Douglas itching to play again

"If I had a magic wand just to heal him right away, I'd do it in a heartbeat," said running back Gerald Riggs, Douglas' roommate.

Riggs won't need a magic wand.

Douglas, who has missed the past two games with a sprained foot, says he will do everything possible in practice this week to show Tennessee's coaches he's ready for Saturday's 12:30 p.m. game at South Carolina.

"From what I understand, the more I do in practice, the more confidence I'll instill in the coaching staff to put me in the game early," Douglas said Tuesday. "I definitely want to get in the ballgame early, so I'll try to do more and more each day."

Douglas has little doubt he will play. He is listed as questionable and is slotted behind Arron Sears at right guard.

What are the chances Douglas will play Saturday?

"Right now I think 100 percent," Douglas said. "It just depends on how good I go out there and show the coaching staff that I can play and I can get back out there. ... I want to be out there really bad."

Douglas, a junior, started the first five games. He suffered the foot injury in the Oct. 9 victory at Georgia.

Sears, who started the first four games at right tackle, started the last two at right guard in place of Douglas. Albert Toeaina started the last three at right tackle.

Douglas says his foot is still painful, but is ready to play through it.

"I'd probably say I'm in between 80 and 90 percent," Douglas said. "I think at 80 percent I could go out there and tough it out. My foot is 80 percent but the rest of my body is running on 100 percent. I think I could go out there and perform and be a contributor.

"It's painful but there comes a time when you just have to suck it up. I've missed two weeks and that's enough for me."

Douglas was in uniform for last Saturday's game against Alabama when the Vols had their lowest rushing production of the season, gaining 53 yards on 34 carries.

"I dressed out and was ready to go in case of an emergency, but I don't think they needed me and they kind of wanted to save me and make sure I didn't go out there and re-injure it," Douglas said.

Douglas, who started nine of 13 games last year, said before the current injury he hadn't missed a game due to injury since he was at La Marque (Texas) High School.

He had surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus on a Thursday, missed the game the next day, and played a week later.

"This is definitely a new experience for me and two games is enough," Douglas said. "I'm definitely not trying to make it three."

If Douglas returns Saturday, Riggs -- the team's leading rusher -- will be as happy as any of the Vols, except maybe Douglas.

"I mean, Cody's just one of those guys, man, that when he's not there, you notice a difference," Riggs said. "Not to take any credit from any of those other guys because they play hard and they're just as talented.

"Cody's just one of those guys when he's not out there, you miss him, and I'm anxious for him to get back."