Gandy is a man for all positions

Richie Gandy may not spend the most time on the field, but he's probably in the film room longer than any of Tennessee's offensive linemen.

That's what it takes to prepare for all five positions on the line.

"If I was just playing tackle I could watch the film and just focus on the defensive ends," Gandy said. "Having to possibly go in at all five positions, I have to go back and rewind the film four or five times to watch each guy on every play and I have to be ready for the d-tackles and defensive ends as well as the linebackers."

So where will Gandy be for Saturday's 3:30 game against Notre Dame at Neyland Stadium?

Good question. Only time will tell.

"I could possibly play anywhere," he said.

Gandy, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound junior, is listed on the week's depth chart against Notre Dame as the No. 3 right tackle behind possible co-starters Arron Sears and Albert Toeaina.

Last Saturday, Gandy was the starter at right guard when the Vols beat South Carolina 43-29 in Columbia, S.C.

His first start as a Vol couldn't have come at a better time or place.

Gandy is from Darlington, S.C., and 16 family members were at the game, including his parents, grandmother, and sister.

"It took me a couple of days for it to sink in," Gandy said. "I really couldn't believe it when they told me I was going to start. It was a lot of fun because all of my family was there.

"It was a big game for me personally because everybody back home is a Gamecock fan. I really enjoyed it."

Gandy said he graded out well.

"I could have done better, could have done a lot worse," he said.

Gandy has worked at right guard and left tackle this week. While much of the line has been slowed by injuries, Gandy said he has stayed injury-free.

As a redshirt freshman in 2002, Gandy played tackle, seeing time in four games. He played in four games last season, some of the time at guard. He played guard, tackle and center last spring.

Gandy said if the coaches made him choose a position, it would be tackle, but he won't complain about switching to different spots.

"I have fun playing all the positions because you see so much stuff and you're ready for anything," he said. "Personally, wanting to be a coach later on in life it helps as far as that goes because I'm seeing everything on the offensive line instead of one spot."

"The thing that Richie has brought to our football team is versatility," offensive line coach Greg Adkins said. "He's a guy that can play all five positions up front. He does a nice job from amental standpoint at all five positions. He's one of our most valuable linemen because of that aspect.

"It takes an understanding of the offense. It takes a total understanding of the whole offensive line play and the responsibilities of each and every position. It takes an understanding of the fundamentals. It takes different footwork at different positions and studying each defensive player we play each week. It takes a lot of preparation."