Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton got the first significant playing time of his career last week against LSU.

This week the redshirt freshman will get his first career start.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Crompton will start for the 13th-ranked Vols in Saturday's game at No. 11 Arkansas (TV: ESPN2 at 7 p.m.).

Junior quarterback Erik Ainge, named a Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist on Tuesdasy, has been limited in practice for the second consecutive week with an injured right ankle.

"Erik looks like he's going to be able to go, but Jonathan will start," Fulmer said. "He's (Crompton's) gotten most of the work with the (first-team offense) this week. He's continued to make progress. He's a young guy, but he's certainly going to compete as we saw in the ballgame last week."

Ainge suffered the the ankle injury late in Tennessee's victory over South Carolina two weeks ago, but he could be able to play Saturday if needed.

"If we have a need to, he'll be ready to play," Fulmer said. "If he had to play, he could play."

Ainge spent the early part of Thursday's practice throwing with receiver Austin Rogers, who has missed extended time with mononucleosis.

Before last week's game, Crompton had thrown four passes and completed them all.

Against the Tigers and the nation's top defense, he completed 11 of 24 passes for 183 yards, a pair of touchdowns and one interception.

One of Crompton's strengths is his mobility, however offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said earlier this week that he doesn't want his quarterback taking too many hits.

"He's a physical runner and a good runner," Cutcliffe said. "But you only want him to take so many hits himself in a ballgame. Those guys are physical on that other side of the ball."

Fulmer feels the same way.

"He shouldn't be doing that," he said. "He might take on a DB or something, but he doesn't need to take on any tackles or linebackers. The goal is to play the next down."

The Vols decided before Thursday that Crompton would likely start, but Fulmer said that Crompton has handled the uncertainty well this week.

And he hopes Crompton handles the hostile environment at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium just as well.

"I think Jonathan's been a pretty cool customer about the whole thing," Fulmer said. "I was amazed at his calmness in the last ballgame. This will be a bigger test for him as he goes into a hostile environment. Noise is an issue, but we cranked it up pretty good the last couple days. And inside it's even louder because it echoes and everything. He's done quite well with it."