Former Tennessee offensive coordinator Randy Sanders is among several candidates being considered for an assistant coaching position at Arkansas.

Sanders, 40, has had preliminary discussions with Razorbacks coach Houston Nutt about joining the staff as quarterbacks coach, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Wednesday.

"Arkansas is a great school with a great program," Sanders told the newspaper. "Obviously, coaching at Arkansas would be a great opportunity for me."

Sanders spent the past 22 years at Tennessee as a coach or a player.

He replaced David Cutcliffe as offensive coordinator for UT's 1998 National Championship victory against Florida State and remained coordinator until announcing his resignation on Oct. 31. He finished the season as quarterbacks coach.

When Sanders announced his resignation he sounded as if he would not return to coaching in 2006.

"I always said that one of these days I'm going to go fishing in the fall," Sanders said when explaining his resignation. "I'm going to go play golf when the leaves are changing.

"Maybe it's time. I don't know."

Nutt told the Democrat-Gazette he had already had some talks with Sanders and the two could talk again.

Alex Wood, who ran the offense for the Arizona Cardinals and also coached wide receivers for the Cincinnati Bengals and quarterbacks for the Minnesota Vikings, is among candidates Nutt is considering.

Nutt is to interview Wood some time this weekend.

The Razorbacks last week hired high school coach Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator and are thought to be considering former UT assistant Kippy Brown as a receivers coach candidate.

Brown, an assistant with the NFL's Houston Texans, also has been mentioned as a candidate for Tennessee's vacant receivers' coach position.

Because the NFL season is in progress, Nutt declined comment on his candidacy.

Pat Washington was not retained by UT coach Phillip Fulmer and has since landed a job at Kansas State.

Offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens also was fired by Fulmer and has since been replaced by tight ends coach Greg Adkins and former Ole Miss assistant Matt Luke.

The receivers' coaching position is the lone vacancy remaining to be filled by the Vols.

Fulmer has indicated the search for a suitable replacement is ongoing and under no timetable for completion.

The Razorbacks and Vols also are vying for the attention of highly regarded high school senior quarterback Mitch Mustain.

Mustain, of Springdale, Ark., originally committed to Arkansas, but has since reopened his recruitment.

Malzahn, the Razorbacks' new offensive coordinator, was Mustain's head coach at Springdale.

Schaeffer Update: Quarterback Brent Schaeffer was recently named the California junior college offensive Player of the Year.

Schaeffer, who left UT in April, threw for 2,576 yards and 36 touchdowns for College of Sequoias. He also rushed for 764 yards and nine touchdowns.