Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer named freshmen quarterbacks Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer "co-No. 1s" on Wednesday. Senior C.J. Leak, who worked with the first team in spring practice, and junior Rick Clausen will work with the second team.

"It would be easy to stay here and stay status quo," Fulmer said. "The right thing for our football team is to make this happen now."

Fulmer said the move was prompted by necessity. UT pre-season camp has been physical. Subsequently, injuries are a growing concern. Fulmer said the Vols will cut back on the amount of game-like scrimmage snaps as they prepare for the season opener on Sept. 5 against UNLV. That means fewer opportunities to prepare a starting quarterback.

"This is a chance to put our best 11 football players on the field," Fulmer said. "We feel like the youngsters have more plusses."

Fulmer commended Leak's response to the news.

"I'm sure it hurt his feelings," Fulmer said "He worked really hard. Everyone on the team and coaching staff have great respect for CJ.

"He came back in a few minutes and said, 'I'll play safety, linebacker, or tight end. Whatever I can do to help this football team.' "

Fulmer said he wasn't sure he could afford to play Leak on defense but did give him some reps at safety Thursday.

"I've got to keep my head up," Leak said. "They want me to compete for the starting quarterback job and I'll do that.

"At the same time I want to help the team. I know that at safety we need some help. Two hundred thirty five-pound safeties that can run a 4.5 aren't found everywhere."

Leak transferred to UT in 2001 after suffering a serious knee injury at Wake Forest. He has played in eight games at Tennessee, starting only once. Clausen transferred from LSU, joining his brother Casey, who was a four-year starter at UT.

"C.J. and I are very disappointed but this is Coach Fulmer's team and he has to do whatever is in the best interest of the football team," Clausen said. "I'm a little bit surprised. Especially after the way I played (in Wednesday night's scrimmage)."

Fulmer underscored that this move was not necessarily permanent.

"It could change but I don't anticipate that," Fulmer said. "Obviously the two young ones have to take care of the football better."

Fulmer said the decision was based on the present and not the future. Fulmer said Ainge's vision and arm strength combined with Schaeffer's running ability were just a part of the equation.

"Both are unusually mature," Fulmer said. "Both have been in passing offenses. They understand protections. Neither are where Rick or C.J. are right now as far as mentally.

"They've gone so fast that we have to believe. This is not a decision for the long-term. This is what we think we need to do to win a championship this year."

The announcement of the news to the team might have been just as hard. Leak and Clausen are two of the more popular players on the team.

"I think it has to sink in for a bit," Fulmer said. "Our seniors will be good leaders and they'll do what they need to do to make sure everybody rallies around whoever is out there."

Said Clausen: "I'm not going to let any division happen at all. The starter is whoever the coach says is the starter. Regardless of how popular you are, it's all about the team winning.

"I'm going to be the biggest cheerleader possible until I'm called upon to play. If I don't get called on then I'm going to be backing those guys as much as possible."

Clausen, whose sister recently enrolled at UT, said he hasn't second-guessed his decision to attend UT.

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"We play for coach Fulmer and we play for the University of Tennessee," Clausen said. "I'm probably going to be the best third-string QB in the country."