It's academic: Tennessee freshman quarterback Brent Schaeffer's injury has running backs coach Trooper Taylor concerned, but not about football. Schaeffer's broken collarbone suffered against South Carolina will keep him out for four to six weeks.

"The thing I worry about is academics," Taylor said. "As a player, when you separate from the football part of it, the first thing that usually drops is academics because you get depressed about that (the injury). We'll encourage him that this is a chance to get ahead in academics."

"A lot of it (staying positive) falls on our team chaplain. The kid is a strong Christian. I know he'll go to our team chaplain James Mitchell. He has a great relationship with his family. We'll all talk and keep our finger on it.

Taylor has maintained a close relationship with the Schaeffer family after visiting with them during recruiting.

"He gave us a big spark," Taylor said of Schaeffer's play against the Gamecocks before being injured. "I know he changed those defensive ends. That really helped the running game. They couldn't squeeze like they were earlier."

Come back C.J.?: UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said he would consider moving C.J. Leak back to quarterback in light of Schaeffer's injury. Leak has worked at tight end and linebacker since losing the starting quarterback job in preseason. He is currently working at linebacker.

Fulmer said freshman quarterback Erik Ainge will receive all the first-team practice work this week, with Rick Clausen working as the Vols' second-team signal-caller.

Hold on: Taylor said sophomore fullback Cory Anderson has been under close scrutiny from officials. Anderson was called for two holding penalties against South Carolina.

"Other teams are telling the refs to look for that," Taylor said. "They were legit calls. He's got to get his footwork under control."

Injury Report: Cody Douglas said he's ready to play hurt against Notre Dame on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

"It's one of those things that will be a nagging injury the rest of the season," Douglas said of the foot sprain suffered against Georgia. "I anticipate playing and getting back in the starting role. It hurts, but it's nothing that's intolerable.

"It's my mid-foot. Somebody fell on it and it got twisted up. How I've been walking to protect it affected some other areas of the foot, like a chain reaction."

Douglas played against South Carolina in the second and third quarter. Douglas had a noticeable limp Monday but his condition is expected to improve throughout the week. Junior Richie Gandy worked with the first team during practice Monday.

Center Jason Respert is wearing a boot on his sprained ankle suffered against South Carolina. Senior offensive tackle Michael Munoz was not in attendance during the media-allowed session of practice Monday. Munoz missed the South Carolina game with a concussion suffered against Alabama.

Sophomore Antwan Stewart was slated for limited practice work on Monday. Stewart's recovery of his knee injury is ahead of schedule. He could return to the UT lineup later this month.

Gerald Riggs (hip pointer) practiced Monday. Taylor said he will limit Riggs during practice this week so he is fresh on Saturday. Taylor said Riggs might have pushed himself too hard in practice while competing with senior Cedric Houston.

No Arian: Taylor said it would take "something serious" to get true freshman Arian Foster in a game this season. UT coaches considered playing Foster last week because of all the injuries suffered by their tailbacks. Playing Foster would eliminate his redshirt this season.

Early start: Fulmer said he has spoken to UT athletic director Mike Hamilton about future schedules. Fulmer said he believes the NCAA will add a 12th game to the schedule.

Fulmer said he hopes the season will start earlier to maintain open dates. The Vols will have played eight consecutive games without an open date ending with Notre Dame this weekend. The streak began on Sept. 18 against Florida. The Vols have an open date next week before playing Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

No thanks: Junior free safety Jason Allen was recruited by Notre Dame, but declined the chance to visit South Bend, Ind.

"I had a chance to visit Southern Cal, too, but didn't," Allen said. "The whole thing just wasn't me. I couldn't see myself there (at Notre Dame)."

Allen visited UT, Alabama, Georgia and LSU. Allen said he played at or near 100 snaps against South Carolina, every defensive snap, and some special teams. Allen said if it wasn't the most he's ever played in college, last year's five-overtime game against Alabama was.

Perfect timing: Sophomore wide receiver Bret Smith's breakout season continued against South Carolina with a 44-yard kickoff return for a touchdown as South Carolina attempted an onside kick. Smith has six touchdowns, including five receiving, this season.

"All I know is that every time Bret Smith touches the ball, it's a touchdown," special teams coordinator Steve Caldwell said jokingly.

In all seriousness, the touchdown return may have overshadowed how well Smith covered the ball for the Vols.

"He couldn't wait any longer," Caldwell said. "He made a great call. Once that sucker (ball) goes 10 yards, it's a war."

Smith jumped to snare the ball after it had traveled only 9 yards. An onside kick cannot be recovered by the kicking team until it travels 10 yards or the return team touches the ball.

Recruiting: Safety prospect Adam Myers-White from Hamilton, Ohio, said he will visit Knoxville this weekend for the UT-Notre Dame game. Myers-White refuses to pick a leader. He is considering Tennessee, Southern Cal, Purdue, and Nebraska. Myers-White took his official visit to Knoxville on Oct. 23 for the UT-Alabama game.

When asked if Vol fans should view his repeat trip to Knoxville as a positive sign for UT, he said, "Absolutely."

The Vols are expected to host five to six official visitors this weekend including offensive lineman Michael Oher from Memphis. The 6-foot-5, 330-pounder from Briarcrest Christian High School may have more potential than any other prospect in Tennessee.