Anthony Sims is the team's best defensive lineman, but he's 268 pounds. The return of Eddie Strong , who missed last season because of foot surgery, should give the Rebels a huge boost. He was projected as an all-SEC linebacker before his injury. The Bulldogs' biggest hole was left by cornerback Fred Smoot . It's not certain if Corey Banks can talk as much as Smoot did, but Mississippi State believes he can play as well.
Banks is a junior-college transfer who arrived in the spring and took a starting job at cornerback.
He's got tremendous ability, good foot speed. Banks also will be used on punt and kickoff returns. He, safety Pig Prather , linebacker Mario Haggan and defensive end Dorsett Davis should give the Bulldogs another strong defense. With practically every starter returning, the Vols had an uneventful spring practice. They return a dominant defense with John Henderson in the middle and Will Overstreet at end.