
he thought he was God's gift to football," former head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "He wouldn't listen to the upperclassmen -- not in a bad way, but he just didn't take to coaching very well. (As a senior) he's starving for coaching, and he's giving great effort. He's turned into a big-time SEC defensive end."
Ayers wanted to be a linebacker but agreed to slide to defensive tackle, where the Vols had serious depth concerns. It would have been easy for Ayers to fight even a situational role in his last chance to show NFL scouts his ability at end. However, he was more concerned with his last chance to win an SEC championship.
"Obviously, I feel like I'm better off the edge," he said. "But I'll do whatever the coaches ask me to do," Ayers stated prior to his banner senior season.
--Now you know
