GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As the final seconds slipped away on Florida’s victory over Central Florida last Saturday night, wide receiver Andre Caldwell and defensive end Ray McDonald made eye contact on the sideline and exchanged knowing nods.

They were thinking the same thing.

It’s time now. Time to turn all their focus and energy on Tennessee, a game that hasn’t left their thoughts over this long last year of painful rehab and nagging self-doubt.

Tennessee is always big around here. It goes beyond that for Caldwell and McDonald. Their 2005 season was shattered in The Swamp against the Vols on Sept. 17 and now its time to tee it up with the T again.

This one is special.

"It’s real important," McDonald said. "I told Andre after the game Saturday night, ‘We’ve got to step it up and make up for what happened last season.’ He said, ‘I know, I know.’ We’ve talked about it, about what we have to do this weekend."

Said Caldwell: "We’ve had this deep down inside us for a long time. We wanted to get back to Tennessee and prove to everyone we’re coming at them.

"We talk about it every day. This is a big game for us, we have to make things happen. It’s prime time for us."

Caldwell’s 2005 season ended on the second-half kickoff against Tennessee, when a UT defender slammed into his upper leg, fracturing his femur.

McDonald’s season basically ended earlier that night, when he tore an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in the first half. He came back on a very limited basis later in the year and ended up having ACL surgery on both knees after the season.

For Caldwell and McDonald, Saturday night’s game in Knoxville isn’t about revenge. It’s about revival.

The effects of their injuries have lingered over the long offseason and even into the start of the season. After almost a year layoff, Caldwell and McDonald were clearly tentative and a little less productive than usual in the first two games.

Now, they say it’s time to start playing again.

"I’m definitely ready to take off," Caldwell said. "I’m going to try and go out there and prove to myself and my teammates that I’m worthy to wear this uniform. I just want to be there for my teammates and make plays."

McDonald said he feels compelled to do the same.

"I’ve got to come out and do something," McDonald said. "I knew in the first game I was going to be a little rusty. I had a better second game. I didn’t have any sacks, but hopefully I’m going to change that in this game.

"I’m going to try and make more plays for my team. I’m getting back in the groove. I’m getting back to where I was last season. This is going to be a go-ahead game for me. I’m ready to play."

It’s not surprising Caldwell and McDonald have similar feelings heading into this game. Since January, they have been roommates and rehab partners, and they have been pointing toward this game for many months.

"They made us roommates and put us on the first floor because we couldn’t go up stairs," Caldwell said. "We were going through rehab together and helping each other out every day and it made us really close. We talked about this game every day."

McDonald and Caldwell say they have noticed something in each other over the past week or so. A growing confidence.

"Andre’s starting to feel confident that he can make plays again,"

McDonald said.

"I saw Ray working on his swim move and doing the extra stuff he used to do before the injury," Caldwell said. "I see his confidence coming back and I’m seeing him making plays."

Thousands saw Caldwell making plays again — and regaining some confidence — last Saturday in the win over Central Florida. After dropping two passes in the first half, Caldwell made a leaping 25-yard touchdown catch with only four seconds left in the first half and then caught an 8-yard TD pass in the third quarter.

Maybe the most encouraging aspect of his first catch was the brutal shot he took in the end zone and how quickly he recovered from it.

"The hit knocked me out," Caldwell said. "I couldn’t even remember making the catch. I remember being in the training room at halftime and then coming back in the second half. It’s good to know I can bounce back and make plays after that hit. I showed my toughness.

"I feel the confidence coming back. I could feel it in the game. I had a big smile and I was real confident. I was showing coach (Urban) Meyer I’m back and I’m going to be here to make plays for you whenever you need them."

Meyer said Caldwell and McDonald are making progress, but he’s not quite ready to proclaim they’re all the way back.

"He (Caldwell) is close. Much closer than he was a week ago," Meyer said. "I still don’t think you’ve seen the Ray that he was before he was injured.

"They’re both not back yet, but they’re very close. Their hearts are in the right place and they’re trying extremely hard."

Their hearts and minds have been on Tennessee for the past year.

"We’re ready to play and help our team win," McDonald said. "We’re ready to turn it loose."