Britton Colquitt's performance on a rainy Saturday night was about the best a punter can hope for.

The sophomore had just three punts, but all three pinned Marshall inside its 10-yard line. He averaged 56 yards per kick with a long of 63.

Saturday was good enough to move Colquitt to No. 6 nationally with a 47.3-yard average.

"You can't really ask for a better night," he said Monday.

Just as good was the fact that Marshall did not return one.

After Florida sliced the Vols' punt coverage for 65 yards on four returns -- not counting a 90-yard return for a touchdown that was called back due to a questionable illegal-block call -- Tennessee wouldn't mind seeing more nights like Saturday.

Part of that was a conscious effort by Colquitt to limit returns.

"I'm just focusing on no returns," he said. "The Florida game kind of helped me with that. That was like a big wake-up call that whoever you play can have big returns unless you try to keep it away from their returners and give your coverage team time to get down there."

Colquitt also took responsibility for some of Florida's success in the return game.

"I obviously could have put it more on the sideline in the Florida game," he said. "I think Florida did a really good job holding our guys up ...

"But if I put it where it needs to be, more than likely those guys are going to get there."

Colquitt made his only tackle in that game as well, stopping Brandon James' 35-yard return to help save an even-bigger play.

"I had a trip," he joked. "I thought it was illegal when I did it. He had me planted and I was thinking he was going to go left. When he didn't, my instinct was just stick your leg out.

"An old soccer move."

Starting Shuffle: Tailback LaMarcus Coker, who was named UT's CAREacter Star Athlete of the week, won't be Tennessee's only first-time starter Saturday when the Vols play at Memphis (noon, TV: ESPN2).

UT coach Phillip Fulmer said redshirt freshman Josh McNeil will start at center in place of Michael Frogg.

Frogg, a former walk-on, started UT's first four games, but both have played meaningful snaps.

"Right now it's just kind of flipped. Those two will still share time, but hopefully we'll continue to solidify that to where one guy's playing most of the time as we go along," Fulmer said. "Now he's (McNeil's) got to show the maturity and the toughness. Toughness is not a problem for him, mostly maturity and consistency to see if he can do this ... and I think he can."

Scouting Report: Fulmer said the Vols will prepare for several different looks from Memphis' defense after the Tigers fired defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn last week.

Dunn was a fixture in the SEC, spending time at Ole Miss, Mississippi State and South Carolina.

Tigers coach Tommy West has taken over the defense since Dunn's firing.

Memphis (1-2) did not play last week, which means there's no film to study on West, who played football and baseball for the Vols in the mid-1970s, as a defensive coordinator this year.

Fulmer Writes To Fans: For the second time this season, Fulmer wrote a letter thanking fans.

This time, Fulmer wrote to thank UT supporters for their outpouring of well wishes for Justin Harrell and Inky Johnson. They suffered season-ending injuries against Air Force.

Fulmer's earlier letter thanked UT fans for their support after Tennessee's 35-18 victory over California.

Honor For Sears: Tackle Arron Sears was named the SEC's offensive lineman of the week after grading out at 82 percent with five knockdown blocks.

Practice Report: UT practiced inside the Neyland Thompson Sports Center on Monday in shorts and shoulder pads.

Part of that was to get work on artificial turf, which the Vols' will play on Saturday at the Liberty Bowl.

Also, Haslam Field had not dried completely from the weekend's storms, and Fulmer said he did not want to risk injuries.

Injury Update: Offensive lineman Ramon Foster returned to practice this week, after missing the past two games with an ankle injury.

Receiver Austin Rogers (shoulder) was back as well.

Tailback Arian Foster (ankle) dressed for practice Monday.

Defensive tackle Turk McBride (concussion) was at practice but did not participate in drills.

Junior defensive end Jared Hostetter practiced for the first time since having knee surgery in the preseason.

Game Captains: Jayson Swain, Sears, McBride, Antwan Stewart, Marvin Mitchell and David Ligon will be UT's game captains Saturday.