Scout Team to Starter: Nick Reveiz

The linebacker to start the season, Nick Reveiz, is a player who should influence us all to want to work harder and be better. 

He joined the team as a walk-on in 2006 and was redshirted for the season.  During that season, Reveiz was challenging the first team offensive line during practice, and they didn’t like it.

"You hit guys hard, and the guys get mad at you because you're scout team," said Reveiz to FanNation , “… It felt like I was doing something wrong at first because all the O-linemen were mad at me… I just kept doing it."

Until 2009, Reveiz could be seen playing special teams or occasionally getting a few tackles at linebacker at the end of a big win.  But to be starting, no one ever expected that.

"When I came here as a walk-on, people were saying, 'Wow, you're playing on special teams,' " Reveiz said to GoVolsXtra . " 'That's really good.' "

"My goal has always been to come here and start, to be an All-SEC player," he said.  "…So I'm not happy just to be running with the 1's (in practice). My goal is to start."

The UT coaches didn’t ignore the attitude, and on the radio coach Lane Kiffin said, “If you had asked our coaches at the beginning of the year who our three toughest players to replace are, I guarantee Nick would have been in every one of their top threes; some guys would even have had him at number one.”

Going into the Ohio game this season, Nick Reveiz was number two in the team in tackles, second only to Eric Berry.  More than that, he was a team captain and defensive leader.  He managed the front seven during games, reading the offense and changing looks.

 After the Ohio game in which Reveiz tore is ACL and was ruled out for the saeson, Rico McCoy stated, “Everybody's gonna have to step up and turn it up another notch.  Nick was a tough guy with a great work ethic and he was a leader.  Losing him is a big setback.”

And step up they have.  Rico McCoy was averaging seven tackles per game the first four games, but since Nick was injured, he’s taking down 13 Auburn and Georgia jerseys per game. 

But Nick hasn’t disappeared since his injury.  He’s on the sidelines every game cheering the team and being the leader that he is, and intangibles like that are what separate a walk-on from a starter.

“I always try to encourage the younger walk-ons and the younger guys,” Reveiz said. “The biggest thing is you have to keep fighting, you got to keep pushing, you can’t give up.”

We can see that he hasn’t given up yet, as he just underwent successful knee surgery yesterday .

Fans at GoVolsXtra are still cheering for him, with comments like, “Good to hear.  I know this kid will be back strong as ever, all heart and it shows,” from Crimsonviper.  Shopgoss1 who wrote, “Wow!!  What great news for a kid that is truly a blessing on and off the field!!”

We wish him a speedy recovery for next year because like he said at the beginning of the season , “I have a goal to go to the NFL.”  And while many believe he is not large enough to do it, Reveiz has been studying Zach Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs.

"He's [Zach Thomas] someone I have tried to study," Reveiz said.  "He's really short."

While Nick Reveiz may be short in stature, he’s as tall as anyone else when it comes to his mentality.

Look for him on the sidelines next week as Tennessee heads down to Tuscaloosa to play the Alabama Crimson Tide.  He’ll be there, because he’s still as much a part of this team as anyone out there on the field.

Go Vols!