FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Junior safety Kevin Woods has been among Arkansas' best special teams players this season with a team-high eight tackles on kick coverage.

Now Woods wants to show he can excel as a starter, too. He'll get his first career start Saturday when the Razorbacks play host to Tennessee.

Woods is starting at free safety in place of junior Michael Grant, who tore knee ligaments at South Carolina last week and is out for the rest of the season.

"We lost a great player in Michael," Woods said. "The team is depending on me, and I'm going to do my best to fill his shoes."

Arkansas secondary coach Louis Campbell said he expects Woods to play well as a starter just as Grant did after being moved from cornerback to free safety last spring.

Woods played most of the fourth quarter at South Carolina in Grant's place and has played as a backup in previous games. He intercepted a pass against Southeast Missouri State and has 17 tackles.

"He's played a lot all year, so it's not putting a rookie back there that's never played," Campbell said. "I feel confident he will step up. It's a big hole to fill, but I think he will fill it."

Woods, 5-10 and 195 pounds, isn't as fast as Grant -- an All-America sprinter on the Razorbacks' NCAA championship 400-meter relay two years ago -- but is physical and a sure tackler.

"You have to compensate by recognition, studying film, being able to recognize formations, drops and sets," Campbell said of the challenge facing Woods.

"Be smart about it. Certainly he's not as fast as Michael Grant is, but that's not to say he can't be effective."

Woods is from Memphis but said getting his first career start against Tennessee doesn't hold special significance.

"Every game is a big game," Woods said. "But that it's Tennessee is not such a big deal for me. I'm just ready to play."

Back On The Field: Three Arkansas starters on offense who sustained injuries against South Carolina last week -- tailback Darren McFadden (shin, ankle), fullback Peyton Hillis (knee) and guard Stephen Parker (knee) -- all were able to practice Tuesday.

"All here and ready to go," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "They have done a good job going to the training room and doing all we ask them to do."

Support: Arkansas offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain has been supportive of newly named sophomore starter Casey Dick, just as Dick -- a starter the final four games last season -- was supportive while Mustain started the previous eight games this year.

"They're both team players," Malzahn said. "They're both outstanding quarterbacks, and right now it's Casey's time."