Anthony Parker’s time is now.



"As of right now, I am the starter," said Parker, a freshman center from Jonesboro, Ga. "I’m just preparing myself for it."



UT head coach Phillip Fulmer confirmed that Parker would start but said other linemen could see time at center against Louisiana State Saturday night.



Senior starter Richie Gandy did not return to practice Wednesday with a sore knee.



Parker handled the first team snaps while junior David Ligon, who is recovering from a high ankle sprain, practiced with the second team.



Fulmer said Ligon might be available in an emergency. Ligon is in the fourth week of an injury that typically takes four to six weeks to recover.



Gandy missed one series at Florida after a collision aggravated a kneecap injury suffered during the preseason. Before Gandy’s return, Parker stepped in and got his first taste of big time college football.



"Just playing in that kind of environment, it helps me when I do get to LSU," said Parker, who redshirted last season. "It won’t be a shock to me about how it is with the crowd and all the noise."



Parker said he would be much more nervous had he not played in Gainesville.



"I would have butterflies all in my stomach," he said. "I’ve been practicing hard. I feel like I’m ready."



Said Fulmer, "He hasn’t played in anything like he is getting ready to see. I know there will be some issues as far as him being able to do everything just like we want it.



"He went into the Florida game and did a heckuva job. He’s ready to play."



Junior left guard Rob Smith and senior right tackle Albert Toeaina are the only two offensive linemen set to start Saturday where they were projected to play during the preseason.



Former right tackle Arron Sears has moved to right guard to fill in for senior Cody Douglas, who has a sore right knee and ankle. Sophomore Eric Young is slated to start at left tackle Saturday night.



"You don’t like all the shuffling," Fulmer said. "because you’re continuity is affected."

Respect: UT senior captain Jason Allen may have gained the reputation as a shutdown cornerback. Florida only threw Allen’s way a handful of times.



"You have to have perfect technique each and every play," Allen said. "If you don’t, the one play you take off is the one play they’ll throw to your side.



"Just cause they don’t throw the ball to my side doesn’t mean I can’t run to the other side and make a play."



Allen said he will be tested for the second week in a row versus elite wide receivers.



"All the guys," Allen said when asked which LSU wide receivers impressed him. "They’ve got big receivers: 6-foot-3, 200-pound receivers. We’ve got to be physical with them."



Defensive backs coach Larry Slade said shutting down an SEC wide receiver every week is a tough task.



"If I were an offensive guy, Slade said. "I would certainly throw away from him."



Slade said his group is close to being able to focus on the opponent more that their play has improved. Sophomore cornerback Roshaun Fellows is the only player that is playing the same position he played last season.



The arrival is just in time.



"They’re tough," Slade said of LSU’s receivers. "They’re very experienced. They are big play type guys.



"The thing that presents the challenge is they can run the football. Play action pass becomes big."



Slade said LSU is "without a doubt" more talented offensively than Florida.



Waiting: Allen said he has been surprised by UT’s offensive inefficiency in the passing game.



"I don’t think I could’ve believed that with the type of talent that we have here," he said. "They’re a great group of receivers."



Allen is confident that one or more of UT’s wide receivers are due for a breakout game.



"One of them," Allen said. "will definitely break out in this game here."

Jesse Says: Jesse Mahelona had strong praise for LSU’s offensive line.



"They’re the most athletic team that I’ve played against," the All-American defensive tackle said. "They’re fast and have great feet."



Mahelona acknowledged that the Tigers will be a change in style from the tall Florida offensive line and the mammoth Vols, who he sees in practice.



"They’re a smaller offensive line but a lot faster," Mahelona said. "We have to come in and play as fast."



Mahelona said he is only seeing double teams from the opposition about 60-percent of the time thanks to the production from rising star linemen Jason Hall and Justin Harrell.



No Problem: UT running backs coach Trooper Taylor said he and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders haven’t even discussed their very visible, heated sideline exchange during the Florida game.



"There’s no issue," Taylor said. "He’s the best coordinator I’ve ever worked for."



Volcast: UT had 90-plus degree temperatures as they prepared for LSU.



The forecast for Saturday night in Baton Rouge is around 80 degrees with rain and wind from Hurricane Rita, which is expected to make landfall in Texas this weekend.

Welcome Mat: UT invited evacuees living in the Civic Coliseum to attend Wednesday’s practice.



"We wanted to make them feel at home in Knoxville," said UT director of public relations Tiffany Carpenter. "So we invited them out to practice to take their minds off the things that are going on."



Evacuees have also been invited to other UT sporting events at no charge.



Tickets: As of Wednesday afternoon, a very limited number of tickets were available for the UT-LSU game at the UT ticket office.

More Vols: Fulmer seemed pleased with Gerald Riggs Jr. as he placed his arm around the senior running back and said, "Good day, good day Gerald."



Several skill position players stayed after practice with Taylor to work on catching wet footballs.



Injury Report: Freshman tailback LaMarcus Coker practiced Wednesday with UT’s scout team. Coker had been sidelined with a bad back.