Everyone knows Gerald Riggs can carry the football.

The question of the day is: Can he carry the load of Tennessee's running game?

"Watch and see," Riggs said Tuesday.

It's that simple -- just another challenge as far as UT's senior running back is concerned.

Riggs has raised eyebrows since he first walked on UT's campus, but he never ran wild until sharing the tailback duties with Cedric Houston last season..

Now it's Riggs expecting to get 20 to 30 carries a game.

He even has his head coach talking about 2,000-yard seasons.

"I hope nothing but the best for him because if it's good for him it's also going to be great for our team if he has one of those 2,000-yard years," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "Can he do that against the competition we play? I don't know."

Phase one of Riggs as "the man" in UT's offense begins Saturday when the Vols kickoff the 2005 season 12:30 p.m. at home against UAB (TV: WVLT).

He can't wait. Fulmer can't wait.

"I'm anxious to turn him loose," Fulmer said.

Riggs can't wait to be turned loose.

He spent most of August being reined in and held back in scrimmages.

Coaches wanted Riggs to hit the field running, injury free and as fresh as possible.

"Being held out a little bit was to get me into the season as healthy as possible, and we were able to do that," Riggs said.

"I'm definitely ready to get out and get some plays, get some hits in, but more or less do whatever it takes to help the team win."

Riggs was able to do that last season with 1,107 yards rushing and six touchdowns.

Offensive coordinator Randy Sanders has the feeling Riggs, son of former NFL star Gerald Riggs Sr., has the genetic makeup to take the pounding.

"Gerald is totally different than when he got here," Sanders said. "He's become a man back there."

A man, Sanders said, capable of carrying an offense if needed. He also knows the abuse taken by a tailback is different than at any other position on the field.

"As far as running 50 or 60 plays, Gerald hasn't done that," Sanders said. "We haven't had anyone do that since 2001, when Travis Stephens did that.

"Since I've coached the position, I've always thought your running back has to be genetically superior. You're getting hit on every play, and the running back is the only guy on the field that isn't protected by rules; you can hit him anywhere, you can chop him and about the only thing you can't do is grab his facemask."

Running backs coach Trooper Taylor said the player he has nicknamed "Seabiscuit" is ready to show the world he's a big-time feature back and an underdog Heisman Trophy candidate.

"I think he has handled it very well," Taylor said of high expectations following Riggs. "Anybody who has been at practice can see the way he practices hard.

"He makes it easy for me to coach the young guys because he sets that standard right off the bat."

Riggs admitted he's in the best shape of his life and 100 percent healthy with UAB just around the corner.

The health of Riggs will be a constant concern while backups David Yancey and a bevy of freshmen learn their roles.

UT is one bum ankle or twisted knee away from some serious questions at running back.

"I'm just really anxious," Riggs said. "I've been a guy known to make a few big runs and really make a lot of things happen.

"I think I showed I could do that last year. I just want to go out this year and do that on a consistent basis."

Just as importantly, he has a veteran offensive line ready to open holes.

"I'm definitely confident in this offensive line," he said. "You saw last year, even with the ups and downs they had with injuries, the consistency they were able to have.

"I'm excited this year because those guys have a lot more experience. It's exciting to see what those guys can do."

Riggs has no idea how much of the load he'll carry in game one. Whatever it takes is his basic response.

"I would guess around 20 (carries), but it just depends on what the coaches have in the gameplan," he said.

"Our goal obviously is to win the ball game, move the ball and establish our offense. However they do that is up to them. I just know when they put the ball in my hands, I do my job."