Tennessee cornerback Roshaun Fellows figures he is getting better with every game.

Fellows isn't about to let up now.

"I don't think I've gotten to the point I want to be yet," Fellows said Wednesday. "I think I'd still like to improve every game I play."

Fellows, the starter at left corner, and right cornerback Jonathan Hefney had high grades for Saturday's 43-29 victory at South Carolina.

A redshirt freshman, Fellows had two pass break-ups and his second interception of the season against the Gamecocks. He leads the Vols and is tied for third in the SEC in passes defended per game (1.25 per game, 10 total).

"I've been taking my practice out on the playing field," Fellows said. "When the lights come on, I come out and play."

Fellows will need to do it again Saturday afternoon when the Vols (7-1) play host to Notre Dame (5-3) at 3:30 at Neyland Stadium.

Brady Quinn, the Fighting Irish's sophomore quarterback, has thrown for 1,890 yards and 10 touchdowns with season, completing 53.7 percent. He has been intercepted seven times.

Quinn will certainly test the Vols with his passing arm. Fellows says the secondary will be ready.

"In the beginning of the season, everybody saw (the secondary) as a weak point of the defense," Fellows said, "but now I think it's become one of the strengths of the defense."

Fellows started the season opener against UNLV but was replaced in the starting lineup the next two games by Jonathan Wade, who is now his backup.

If anything, being pulled from the starting lineup after the opener motivated Fellows.

"It didn't affect my confidence at all," said Fellows, who has started the last five games. "It kept me competing in practice."

Fellows, of Warren, Ark., said he was recruited by several schools - including Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Oklahoma State - as a wide receiver, but came to Tennessee as a defensive back.

Arkansas recruited him as a wide receiver and defensive back.

Tennessee defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell, a native of Jonesboro, Ark., recruited Fellows and played a big part in landing him.

"I wanted to get away and take a chance of going somewhere else," Fellows said. "I liked the way Tennessee's coaches were. Me and coach Caldwell kind of bonded a little bit and I felt I had the best relationship with coach Caldwell out of all the recruiters."