When: Wednesday evening

Where: Neyland Stadium

Gear: Full Pads

QB Quandary: UT’s coaches hoped to pare down the number of candidates for the starting quarterback job after Wednesday night’s 90-play scrimmage. That move might have to wait.

None of the quarterbacks did anything to lose their shot at the starting position while the freshman showed why they could supplant the upperclassmen.

Senior C.J. Leak started the night under center and posted an average stat line: nine of 16 for 59 yards. Leak said he was pleased with his performance and felt this was the best he had performed as a Vol in a game-like situation.

Offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said Leak did a much better job of managing the team. Sanders said Leak called four quick timeouts in the same scrimmage last year. This year, Leak called only two.

Junior Rick Clausen was seven of nine for 77 yards and one touchdown. One of Clausen’s best plays of the scrimmage came on a bootleg. Clausen was immediately pressured but found junior Justin Reed for a ten-yard gain. Clausen also wowed the crowd with a 35-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Fayton.

It was easy to see why fans are so excited with the freshman quarterbacks. It was also very evident that they are, indeed, freshman quarterbacks.

Brent Schaefer excited onlookers with a 35-yard run after avoiding a near sack. Schaeffer nearly duplicated the feat with an athletic 13-yard scamper before spoiling the run with a fumble that was recovered by freshman wide receiver Robert Meachem.

Schaeffer had another fumble caused by sophomore linebacker Daniel Brooks. Sanders said Schaeffer is carrying the ball too high in order to help his balance and mobility. Schaeffer completed six of ten passes for 42 yards and one touchdown. Schaeffer rushed for 60 yard on five carries.

Erik Ainge had the longest pass completion of the night, 60 yards to sophomore wideout Bret Smith. Smith was wide open on a busted coverage.

Ainge threw eight completions for 123 yards on 15 attempts. Ainge kept his feet after taking a head-on shot from junior linebacker Jason Mitchell. Ainge scrambled, stepped up into the pocket, and completed an under-thrown pass to senior Derrick Tinsley for 13 yards as Sanders was screaming, "Throw it away." Afterwards, Sanders called the play "horrible."

Ainge also showed off some basketball skills when he completed a two-hand chest pass under pressure to senior tailback Cedric Houston. It was all for naught as the officials blew the play dead because of the pressure on Ainge.

Back Attack: Gerald Riggs didn’t start the scrimmage but he finished every run he attempted. Riggs’s most impressive run came when he lowered his shoulder and hammered sophomore safety Corey Campbell. Campbell was visibly shaken but okay.

Riggs rushed for 32 yards on five carries. He said he was getting many more opportunities with the first team as opposed to pre-season camp in 2003.

Senior tailback Corey Larkins had the best run of the night when he cutback to his left for 35 yards. Larkins had one other run for six yards.

Head coach Phillip Fulmer complimented senior tailback Jabari Davis saying he was running "really hard." Davis had one run for six yards and a reception for seventeen. Davis hammered cornerback Jason Allen on a blitz pickup.

Houston was the least impressive of the tailbacks. He carried the ball seven times for –1 yard. Houston’s first run netted a seven-yard loss when he was swarmed in the backfield.

Spinning Smith: Sophomore wideout Bret Smith had two catches that were enhanced by spinning to avoid a tackle after the catch. The most impressive was a short hitch pattern that Smith turned into a nine-yard gain. Smith hauled in three passes for 81 yards.

D Up: UT’s defensive tackles registered several nice plays. Sophomore LaRon Harris broke free and posted a sack. Jesse Mahelona had four tackles, one for a five-yard loss versus Houston.

Pressure: UT’s linebackers created significant pressure throughout the scrimmage. Jason Mitchell registered eight tackles, two for loss. Junior Omar Gaither had five tackles including one sack. Brooks had five tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble. Senior Kevin Burnett had four tackles.

Other D Notes: Junior Brandon Johnson had nine tackles. Freshman Roshaun Fellows posted six tackles with one for a loss. Freshman Ryan Karl had four tackles.

MIA: Tight end Jake Finlayson (back)?defensive end Jared Hostetter (ankle)?tight end Victor McClure (shoulder) ?wide receiver Jomo Fagan (foot).

Injuries: Offensive lineman Eric Young (knee sprain)? linebacker Kevin Simon (ankle bruise)

Special Teams: Dustin Colquitt averaged 51.3 yard on four punts. James Wilhoit was eight of ten on field goals including a 51 yarder.