• Slinging Schaeffer: Tennessee freshman quarterback Brent Schaeffer returned to practice Monday as he recovers from a broken clavicle. Schaeffer took part in team and individual drills. Schaeffer first began throwing Wednesday.

UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said a final decision on Schaeffer's availability for Saturday's SEC championship game will be made by UT's doctors on Wednesday or Thursday. Schaeffer suffered the injury on Oct. 30 against South Carolina.

Erik Ainge, who suffered a separated shoulder against Notre Dame, will not be available.

"We don't expect the young quarterbacks to be ready for the championship game," Fulmer said on UT's official website. "At this point, it wouldn't matter because he (Rick Clausen) has done so well."

• Awarded: Fulmer was pleased Clausen won the SEC offensive-player-of-the-week award.

"I think that's great," Fulmer said of the former third-stringer. "Rick has done a fantastic job as the leader of our offensive team. He has such poise and control throwing the ball where he wants to, keeping us out of bad plays.

"He's really doing well. I think he's gotten a lot of people's attention."

Eleven UT players have been recognized by the SEC for weekly performances. Rob Smith has been honored twice. One Vol has been recognized by the Walter Camp Foundation.

• Injury Report: The following players did not practice Monday because of injuries: cornerback Roshaun Fellows (foot sprain), offensive guard Cody Douglas (foot sprain), and Michael Munoz (shoulder).

Safety Robert Boulware (thigh bruise) did practice Monday. Dustin Colquitt appeared healthier as he punted extensively. Colquitt has had to overcome a hamstring pull and, most recently, a groin injury this season.

• Not So Special: Fulmer said UT's coaching staff will work in some new personnel groupings this week in hopes of boosting the Vols' sub-par special teams. Fulmer said lack of experience has hurt the return game's productivity. Injuries also have robbed the unit of depth. The Vols are 103rd in the NCAA in kick returns and 100th in punt returns.

• MIA: After 16.5 tackles for loss in UT's first nine games, defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona has zero such plays in UT's past two games.

"He's gotten double-teamed the past couple of weeks," Fulmer said. "Against Kentucky, you could put Reggie White over there and it wouldn't matter because they were throwing on three steps and it's out of there."

White is only one of six former Vols who posted more tackles for loss in a season than Mahelona. Leonard Little had 25 in 1995. Mahelona had two tackles for loss in UT's first game against Auburn this season.

The run-stopping Hawaiian is fourth on ball-carrier stops (tackles for losses excluding sacks) in a season. Little's 14 in 1995 is UT single-season record.

• Psychic: Amid snickers in UT's postgame interview room, UT linebacker Kevin Burnett predicted the Vols would face Auburn again in the SEC championship game after losing to the Tigers 34-10 on Oct. 2.

"Kevin is a very passionate person," Fulmer said of his often outspoken captain. "I think he fully believed what he said. It came to pass, so he wasn't quite as dumb as everybody thought."

• Vol Trends: UT reached the nine-win mark for the 16th time in the past 22 years. The Vols have won seven conference games seven times in the past 13 seasons. The Vols own the best interdivisional record in the SEC East. They hold a 29-9-1 record against SEC West teams.

• Trends: Sixty-seven of the 106 points Auburn has allowed have come when the Tigers are leading by 20 points or more. Auburn has won 17 games in a row when scoring first.