Bret Smith's recent offensive surge can only help Tennessee, fellow senior receiver Jayson Swain said Wednesday. Now, UT's opponents have another receiver to defend alongside Swain and junior Robert Meachem.

"It's a triple threat," Swain said. "It's kind of hard to just shut down all three of us. You've got to pick your poison with us I feel like."

Tennessee plays host to LSU on Saturday.

Smith has 18 catches for 212 yards and three touchdowns in UT's last three games (South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia). He had only 13 catches for 131 yards and four touchdowns in UT's previous five games.

"The Georgia game, we were kind of slow in the first half," Swain said. "I didn't catch a ball in the Georgia game, but Bret and Meach made some plays. It's just hard to shut all three of us down."

Meachem is UT's leading wide receiver with 45 catches for 868 yards and six touchdowns. Smith is second in receptions with 31 and third in receiving yards with 343. He has four touchdowns.

Swain, who has been slowed by a sore ankle since Oct. 7, has 28 catches for 460 yards and five touchdowns.

Relaxed Russell: Sophomore defensive end Robert Ayers sees a different JaMarcus Russell on tape this fall.

"He kind of got rattled last year," Ayers said about the LSU quarterback. "He was a sophomore. This year I watched film on him. He's in control. He still makes mistakes. Anyone does.

"But he's more in control of the offense, and the guys around him accept him as their leader. Last year, I guess they were kind of rebelling to him. But they know who their leader is and he's leading them, and he's doing a good job of that right now."

Recruiting: UT is not considering Corey Hall a commitment for the 2006 signing class. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive end from Brainerd High School in Chattanooga has yet to be offered a scholarship by the Vols.

Hall is expected to attend a junior college. Then, UT will evaluate him further.

X-Man: Xavier Mitchell said playing time was the reason he picked UT over LSU.

"As many defensive ends and defensive linemen as they (LSU) had, I just saw an opportunity to come here and try to contribute a little earlier than there," the junior defensive end said.

Groza List: James Wilhoit is one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award.