Tennessee senior linebacker Jason Mitchell revealed Tuesday that he has been playing the entire season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

"It limited me enough that I shouldn't have been playing at all," Mitchell said. "This is going to be my last game as a Vol."

Mitchell's final college game will be Saturday against Vanderbilt at 12:30 p.m. (TV: WVLT) in Neyland Stadium. His long-overdue knee surgery is scheduled for Monday.

How did Mitchell's teammates react to his decision to play through the injury?

"They told me I was stupid," Mitchell said with a laugh.

Mitchell's teammates tried to be persuasive. They knew he was good enough to play in the NFL

"This game right now is bigger than the NFL," Mitchell said. "I'm to the point now that I can finally walk away. Before I couldn't do that."

Mitchell said his knee continued to deteriorate this year. It's to the point where walking is a chore.

"Surgery might not be able to get me to play football again but it can get me to walk," Mitchell said. "This is the one time I'll do something for myself."

Mitchell planned to showcase his speed and playmaking ability in 2005. Defensive coordinator John Chavis has often said that Mitchell is the most talented linebacker he has coached in his 26-year career.

Instead of a showcase, UT fans only got a flash of Mitchell's potential in the season opener when he tackled a UAB ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage and forced a fumble. Shortly thereafter, Mitchell limped to the sideline.

His season of promise was over.

Mitchell still made 31 tackles, a sack and forced a fumble this season but has been, by his admission, a shell of the player who was prepared to finally move back to his natural position, weakside linebacker. Mitchell played middle linebacker most of last season for the injured Kevin Simon.

"I'm maybe like a third of myself out there trying to play," Mitchell said.

Mitchell said his limited lateral movement wouldn't allow him to get around blocks this season. Mitchell said the knee could have also suffered further injury.

"Every time I stepped on the field," Mitchell said. "it could get worse."

Mitchell said the initial clinical examination didn't reveal the true extent of his injury. The pain, however, did not subside. Then, an MRI in early October revealed the torn ligaments.

Mitchell said he doesn't begrudge UT's medical staff for the delayed diagnosis.

"If they'd have told me to get an MRI the Monday after that UAB game, I would have looked back at college and wouldn't have been happy," he said. "I was able to finish out. I'm kind of happy it happened the way it happened."

UT coach Phillip Fulmer couldn't readily recall a player overcoming such a significant injury to play almost a season's worth of football.

"We've had some of those guys before," Fulmer said, "but this is pretty dramatic."

Mitchell's decision is even more dramatic because of his projected ability to play in the NFL. The Abbeville, La., native could have had eight months to rehabilitate before the NFL draft in April. Now, he'll have five.

"The NFL is not guaranteed at all," Mitchell said. "To play a game at this level and live your dream out is something that you can't get back. I chose to play this game and play as long as I can.

Mitchell said it was always his athletic goal to play college football, not be an NFL star.

"I've been more frustrated with the record more than anything," he said. "The knee is something that happens in football. I've enjoyed my time here."

"I didn't want to leave on somebody else's terms. I wanted to leave when I felt I was ready. Even though it could hurt me in the long run. My love for the game and my love for the teammates and my love for the university kept me going. I just played through it."

Mitchell sought counsel from his brother, who has played eight years in the NFL. Brandon Mitchell was one of many who tried to dissuade his younger brother from playing. Jason Mitchell said only his mother and the team chaplain agreed with his decision.

"It's my life and my body," Mitchell said. "I didn't want to stay out."

UT defensive end Jason Hall saw the sacrifice firsthand.

"I don't think I would have continued to play," Hall said. "He loves this program. So much so he was willing to sacrifice NFL hopes and dreams to be with all of us and give us everything he had."

"I don't know of anyone else who would have done it. It just shows what kind of person he is and the respect he has for this program."

Mitchell will take the field Saturday for senior day. Forgive him if he's a bit more emotional than the rest of his class. It's been a tough year.

"I don't even know what to say," Mitchell said, pausing to clear his throat, "It's actually very emotional because you know everyday it's your last day practicing, even hanging around with the guys.

"It's the last time I'll run through the 'T,' the last time everybody will get to see me, the last time that I get to practice. All that meant a lot to me.

"It's kind of scary but I know its time to move on to the next chapter of my life."