Tennessee's offensive linemen keep winning SEC weekly awards. Maybe Purple Hearts would be more appropriate.

The unit of walking wounded delivered one of its finest hours in the Vols' upset win at Georgia last weekend. Back on the road at Ole Miss (3-3, 2-1 SEC) on Saturday night, they'll toss aside their crutches and try to do it again.

"One thing about this group,'' line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens said Tuesday, "it's a tough-minded bunch.

"That was a gutsy performance (at Georgia), the way they were hurting.''

UT offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said the line has a chance to be a little healthier for Saturday's game (TV: ESPN2, 9 p.m.), but who will play and how much is strictly wait-and-see for No. 13 Tennessee (4-1, 2-1).

A brief recap:

Starting right tackle Arron Sears (ankle) wasn't supposed to play against Georgia. In his place, Albert Toeaina (bruised knee) made his first start.

However, when left tackle Michael Munoz suffered a bruised knee during the first half, Sears entered the fray and played virtually the entire second half.

Right guard Cody Douglas (foot) was knocked out of the game in the second half and is doubtful for Ole Miss. He was replaced by Richie Gandy.

Center Jason Respert battled through an ankle injury. Left guard Rob Smith, who became the third Vol to win SEC offensive lineman of the week honors, played every snap.

"It was interesting,'' said Sanders, "every time we'd go to start a series, I'd call a play and look at the huddle and there's a different five in there every time. Some of them were playing positions they hadn't really practiced that much.''

Stephens and coach Phillip Fulmer, an old lineman and line coach, were proud of the way their beat-up guys fought on against one of the SEC's best defenses.

"You could tell by talking to them on the sidelines (they were hurting),'' said Stephens, "but at the same time, they were so into the game they weren't coming out.''

Douglas was on crutches Tuesday, but in an upbeat mood. When he hobbled to the sideline at Georgia he felt he had probably broken a bone and would be done for the year.

He had X-rays and got good news on his way off the field after the game: no break.

"I had been waiting for the results on the sideline,'' he said. "I found out walking back in the tunnel after we won the game. Two really good pieces of news, I guess.''

Sanders isn't counting Douglas out for Ole Miss. He learned his lesson after counting Sears out for Georgia.

But when Munoz went down, Sears went in.

"For a guy not to practice one day during the week,'' said Douglas, "that shows his football savvy and knowledge of the game.''

Fulmer would have preferred to rest Sears, but was confident he could handle himself.

"Arron had overcome enough and Michael's (was) brand new,'' Fulmer said. "We didn't stick a guy who couldn't defend himself in the game.''

If Douglas can't play Saturday night, Sears is likely to start at guard with Toeaina staying in the lineup at tackle.

"That gives us our most physical five,'' said Fulmer.

It might be Friday, or even Saturday, before the determination is made who can go and who can't.

"I didn't know who we were going to have last week,'' said Stephens. "I really didn't.

"We have our little walk-through on Friday and let 'em jog around and make a few cuts here and there and see how it feels.

"Of course these guys want to play and they're going to tell you it feels great, but it probably doesn't.''

The results, however, are indisputable. Respert, Munoz and now Smith have won SEC lineman of the week honors out of five games.

"We're happy where we are,'' said Smith, "but it's a long season.

"We'll be judged on how we play at the end of the year, rather than this first half.''

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com