They were highly touted prospects. They were talented underclassmen. Then, the compliments stopped.

"Wide receiver last year was obviously a disappointment to us," Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer said as he opened spring practice Thursday. "I think Bret Smith, Robert Meachem and (Jayson) Swain should certainly be counted on to be big-time SEC receivers."

UT's 2004 class of wide receivers has not lived up to its billing. The Big Three — Meachem, Smith and Swain — caught 77 passes for 986 yards last season. They'll need to raise those numbers dramatically if they hope to resurrect UT's offense while replacing departed seniors C.J. Fayton and Chris Hannon.

"The ones that make plays will play. The ones that don't will sit on the bench," said assistant coach Trooper Taylor, the former running backs coach who was reassigned to wide receivers in January. "It's nothing personal. It's just business."

Fulmer spent as much time discussing UT's young receivers as he did the upperclassmen during Thursday's press conference. Fulmer said he was encouraged by sophomore receivers Lucas Taylor, Josh Briscoe and Austin Rogers.

The depth-chart recital didn't stop there. Fulmer also mentioned how anxious he was to see little-used junior Bill Grimes and freshman Slick Shelley.

The comments more than likely were meant to motivate a group that was plagued by dropped passes last season.

"They're going to catch 100 balls a day," Taylor said. "You will see a vast improvement on drops. We will go through a practice and — you can write it down — not a single ball will touch the ground from the wide receivers' perspective."

Taylor isn't the only offensive coach to grab Meachem, Smith and Swain's attention. Swain says he listens closer to new offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe more than he has other coaches.

"You look at his resume, it speaks for itself," Swain said. "You can't help but take the things he says to heart."

Swain was one of several players who showed up for Thursday's media session with UT's new playbook tucked underneath his arm. When asked, he seemed very fond of Cutcliffe's finished product.

"Guys have more opportunities to make plays at different spots," Swain said. "Last year, I'm pretty sure a lot of teams knew what we were going to do. This year, guys line up at different positions and you can't tell what we're going to do."

During Taylor's short history at UT (he was hired in 2004), he has shown an ability to jumpstart an underachieving unit. Running backs Cedric Houston and Gerald Riggs, Jr., each rushed for more than 1,000 yards in Taylor's first season in Knoxville.

"Right now, they're like a sponge, they're taking it all in," Taylor said of his new group. "So far, I haven't had any guys that have tested me. To be honest, I didn't think all of them would jump on board as fast as they have."

For the Big Three, the key to achieving their potential may be reacquiring the confidence that was all but lost last year.

Swain isn't worried.

"We're going to have our swagger back," Swain said with a sly grin. "There's no doubt about that."

O-Line: Fulmer said senior offensive linemen Arron Sears and David Ligon will be forced to take on a more significant leadership role this year. The two are the only projected starters with numerous starts at UT. Sears started 11 games last season. Ligon started four.

Greg Adkins, who was elevated to offensive line coach during the offseason, said he's excited to coach a group that is determined to be lighter, quicker and faster than last season.

"I think you're going to see a little leaner and little faster group," said Adkins, who lost 19 pounds since last season to show his players the way. "That's something I've always been a big believer in."

Senior defensive tackle Justin Harrell said he can see a difference in physiques among UT's offensive linemen who Fulmer said were asked to lose weight since last season.

That means Harrell, who is 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, could face a tougher challenge this year during practice.

"I can pretty much deal with big because I'm a big defensive tackle so that's just two big guys pushing," Harrell said. "I like to see that (big guys) as opposed to a guy that's quick."

Clean Living: Fulmer pointed out that his team has had no recent disciplinary problems after a string of such issues last year.

"Our team is very focused, I believe," Fulmer said "I certainly made it absolutely understood that accountability and proper representation of our great university was expected. The kids have responded well to that."

Middle Man: Senior Marvin Mitchell said he's pleased to be back playing middle linebacker, where he played during high school and his freshman year at UT. After starting in the middle, Mitchell was forced to the weakside position last season because of injuries above him on the depth chart.

"It helps you a lot," Mitchell said of playing more than one position. "It's almost like a math problem, an equation."

Special Plan: Fulmer said Cutcliffe and defensive coordinator John Chavis, will oversee the Vols' special teams this fall. Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell oversaw UT's special teams last season.