Two-QB system possible at UT

While most preseason magazines and analysts agree sophomore Erik Ainge has a leg up on senior Rick Clausen, Fulmer said it's far from decided.

"Both Rick and Erik have worked extremely hard to get themselves ready,'' said Fulmer, whose team reports on Aug. 4. "It's going to be a competitive situation.''

Clausen exited last season as the starter, leading the Vols to a 38-7 win over Texas A&M and was named MVP in the Cotton Bowl. Clausen started four games after injuries to Ainge and Brent Schaeffer, completing 59.6-percent of his passes for 949 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions.

Ainge started six games before suffering a season-ending injury, a separated shoulder, against Notre Dame. He completed 55.1-percent of his passes for 1,452 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

UT offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said the quarterbacks will split the repetitions in fall drills until someone emerges. Even then, both will be in the picture.

"We could see two quarterbacks ... if both guys are fairly equal, there are advantages to playing both,'' said Sanders, who effectively orchestrated a two-quarterback system with Ainge and Schaeffer last season. "That way if you have an injury, the other guy doesn't come in cold.

"It's also advantage for a quarterback to watch one or two series to see what the defense is doing. Erik said that helped him last season.''

Sanders said incoming freshman Jonathan Crompton will also get a long look, assuming he has recovered from the tendinitis that has bothered him over the summer.

Sanders said performance in fall drills will dictate whether UT plays one or two quarterbacks in a game.

"If one quarterback emerges and is considerably better, than playing two doesn't make as much sense,'' Sanders said.

Sanders said that, even though Ainge is the more athletic and stronger-armed, Clausen brings enough attributes and he'll be an option regardless of who starts.

"Rick's arm isn't the strongest, but it's strong enough,'' Sanders said. "You don't have to throw the ball 70 yards to throw a good deep ball. The receiver catches that pass at 35 to 40 yards.

"Rick has more freedom to call what he wants because he understands what he can and can't do.''

Ainge was more limited in that capacity.

"When Erik would call a play, he believed he could get it done, and if it wasn't there, it would be second-and-10 or an interception,'' Sanders said. "He has progressed beyond that point now. He learned from Rick that if the play's not there, lay it off to a back.''

Injury Update: Fulmer said sophomore fullback David Holbert might not be ready at start the season opener Sept. 3 against Alabama-Birmingham after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.

Receiver Jayson Swain is expected to be back from arthroscopic knee surgery by the start of drills in August, and Fulmer said center Richie Gandy is "really close to being ready, if not for the first game, for the open week before Florida.''

Gandy tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee playing basketball in February.

Fulmer said kicker James Wilhoit, who had offseason foot surgery, is back to 100 percent.

Priorities: Fulmer said the Vols have to find their second and third team tailbacks behind Gerald Riggs.

Fulmer said UT hopes to solidify the center position. Until Gandy returns, David Ligon has the job.

"David Ligon doesn't look like the same guy,'' Fulmer said. "He had a great spring and followed that up with a great offseason.''

Fulmer said the receiver position "could be the difference in the team,'' if they play as expected.

Defensively, Fulmer said he expects Turk McBride to win a starting job at defensive tackle or end. That would likely come at the expense of Justin Harrell or Jason Hall.

Riggs' Grades: Fulmer wouldn't address Riggs' academic situation, but a source close to the UT program said it's a matter of Riggs raising his grade point average within the core classes of his major.

Riggs is enrolled in the second term of summer school.