Toughness. Determination. Persistence. That's how Kevin Simon will be remembered.

Tennessee's senior linebacker is just weeks away from finishing his injury-plagued college career. Finally, Simon believes he is showing UT's coaches and fans the player that he was determined to be when he signed with the Vols in 2001 out of De La Salle High School in Walnut Creek, Calif.

"When you get knocked down, you're supposed to stand back up and get on your feet," said Simon, who has suffered three season-ending injuries since January 2001. "I'm proud of myself in the fact that when I came out of high school, I wanted to play at a high level in the SEC.

"I think I've been able to accomplish that this season."

Simon's toughness was on display once again last week. The 5-foot-11, 234-pound middle linebacker didn't practice all week because of soreness in his surgically repaired knee.

Simon was all but sure he'd miss UT's game against Memphis last Saturday. Then, Friday afternoon came and Simon's condition improved.

"I called coach (John) Chavis," Simon said. "I told him 'I'm feeling a little bit better. I think I might be ready to go.'

"He said, 'Honestly, we need you but if you don't feel up to it, we understand.' "

Simon said missing a week of practice and rehabilitating his knee was akin to a bye week's worth of rest. Simon looked plenty fresh against Memphis as he was in on 12 tackles.

The break should continue to help Simon this week as the Vols play Vanderbilt at 12:30 p.m. Saturday (TV: WVLT) at Neyland Stadium.

"It was good to get the rest during the week," Simon said. "My knee just kind of swelled up a little bit. This week, I'll be back to normal."

Simon averages 9.22 tackles a game. That ranks 41st in the NCAA.

"If I would have had three or four years under my belt, you might be talking about me like (Alabama's) Demeco Ryans or (Ohio State's) A.J. Hawk," Simon said, referring to two All-American linebacker candidates. "But that's fine because I know that, in the end, things are going to work out for me."

Hawk and Ryans are averaging 10.2 and 6.3 tackles a game, respectively.

One might think Simon had plenty of reason to stay on the sidelines against Memphis and contemplate his professional future. For some, that would have been a prudent course of action.

Not for Simon. He couldn't take a game off while his teammates were still fighting.

"I owe it to them to do whatever it takes to get back on the field and play for them because we're all in this together," Simon said. "There's too much to play for and too many people that depend on you to be at your best.

"For me to not try to get back or take this game off, it just wouldn't be fair to the rest of my teammates."

Simon and his fellow Vols have played some of the better quarterbacks in the nation this season but have stumbled to a 4-5 record. This week, the Vols face Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler.

"He's a real special player," UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "I've said for a couple of years Jay Cutler is the best quarterback in the league.

"He's a big guy who sees the field well, can run, can escape, can do some things with the option to take the pressure off. He's a real fine player who has a couple of receivers who also contribute."

Cutler hasn't received as much national attention as some of the other top quarterbacks. That's likely a byproduct of playing at a perennially losing program.

Simon isn't one to be fooled by the lack of hype.

"He's right up there near the top," Simon said, comparing Cutler to some of UT's 2005 opposing quarterbacks. "The NFL scouts, they know about him and they know what he can do."

There's still plenty of pressure on the Vols even after beating Memphis to end a four-game losing streak. Bowl eligibility is at stake.

"If we don't win these next two games, we're not going to a bowl game," Simon said. "I know that's important to the UT faithful, especially coach Fulmer, the whole coaching staff and all of us as seniors."

Don't ask Simon if he thinks UT's defense is slipping from its early season heights. Simon, hobbled or not, is intent on closing out the season.

"I'm confident," he said, "that we're going to finish what we've started as a defensive unit."