Wednesday was anything but your typical day of football practice at Tennessee.

First there was the Pride of the Southland Marching Band serenading the Vols as they stretched on Haslam Field.

Then came an emotional visit from injured cornerback Inky Johnson.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound exclamation point?

Justin Harrell joining the defensive huddle mid-practice in shoulder pads and a helmet.

The preseason All-SEC defensive tackle, thought to be out for the season just a day earlier, will play his last game Saturday when the Vols(2-0) host No. 7 Florida (2-0) at Neyland Stadium for an 8 p.m. kickoff (TV: WVLT).

Virtually pain-free after suffering a ruptured tendon in his left biceps last week, the senior elected to postpone season-ending surgery until early next week.

"What a great statement to want to be out there with his teammates, the love and passion he has for his team," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said of Harrell’s return. "I’ve never seen it in college football, at least in my experience here. It’s great."

Harrell, who hasn’t spoken with the media since his injury against Air Force last Saturday, came to UT’s coaches Tuesday afternoon with a proposition.

"He said, ‘Coach, I feel like I can play,’ " Fulmer said.

Defensive line coach Dan Brooks’ first reaction was Harrell’s future.

"Was there any risk? Was there any risk at all that he could endanger anything all, make anything worse?" Brooks said of Harrell, who likely would have been a first-day pick in last year’s NFL draft had he elected to leave early. "Because Justin’s got a great career in front of him and that was my initial response."

UT’s coaching staff checked with team doctors, who said there was no risk of further injury to the tendon as long as Harrell wore a protective pad.

The injury will still require surgery, which must be performed before his biceps muscle begins to weaken.

"This is a one-game deal," Fulmer said. "He has to have the surgery because if he goes longer than a couple of weeks, the muscle starts to atrophy and everything."

How much Harrell will play Saturday is uncertain.

"You don’t (know), but I don’t think there is any limitations. You put a brace on it so that it doesn’t bend completely. It’s really painful for three or four days, and then once you get through that there’s really nothing else until you get it fixed or you don’t," said Brooks, who suffered a similar injury as a player. "There’s a big bruise, obviously, where it comes loose. Once you get through that I don’t see the limitations."

Johnson’s physical limitations are much greater, but the team’s reaction to first visit to the practice field after being released from the hospital no-less uplifting.

Johnson underwent surgery at UT Medical Center to repair damaged blood vessels and must have another operation to fix nerve damage in his upper right extremity resulting from a violent collision late in the fourth quarter against Air Force.

Several players and coaches visited Johnson in the hospital, but that was different than Wednesday’s visit.

"It was real emotional. The first day I went and saw Inky in the hospital, he was still himself. But it was kind of hard seeing him in the hospital like that," receiver Robert Meachem said. "They told us he might not ever get to play again. That makes you want to break down in tears, but you know God’s got a purpose and he does everything for a reason."

Harrell’s reason for returning is as simple as it is unusual.

"His whole thing with me is, ‘Coach, I got a chance to play one more college football game and help our football team,’ " Brooks said. "You think it’s over — I’ve been there and done that, too — now it’s not over. He’s got a chance to go play one more time."

One more game. In Neyland Stadium. Against Florida.

Senior guard David Ligon was glad to see Harrell back. And equally glad he doesn’t have to line up against him.

"Thank God it’s not me across from Justin Harrell when he knows it’s his last couple plays," Ligon said. "It’s going to be nasty."

From its musical beginnings to its emotional end, Wednesday was unprecedented.

Even Fulmer said he hasn’t "had a day quite like this one."

"It’s a great lift for us," Fulmer said. "I think the guys have been very business-like. That’s OK. This is not the time to be all jacked up."

Ligon, for one, plans to wait until kickoff to pop the cork.

"We didn’t waste all that energy out here today," he said. "We’re bottling it up for Saturday."

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Tennessee fans who would like to send cornerback Inky Johnson a card or letter should mail it to him in care of the UT football office, P.O. Box 15162, Knoxville, TN, 37901. Fans may send e-mail greetings to Johnson and defensive tackle Justin Harrell on the UT Web site at www.utsports.com

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Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.