All the talk, all the second-guessing and all the preparation is nearly over.

Jason Allen's cornerback skills will be on display Saturday against Alabama-Birmingham. Allen's move to cornerback from safety, where he played last season, has been one of the consistent topics of conversation among Tennessee fans.

Allen was UT's leading tackler last season. He was considering the NFL before returning to UT, in part, to play cornerback, his preferred position. Some UT fans have said he is a better safety than cornerback and the move should have never been made.

Allen said the transition back to corner during fall camp has been easy thanks to a summer dedicated to playing the position.

However, Allen hasn't been perfect. In press coverage, he has been beaten off the line of scrimmage for long receptions by sophomore Robert Meachem twice during UT's last two scrimmages.

"I can beat Robert Meachem nine times and he can beat me one and the one's going to show up," Allen said. "He's a spectacular player. He's going to make plays. I'm going to make plays as well. He made a couple of big plays. It's all about competition."

Allen's move to cornerback forced 5-foot-9 Jonathan Hefney to safety. He played cornerback last season. Hefney is expected to start alongside junior Antwan Stewart, also a former cornerback.

"There's more experience in the front seven so they may not have to play it (the run) as much as I did but they have the capability to play it if needed," said Allen who averaged 9.46 tackles per game in 2004.

UT's coaches have said those three defensive backs, along with sophomore cornerback Roshaun Fellows, give the Vols four playmakers in the passing game. Much of that will depend on UT's ability to pressure the quarterback.

"They're definitely going to have an opportunity to get a lot of picks," Allen said of UT's safeties. "They say pressure busts the pipes."

Fumbling Foster?: Freshman tailback Arian Foster's demotion from second team is due to fumbling the football, according to UT running backs coach Trooper Taylor. Taylor said walk-on junior David Yancey likely will be Gerald Riggs Jr.'s backup against UAB on Saturday.

"I only have myself to blame if that's the case because I didn't make a good enough impression on the coaches," Foster said. "If that's the case, I'm going to work even harder."

Foster said the tendency to carry the ball away from his body has been a bad habit he's had since he began playing football. However, Foster said it didn't affect him in high school.

"I probably could count them on one hand," Foster said when asked how many times he fumbled at Mission Bay High School. "I didn't fumble the ball in high school."

Taylor said Foster likely will be the third-team back followed by freshman Montario Hardesty, who has been slowed by a thigh bruise.

Battling Blazers: Senior wide receiver Chris Hannon said UT's young players shouldn't necessarily expect playing time this Saturday with UAB on the schedule.

"I hope they're going to get in, but UAB looks real tough," Hannon said. "Playing Wyoming in the past years, the young guys are going to get in but UAB is coming in real strong."

Defensive tackle Turk McBride agreed with Hannon's assessment.

"He's a great quarterback," McBride said of UAB's Darrell Hackney. "He might be one of the best quarterbacks we face this year."

McBride said he expects to be the second-team tackle along with Matt McGlothlin. Senior Jesse Mahelona and junior Justin Harrell are expected to start. Junior Tony McDaniel could push for a starting position after he returns from a two-game suspension.

McBride said, along with UT's younger tackles, that the Vols can be special in the middle.

"We're probably going to go down in history," McBride said.

Katrina's Wrath: UT has five players from Louisiana where Hurricane Katrina made landfall on Monday.

"We addressed that today and told them to keep us in the loop with information from their family," Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer said.

Fulmer said team chaplain James Mitchell led UT in a prayer for families in the storm's path.

Senior linebacker Jason Mitchell (Abbeville), freshman running back Lucas Taylor (Carencro), sophomore tight end Chris Brown (Destrehan), Ja'Kouri Williams (Plaquemine) and junior cornerback Jonathan Wade (Shreveport) are the five Louisiana imports.

Clausen's Career: Fulmer said he has offered UT senior quarterback Rick Clausen a graduate-assistant position for next season after his eligibility has expired.

Visitors: Several UT basketball players watched football practice after their Monday afternoon workout. Congressman Harold D. Ford also visited.

Injury Report: Wade (hip flexor) and freshman tailback Ja'Kouri Williams (knee) did not practice.

Still Waiting: Freshman defensive lineman Gerald Williams did not practice. The South Floridian has been waiting for final approval from the NCAA Clearinghouse.