Tackle Dan Williams Heart of Vols' Dominant 'D'

Dan Williams doesn't garner the kind of attention safety Eric Berry gets. He hasn't racked up as many tackles as linebacker Rico McCoy or as many sacks as defensive end

Chris Walker.

Still, Tennessee coaches and players say Williams is the key to the Volunteers' defensive success.

At 6-foot-3 and about 320 pounds, Williams is overshadowed by the larger interior linemen in the Southeastern Conference.

His 39 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one sack and a fumble recovery are eclipsed by McCoy's 75 tackles, Berry's five tackles for a loss and Walker's four sacks.

Off the field he's soft-spoken and always smiling. On the field he's aggressive, and his speed and ability to disrupt opposing offenses allow his fellow Vols to excel.