Britton Colquitt is already one up on his older brother.

The redshirt freshman punter avoided the dreaded "shank" in his first attempt as a University of Tennessee football player.

"It was reassuring to hear after the (UAB) game, when a lot of people came up to me and said you're first punt was a lot better than your brother's," Colquitt said. "I wasn't real proud of it (a 38-yarder in his only attempt), but Dustin said his first was a shank."

That's like a dirty word in the Colquitt household.

Dustin Colquitt, UT's punter from 2001-04, has taken his skills to the Kansas City Chiefs. Father Craig Colquitt was a star with Vols (1975-77) and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Now it's Britton's turn.

How's this for an SEC road-game debut? No. 5 Tennessee travels to No. 6 Florida today for a nationally televised 8 p.m. kickoff. (TV: WVLT).

All Colquitt wants to do is live up to Dustin's reputation as a punter who came through in the clutch.

"I went down to Florida for a couple of Dustin's games," Britton said. "It's always crazy, but Dustin was always a big gamer and did well in those big games.

"That's how I've always been my whole life, so hopefully it will be the same."

Colquitt wants natural ability to overshadow any nerves he might feel punting in front of a hostile Gator nation.

"It's just a huge game and there's going to be a lot of pressure out there," he said. "They're going to be loud, but I think I've worked hard enough to concentrate on the basics.

"I'm sure there will be some nerves and all that good stuff. But I've just got to let my body take over and do what it knows how to do."

The entire Colquitt family made the trip to Kansas City last weekend to see Dustin make his NFL regular-season debut with the Chiefs.

"It was awesome and he did really well," Colquitt said. "I didn't realize he has gotten even better since he went up there.

"It just makes me want to do that much better and fill his shoes here, because those are some big shoes."

Hannon Going Home: UT receiver Chris Hannon, a Sarasota, Fla., native, grew up a Gator at heart.

"I always wanted to go to Florida my whole life, but Coach (Phillip) Fulmer can persuade the family, and I ended up coming here."

From a Florida fan's perspective, Hannon said the Vols didn't garner much respect until the late 1990s.

"We looked forward to Florida-Florida State until 1998 when Tennessee beat (Florida)," Hannon said. "Maybe then fans started looking at Tennessee like a real team."

Hannon and his receiver cohorts will be key against a smaller Gators' secondary starting only one player (free safety Kyle Jackson) taller than 6 feet.

"Their guys are pretty small, but there are some great players back there," UT receiver Jayson Swain said. ""We've got to be fundamentally sound, be patient and have heart."

Redemption: Tennessee senior guard Cody Douglas heard it all week from Fulmer. He heard it from line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens.

As far as everyone was concerned, including Douglas, his outing against UAB wasn't up to snuff.

"I'm my toughest critic, and that was probably the worst game I've played as a Tennessee Volunteer, if not a football player period," Douglas said. "I was just really disappointed with my play in that game.

"I'm definitely chomping at the bit to get back on the field against Florida, have a much better showing and redeem myself."

Fulmer criticized UT's guard play last week, saying he expected to see a more physical effort against Florida.

"That definitely fires you up," Douglas said. "I don't take it personally. I take it as a personal challenge. I promise you won't be hearing that anymore."

Line Comfort: Richie Gandy is back at center, returning from a knee injury that kept him out against UAB. Gandy's return means Rob Smith is back at left guard.

No one is happier than Smith.

"If Richie can go the whole game that way, I would love it," Smith said, who got his first experience at center against UAB. "I'd love to be at guard lined up next to Arron (Sears at tackle) and Richie. That's the way we feel most comfortable."

"I can just let it all hang out at guard. At center, I have to make sure if a certain stunt comes, I have to think in my head how to react to it. At guard, you just react."

Being lined up next to Sears again could be a bonus for the Vols' running game, according to Smith.

"Me and Arron together, we can move some people," Smith said. "Ever since last year, even when he came in for Michael (Munoz), we just played together really well."

Interested Observer: Former Florida coach Steve Spurrier will be primarily focused today on leading South Carolina against Alabama.

Tonight, his attention will go elsewhere.

"We play at 3:30, so we'll be through about 7 or 8," Spurrier said. "I'm sure we will come up to the office and watch whatever is on. I guess that one (UT at Florida) will be on."

Quick Hits: Tennessee has outscored Florida 101-100 the past four years, winning three of those games ... The Vols are 42-11 on the road since 1992. Four of those 11 losses took place in Gainesville.