For all of Tennessee's offensive coaches who have garnered praise this season, Matt Luke is overlooked.

UT's tight ends/assistant offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator has helped develop a solid corps of tight ends, two of whom are among UT's top six pass receivers.

The latest to emerge is junior Brad Cottam, UT's sixth-leading receiver with 12 catches for 148 yards. Cottam has five catches for 62 yards in UT's last two games.

"We've done a couple of things to get him a little more involved in the offense," Luke said. "With Brad coming of age, so to speak, it's really good to see the hard work to pay off."

More playing time for Cottam has coincided with UT's continued use of a two-tight end set. Cottam has been coupled with junior tight end Chris Brown in the formation that has become the Vols' predominant package. Brown is UT's fourth-leading receiver with 21 catches for 148 yards. That, Luke said, makes UT very versatile.

"We can do a lot off things out of the same personnel," the first year UT coach said.

UT's tight ends have not only helped their production, their ability to make plays has also helped UT's top three receivers: Robert Meachem, Jayson Swain and Bret Smith.

"It makes it tougher to double team Meachem or Swain or Bret Smith if you've got some tight ends that can do some things."

UT's tight ends have been integral to its success this season. They have taken the place of a struggling group of fullbacks. For them to make even more plays in the passing game, they must show quarterback Erik Ainge that UT's trio of wide receivers aren't the only players worth throwing to.

"Success brings confidence," Luke said. "If the quarterback feels comfortable that you're going to get open and be where you're supposed to be, he'll throw it to you more often."

Things look even better for UT's tight ends in the near future. Redshirt freshman Jeff Cottam, Brad's brother, continues to draw rave reviews.

"He's going to have a bright, bright future," Luke said. "He's everything you want."

Well Respected: Think Meachem has his team's respect? Just ask defensive coordinator John Chavis about UT's leading receiver, who is also one of the hardest-working Vols in the kicking game.

"He's been tremendous," said Chavis, who coaches UT's punt block team. "He's been just unbelievable. Anything you ask and everything you ask. He's special when it comes to being the right kind of person. There's no question about that."

Meachem knows that high praise from Chavis, especially for an offensive player, isn't easy to come by.

"Coach Chavis has been telling me all year, I'm going to block a punt," Meachem said. "I believe him because it takes a lot for the defensive coordinator that we have to say that you're going to block a punt. You know when you have his attention you've kind of done something in life."

Chavis said the experience can only benefit Meachem.

"That's going to help him down the road because on the next level he's going to have to do that anyway," Chavis said of the junior. "Hopefully that's a ways away, but if you don't play special teams it's going to be hard to get on anybody's roster."

Foster's Focus: Running backs coach Kurt Roper said he's not worried about tailback Arian Foster's focus after having four carries in the last two games.

Foster began the season as UT's starter and rushed for 879 yards as a freshman.

"His focus just has to be to just get himself ready to play on Saturday," Roper said. "How the carries work themselves out, they work themselves out.

"The only thing he can control is to go to practice each week and get himself ready to go."

Injury Report: Weakside linebacker Jerod Mayo (knee) was still on crutches Wednesday.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer said there was no new information on the severity of Mayo's injury.

Need Tickets: Tickets for Saturday's home game against Kentucky have been made available by return of the unused student allotment and are on sale at www.utsports.com. Ticket price is $40.

Fans also can buy tickets at the Thompson-Boling Arena box office Friday beginning at 4 p.m. and through halftime of the UT women's basketball game against Stanford, or at the stadium's Gate 21 day of the game.

Drew Edwards contributed to this report.