Brent Schaeffer smiled when asked about the oldest — but still hottest — rumor surrounding Tennessee football.

Is the play-making quarterback considering a transfer after spring drills if he isn't named the starter?

"I try to think optimistic,'' said Schaeffer, who will be a sophomore in the fall. "I don't think if I don't start I'll play receiver or transfer.

"I've heard some crazy rumors — North Carolina State and Kansas State. I haven't talked to them since high school. I haven't talked to anyone.''

"Yes,'' Schaeffer said, he will be at Tennessee in the fall, preferably as the starting quarterback.

Schaeffer stands as good of a chance as any of them, UT offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said.

"Brent is very, very dynamic with the football,'' Sanders said. "He has come out and done well this spring. He's competed and played hard.''

Sanders said Schaeffer is a "better thrower and more complete quarterback'' than former UT QB-turned-receiver James Banks, and Schaeffer is also "wellahead'' of where Tee Martin, who led UT to the national championship in 1998, was at this stage of his career.

"That's the point I tried to make last year when I got the feeling some people tried to write him off,'' Sanders said. "It wasn't that Brent didn't pick up the offense; he picked it up as well as 90 percent of the freshmen we've had. (Erik) Ainge was just a little ahead.''

And now?

"It's still very much wide open,'' Sanders said. "There's been no decisions made on anybody's role at quarterback at this point.''

It appears UT fans will need to wait until fall before learning for sure if coach Phillip Fulmer will go with a runner (Schaeffer), a gunner (Ainge) or a point guard (Rick Clausen) at quarterback.

Sanders said it figures to be a battle before the starting job is settled, and even then, each of the quarterbacks makes for another nice option.

"The great thing for Brent and Erik is there's no telling how much better they have each become because they're both here,'' he said. "Then you throw Rick in the mix, and it turns up the juice a little more. It keeps them hungry on and off the field.''

Schaeffer had the best outing of the three quarterbacks in the last scrimmage, moving the team and making plays without turning the ball over.

Schaeffer, who has gained 10 pounds since the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, said his offseason work is paying off.

"My arm feels stronger, (and) things are coming easier on the field for me,'' said Schaeffer, who went 3-0 as the starting quarterback last season. "When I first came in, I was a little antsy in the pocket. Now, I know the protections. I'm handling things like meetings and studying film better.

"I have to show the coaches I can run the offense and take care of the ball.''

Schaeffer said he's also working as a punt returner because UT "didn't do real well on punt returns last year,'' and he wants to help the team.

As for moving to receiver, which he did for a handful of plays in the last scrimmage, Schaeffer admits that was done out of boredom.

"Right now, I'm going to stick with thinking about quarterback,'' Schaeffer said. "I want to earn the job there.''