UT Notebook: August 31

Starters: Head coach Phillip Fulmer said, as of Tuesday, senior Cedric Houston is the starting tailback. Over the last two weeks, running backs coach Trooper Taylor repeatedly said senior Corey Larkins and junior Gerald Riggs were the top two contenders for the job.



"I’ve done pretty much everything I can do to show these coaches that I am ready to play," Riggs said when interviewed before the announcement. "I think that up to this point that I’ve done a lot to show the coaches that they can put me in and trust that I’ll make things happen in every phase of the game."



Fulmer said Houston is first string because he is more adept at pass protection. Fulmer downplayed the importance of any tailback starting the game saying four tailbacks will most likely play versus UNLV.



Fulmer said redshirt freshman RoShaun Fellows will start at left cornerback opposite junior Jason Allen.

Sideline Sanders: Offensive coordinator Randy Sanders has decided to continue coaching from the field for this season. At Fulmer’s behest, Sanders tried coaching from the press box during a recent scrimmage. Sanders said the biggest reason he prefers the sideline is he has a better feel for the game.



"I tried it for that one scrimmage," Sanders said. "I hated it for the same reasons then that I hated it before."

Sander said he expects freshman quarterbacks Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer to both play by the third series of the UNLV game unless the unnamed starter played extremely well. Sanders said the staff will select a starter by Thursday.



"If I were UNLV getting ready to play us with two freshman quarterbacks, I’d plan on blitzing," Sanders said. "I expect (UNLV) to come after them, try to rattle them, and see how they handle it."



Sanders said UNLV’s shifting defensive style will be an extremely tough test for either freshman quarterback.

Local Legend: Former Austin East star Corey Anderson said he expects to start Sunday versus UNLV at fullback. The sophomore said he is playing at 265 pounds, five pounds lighter than he started pre-season camp. Anderson said he would like to lose five more pounds.

The Next Generation: UNLV head coach John Robinson said watching senior OT Michael Munoz develop like his father, Anthony, is one of the "great joys" in college football.

"It’s a great family," Robinson said. "Anthony is one of the great human beings that I’ve ever been around."

Robinson coached Anthony at Southern Cal in the late 1970’s.

Injury Update: Fulmer said he was hopeful that junior OT Albert Toeaina would be ready to play versus Florida on September 18. Toeaina is on crutches with a bruised tibia. Fulmer said junior S/WR James Banks was undergoing an MRI for an injured knee. Banks suffered the injury on Friday.

Senior Take: Senior DL Karlton Neal said he wasn’t worried that UT’s coaching staff was planning for the future when they named two freshman quarterbacks to the first string two weeks ago. However, Neal said senior C.J. Leak deserves his just rewards for an off-season of hard work.

"We know C.J. has worked very hard," Neal said. "I think coach (Fulmer) owes it him to get him on the field."

Neal said he and sophomore Tuck McBride are the most likely to move to tackle from their normal end position. Neal said McBride might get the first nod because he has been working at tackle recently.

WR Shuffle: The Vols figure to start senior Tony Brown and junior Chris Hannon at wide receiver Sunday versus UNLV. If UT starts the game with a tight end, it will likely be junior Justin Reed.

When the Vols go to a three wide receivers set, the Vols will choose between sophomore Jayson Swain, senior Derrick Tinsley, and freshman Robert Meachem.