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From the Commercial appeal in Memphis:

Quote:Darrell Hackney would make an intimidating presence in any linebacker core at 6-2, 235 pounds.

But Hackney does not play linebacker. Instead, he lines up under center for the UAB Blazers and takes a linebacker's mentality to a position often characterized by pretty boys.

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"We've tried to protect him for two years, but this year we're just saying 'Go,' " UAB coach Watson Brown said. "He won't get out of bounds, he won't get down, and he tries to run over everybody."

Brown likens his toughness to the mentality exhibited by Memphis quarterback Danny Wimprine.

"They don't seem to back down from anything, to a fault sometimes," Brown said.

Brown's worst fears were realized when Hackney injured his thumb in the seventh game last season against then-unbeaten TCU.

Hackney left the game with his Blazers leading 24-16 in the second half, but UAB lost the lead, its quarterback and any chance to have a season the team expected to have.

"It's very frustrating to think you could have a great team and end up 5-7," Brown said. "It's still disappointing, and your players want more."

Brown was not always comfortable with his burly signal caller who was forced into action as a redshirt freshman.

Hackney was beginning to grasp what his coach wanted him to do in the games leading up to his injury, which made his late-season absence more frustrating.

"I lost a lot last year but I'm going to bounce back from that," Hackney said. "I just feel like adversity is going to come, but the good people bounce back from it."

With Brown now comfortable handing the Conference USA contender over to his young quarterback, Hackney has tried to become more of a student of the game than in previous seasons, he said.

"I've been watching film all summer of the first two opponents," Hackney said. "It motivates me to want to emerge as a better player."

If Hackney can stay on the field, Brown is excited about the potential the offense has.

"We've got two NFL draftable wideouts with senior Roddy White and then Reggie Lindsey, a junior college transfer that we think is going to be special," Brown said. "(Hackney's) the most talented quarterback I've ever had, but now I've just got to keep him healthy."

UAB brings more depth to the field than many teams thanks to the 21 surgeries the team underwent last season and the opportunities it meant for others to play.

Much of that depth rests on the defensive side of the ball where the Blazers return 10 starters and 26 lettermen.

"We're deep in the defensive line, which I think is very important," Brown said. "We're a little thin at corner, but we've got two good seniors there."

Linebacker Zac Woodfin, who destroyed the single-season tackle record at UAB in 2003 with 149, anchors the defense. Woodfin was the only Blazer to earn first-team All-Conference USA honors last year.

- Chris Littmann: 529-2361