Quarterback Erik Ainge participated in a full practice Thursday, his most work this week since suffering an injury to his right ankle in the fourth quarter last weekend against South Carolina.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer did not say whether Ainge or backup Jonathan Crompton would start Saturday against LSU.

"Erik did everything today, practically everything," Fulmer said. "That's a real plus. Much, much improved from yesterday. Still don't have any solid say what we're going to do. But I'd say he certainly looks like he's going to be able to play."

Tennessee's quarterback picture might not come into focus until just before Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff (TV: WVLT).

"I can't tell you for sure until tomorrow, maybe even Saturday game time," Fulmer said.

Crompton has completed all four of his pass attempts this season, but he has not thrown a pass in a game since UT's 41-7 victory at Memphis on Sept. 30.

Coker Dressing: UT had a surprise addition to its dress roster Thursday.

Tailback LaMarcus Coker will be in uniform Saturday, but Fulmer said the redshirt freshman will not play.

"I wanted him to get back around the team," Fulmer said. "He's going to host a prospect that we've got coming in, but I want him to come back and be in the hotel with us and around all the meetings and get back into it before he just drops back in next week. That's all that's about."

Coker, who missed last week's game at South Carolina with a knee injury, is expected to be ready next week against Arkansas.

Sack Stat: UT is tied for first in the SEC and fourth in the nation with Arkansas for sacks allowed. Senior guard David Ligon said UT's offensive line has been even better than that.

"If you really want to get into the nitty gritty, not all those six sacks were the offensive line's," Ligon said. "Some of them, they brought more people than we can block. Some guys were running backs' (responsibility)."

Ligon estimates that UT's offensive line has given up four sacks.

"That's something that we're pretty proud of," he said.

UT will be challenged this week. LSU is tied for 10th in the nation with 26 sacks.

Kell at Neyland: Two-time All-America offensive lineman Chip Kell will receive his college football Hall of Fame plaque in a ceremony before Saturday's game.

UT will accept the plaque as it has done for its previous 20 inductees.

Kell, a Decatur, Ga., native, played at UT from1968-70 and was an All-SEC selection all three seasons at UT and is the last Vol to win the Jacobs Award, given to the best blocker in the SEC.

Kell won the award twice.

More Wardlow: Safety Antonio Wardlow and Demetrice Morley have split time at strong safety this week in practice.

Fulmer said he wasn't sure who would start against LSU, but both will play.

"I don't know right now who'll jog out there first. That really is kind of irrelevant," Fulmer said.

No Joke: Fulmer said some of the Vols were a little too relaxed before Thursday's practice.

"I thought some of the things early today in practice, it was kind of a little too playful," he said. "Fun is important -- it's a sport that you should have fun with -- but the significance of this game requires the attention to detail in practice that is going to carry over to the game."

Quick Hits: Arron Sears, Turk McBride, Marvin Mitchell, Ligon and Ryan West will be UT's game captains Saturday. ... Marsalous Johnson and Louisiana native Ja'Kouri Williams will return kickoffs this week.