Lucas Taylor is getting pretty good at the quarterback sneak.

Not the play, mind you, but the drill.

While his fellow wide receivers worked on getting open in man-to-man coverage, Taylor was throwing them passes.

"He's got to get time with them, just like anybody else," receivers coach Trooper Taylor said. "We've got to steal that time when we can get it. He's a talented kid and he'll be able to handle it."

The Vols are toying with a package for Taylor at quarterback, much like those used by other schools around the SEC.

For Taylor, it's all quite familiar.

In his senior season at Carencro (La.) High School, he passed for 550 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for more than 1,500 yards.

And there isn't much difference between what he did then and what the Vols are having him do now.

"I'm comfortable with it because I did it in high school," Lucas Taylor said. "I've been doing it since I was about 10 years old."

Carencro ran an option offense, and UT's package includes the run-pass option.

Taylor gives Tennessee a double-threat under center as a runner and a passer.

Just last fall, he completed a touchdown pass to LaMarcus Coker in a one-point loss to Florida.

"He knows the routes," Trooper Taylor said. "He used to be concerned with half the field; now he's concerned with the whole field. Plus, he's got enough ability to outrun his mistakes."

Perimeter Problems: UT coach Phillip Fulmer said he wasn't pleased with his wide receivers' ability to shed man-to-man coverage.

"In spring practice, you're kind of back and forth with who's controlling the scrimmage," he said. "The defense took control a little more today."

When the Vols hold their second full scrimmage of the spring Saturday, Fulmer would love to see his receivers make plays on the outside.

"We've made some plays during the spring, we just didn't today," he said. "Didn't make anything happen today. Not having officials here, they're tearing some jerseys out there a little bit. But that's good for them. We've got to get off press coverage."

Quarterbacks Live: Jonathan Crompton and Nick Stephens took live snaps and will not wear green, non-contact jerseys in Saturday's scrimmage.

Crompton used that to his advantage, tucking the ball and running on several occasions during 11-on-11 drills.

"He made some nice plays running the football," Fulmer said. "It was important for them (the quarterbacks) to play some live football."

Tennessee's quarterbacks have been live targets for most of the spring.

Practice Visitors: Several area high school coaches attended practice in Neyland Stadium, including Morristown West's Don Woods and South-Doyle's Erik Hutchins.

Former UT quarterback Tee Martin watched part practice with quarterback Erik Ainge (knee surgery), and former UT running back Corey Larkins also attended.

Also visiting was Travis Noland, who coaches UT commitment Tauren Poole at Stephens County (Ga.) High and who coached Crompton at Tuscola High in Waynesville, N.C.

Odds And Ends: Linebacker Jerod Mayo said the Vols are doing well with the 3-4 defense. ... The offense will get a shorter field at times during Saturday's scrimmage to put more pressure on the defense. ... The Vols staged a situational overtime scrimmage at the end of Thursday's practice. ... Tennessee's annual coaching clinic begins today.