It's hard not to take James Wilhoit for granted.

After all, the senior kicker tees it up and does his job every game, whether that means beginning a game or putting an end to it.

The fifth-year senior from Hendersonville (Tenn.) High School has been UT's starting kicker for four years and is the active leading scorer in the SEC.

His 316 career points is good for ninth on the SEC's all-time list and is third among Tennessee's all-time scorers. With two more points, he'll move into second place ahead of John Becksvoort on UT's list. Wilhoit's kicking mentor, Jeff Hall, is safe in first place with 371.

Wilhoit's biggest points probably took place in 2004 at Florida. He missed the game-tying extra point wide right before booting a 50-yard field goal in the closing seconds of regulation to give the Vols a 30-28 victory.

And as far closing on a strong note, the Lou Groza Award semifinalist saved his best for last. Wilhoit leads the SEC in scoring with 87 points and is first in field-goal percentage (.842).

Wilhoit also has scored in the classroom. He was named a semifinalist for the Draddy Award, which is considered the academic Heisman. Wilhoit completed his undergraduate degree with a 3.6 grade-point average and is carrying a 3.9 as he pursues his masters in sports psychology.

Wilhoit's UT career is almost complete. His final home game is Saturday when the Vols (8-3, 4-3 SEC) play Kentucky (7-4, 4-3) at 12:30 p.m. (TV: WVLT, 12:30 p.m.).

"It's gone by so fast," Wilhoit said this week. "There's a period after your first two years that it feels like it's never going to end. Right now, I just want it to last for a couple of more games, just last a little longer. I've really enjoyed my experience here and I'll take the memories with me for a lifetime."

Seniors often get emotional the last time they run through the 'T', but Wilhoit doesn't expect to take it that long. A lifelong UT fan, Wilhoit says the interaction with the Vols' faithful for the final time as a player heading into Neyland Stadium could be too much to bear.

"I know I'm probably going to get a little teary-eyed," Wilhoit said. "I think the Vol Walk, more than anything, will be something that will be special, seeing the fans for the last time. I almost teared up for the LSU Vol Walk thinking it was the second-to-last one."

Wilhoit felt a different kind of emotion following his sophomore season, in which he was hindered by a loose bone particle in his right kicking foot. Pain and anxiety were all too prevalent when he was told his career could end.

"The first opinion, the guy actually told me 'You may never kick again if you have this surgery. I'm not sure what's going to happen,' " Wilhoit said.

That didn't set well with Wilhoit. A second opinion was in order and surgery was scheduled shortly thereafter. Then came the revelation that the 5-foot-10, 195-pounder had defensive tackle-type toughness.

"He told me that most kickers wouldn't get through high school with something like that," Wilhoit said, recalling the surgeon's post-op consultation. "He said it was remarkable that I'd made it two years through college."

Now the surgery seems like ages ago and the ailment that slowed Wilhoit for the first half of 2005 is a distant memory. Since Oct. 22, 2005, a fully recovered Wilhoit has hit 26-of-30 field goals.

Last week, he passed Fuad Reveiz (314) in points scored, thanks to a career high 15 points against Vanderbilt.

"For me," Wilhoit said.

"I can really hardly believe that I can be mentioned with Jeff Hall or Fuad Reveiz or somebody like that," said Wilhoit.

Now, Wilhoit will be mentioned among UT's best, thanks to his senior season.

"It's been fantastic to see what James has done," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "He's had a great career here all four years but this year had been really special because he's been so dependable and he's kicked the ball so well."

Wilhoit's accuracy this season has also been a comfort for a quarterback hoping to find his way back to success.

"You know if you're on the 35-yard line, he can kick it in," junior quarterback Erik Ainge said. "You don't have to try to force the ball in to get a first down. You can lay it off or run the football. It gives you a sense of security."

The Vols, however, won't have the security of having Wilhoit to kick next season. Freshmen Chad Cunningham and Daniel Lincoln will likely battle for the starting job.

"We're struggling with that right now," Fulmer said. "We signed those two young kickers. They've made some progress but not nearly where they need to be.

"If we did it today it would be (punter) Britton Colquitt. Britton can do it very well, but I don't find that as the perfect scenario, having one guy doing all of it with nobody waiting in the wings."

That statement alone should remind fans not to take Wilhoit for granted.