Montario Hardesty knew his knee would be tested. Still, it was scary when it happened.

The sophomore tailback saw an opening during Tuesday night’s scrimmage. He did what he’d always done.

He planted and cut hard.

This time was different.

Hardesty was using his surgically repaired right knee in a game-like situation for the first time since he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament against Ole Miss on Oct. 1.

The knee buckled.

Hardesty feared the worst.

"I was a little scared," he said. "I was like, ‘Man, I did all this to get back.’ After about thirty seconds I knew that it was nothing."

Hardesty, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee just before summer workouts, even returned briefly to the 55-play scrimmage held Tuesday night. But he was limited, more emotionally than physically.

It was the moment that UT trainers tried to prepare him for.

"They said, ‘Some days will be better than others,’ " Hardesty recalled. "They said, ‘You have to fight through it.’ "

Hardesty did so Wednesday as he returned to practice.

Redshirt freshman tailback LaMarcus Coker wore a brace on his lower left leg. UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Coker suffered a deep bruise in Tuesday’s scrimmage and is expected back today.

"Coker actually did a really good job in the scrimmage," Fulmer said.

As for Hardesty, he is well aware that some are beginning to question his durability.

"That’s the main thing I’m trying to get over," Hardesty said, "is them (people) saying, ‘You’re injury prone.’ I had one big injury."

Hardesty didn’t look injury prone after practice. He was forced to do extra calisthenics as a punishment for an unspecified violation.

Faster Foster: Arian Foster said he felt quicker, faster and stronger than ever Tuesday night, his first full contact work since last season.

"Overall," the sophomore tailback said. "I’m a better player than last year."

Still, there was a transition period.

"I forgot how fast our defense was," Foster said. "They’re pretty fast."

Foster chuckled when asked if spring practice was even necessary given his improvement. He missed the drills because of shoulder and knee surgery.

"It’s bittersweet because sometimes you’re body needs rest but at the same you’re body needs work," he said. "It could go both ways."

By missing spring practice, Foster said he is just becoming aware of the changes in the offense’s practice pace since David Cutcliffe was hired as offensive coordinator.

"I never saw an offense that fast since I’ve been here," Foster said of the first scrimmage. "It was a whole different tempo."

Cut Ups: Cutcliffe has been pleased with UT’s offensive linemen, particularly after Tuesday night’s scrimmage.

"I think our front has really become more physical and they’ve taken that attitude every day in practice," he said. "It’ll pay off if we continue to do that.

"As the old saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. We’ve still got a long way to go."

As for the passing game, Cutcliffe was not nearly as happy.

"We’ve still got to click in the passing game," he said. "That’s something that has been a concern."

Taylor’s Take: Receivers coach Trooper Taylor didn’t back off of his criticism of senior Bret Smith’s blocking after looking at Tuesday night’s tape of the scrimmage.

"It was awful," Taylor said. "He was trying to be overaggressive."

Taylor said Smith improved during Wednesday’s practice.

Taylor said he was pleased with freshman Quintin Hancock during Tuesday night’s scrimmage.

Taylor said sophomore Josh Briscoe was banged up but returned to practice on Wednesday.

Practice Report: Fulmer said he wasn’t particularly pleased with Wednesday’s practice. He cited the heat and practice schedule as possible reasons that his players didn’t have the requested focus. UT has practiced for five consecutive days.

"Feeling sorry for ourselves," Fulmer said. "We’ll see what we’re made off as far as how we bounce back from that."

Fulmer said he hopes to have some players step up at defensive end in order to move senior Turk McBride back to defensive tackle. McBride has played both positions.

"We’re not where we need to be depth-wise yet at either position," Fulmer said.

Big Hit: Of all the plays in Tuesday night’s scrimmage, Foster said he was most pleased with a forearm shiver he delivered to Ellix Wilson to stop the blitzing linebacker.

Mark Burgess contributed to this report.