No. 2: Questions about 2005

No. 2? Who will play center?

Richie Gandy didn't have a slew of starts or awards on his resume. That doesn't mean that his mid-February knee injury won't have an impact on the 2005 football season for Tennessee. Gandy was the projected starter at center after Jason Respert and Chuck Prugh completed their eligibility last fall. Gandy is also the player most adept at playing all five offensive line positions in a backup role. UT's medical staff hopes the senior can return, in some capacity, this season.

UT coaches tried senior guard Cody Douglas and backups David Ligon and Anthony Parker at center during spring practice. Freshman Cameron Mayo also received work at center before suffering a knee injury. Douglas' time at center was limited after he injured his knee early in spring practice.

Douglas is a proven offensive lineman. When he hasn't been slowed by injuries, he has shown the ability to move piles and open running lanes. The concern with moving Douglas to center is he may lose that aggressiveness when his first concern is securing the center-quarterback exchange instead of hammering an opposing lineman.

Douglas has never played center. Moving him will likely turn a great guard into an average center as he learns the position. Also, moving Douglas to center means using a youngster, likely Ramon Foster, at right guard to fill Douglas' old spot.

Ligon could be the answer at center after overcoming a slow start and sharing the most improved offensive player of spring practice award with Foster. Parker, who had off-season arthroscopic knee surgery, needs to make up considerable ground to be a starter in the SEC.

The play at center was so bad at times this spring that UT's offense struggled to hold an efficient practice because the quarterback was not receiving the snap consistently. That simply will not do if UT hopes to compete for a championship this fall.

The ideal solution is Josh McNeil who is still attending high school in Collins, Miss. McNeil was the top rated center in the country when he signed with UT in February. McNeil spent his spring break in Knoxville learning UT's offense and has the strength needed to play immediately. If McNeil starts, then Douglas stays at guard and UT's offensive line looks like a team strength.

UT's coaches aren't looking for dominant play at center this season; just a sure handed stalemate for the vast majority of UT's offensive plays.

Prediction: Centers don't need to dominate to be effective. They don't have to be the most intimidating, physical blockers. In that case, one could see a player straight out of high school having an impact.

Still, it's hard to believe McNeil will be ready to open the season as the starter but it's easier to think that McNeil could assume the role of starting center by midseason. There is a reason that McNeil was one of Phillip Fulmer's top priorities of the 2005 class.

Until McNeil is ready, Ligon will play center so Douglas can stay at guard. IF Douglas' mobility is still limited by last year's foot injury, he will play center and Foster will play guard.