Richie Gandy didn't know how painful an injury could be until last Saturday.

Physically, he felt 100 percent better. Mentally, Tennessee's senior center was hurting.

"I hadn't ever felt like that," Gandy said of not being able to play in UT's season-opening 17-10 victory against UAB. "This is my fifth year. It was terrible.

"I didn't get to run out of the 'T'. I had to walk out before everybody else ran out. Man, that was bad."

But he's back.

All that remains in Gandy's mind is putting his injury woes behind him and getting ready to play at Florida on Sept. 17.

Gandy suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in February during an intramural basketball game. He underwent surgery in March and appeared on the road to a miraculous recovery.

Then came a partial dislocation of the kneecap suffered during preseason drills in mid-August.

"This hurt so much more than the ACL," he said.

It was another setback. It was back to rehab, the training room and the weight room. But it's all worth it for Gandy.

"I'm real close," he said on Wednesday, his second day back on the practice field in a limited role. "We're kind of just holding back right now just to see, but I feel like I could do a lot more than I am.

"With the bye week and everything, we're just taking it easy."

Gandy, a 6-foot-5, 312-pounder from Darlington, S.C., said he hoped to get involved in a few more team drills today.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer knows Gandy has put in the time and the effort, not just this fall, but his entire Tennessee career to prepare for this season.

He played in 11 games last season and made the first five starts of his career. His versatility in playing a variety of positions on the line helped UT overcome a series of interior injuries in 2004.

"Richie, when he came here, had a long way to go to be a Southeastern Conference lineman," Fulmer said. "He has worked since he has been here for this opportunity and turned into a good player.

"To have the misfortune of missing the first game and all of spring practice, that's just really tough luck. But he has handled it well and it looks like he's going to be back."

In what role is still to be determined.

Rob Smith, expected to start at guard, was shifted to center because of injuries to Gandy and David Ligon (high ankle sprain).

Redshirt freshmen Ramon Foster then slid into Smith's guard spot.

How the lineup will look when UT visits The Swamp in Gainesville is up in the air.

"It's something we've certainly got to talk about as a staff," offensive line coach Greg Adkins said. "The best thing that may come out of this whole thing is building some depth."

Gandy wants to be in the picture somewhere -- and preferably not on the sideline. He managed to stay involved during the UAB game offering advice to Smith.

"I was more involved in the game than people might think," Gandy said. "I was watching the inside guys and trying to pick up on things they might be doing.

"But you're still a player and you want to play. That was the hardest part."

Fulmer said he would be fine with Gandy back in the lineup if he's physically able.

"We'll see how he does on Monday," Fulmer said. "He's a fifth-year senior and I'd be OK with that."

The Vols have one more bye-week practice scheduled for today. They'll take Friday, Saturday and Sunday off before returning to Florida-week practices Monday.