Experience pays in picks for veteran Parrish

If the two hadn't been properly introduced, it's safe to say Stephens now knows all about senior defensive back Jarod Parrish.

"I've been waiting for a day like this," Parrish said after intercepting Stephens three times during Tennessee's scrimmage Saturday at Neyland Stadium. "I knew I could do it. I'm just glad I got the opportunity.

"This is a good confidence builder. It makes you feel like you can do it and it makes you want to do it some more."

After making one career start as a sophomore in 2004, Parrish sat out the entire 2005 season with a knee injury and made just two tackles in limited action last season.

He wants more going into his final year at UT.

"I think it's a lot more confidence," he said. "Last year I was coming off of an injury. I know what I'm doing and I'm just getting good reads on the ball, getting good recognition."

Roshaun Fellows, coming off his own injury woes in 2006, added an interception of Jonathan Crompton to the nightmarish day for young quarterbacks.

Parrish just happened to steal the show.

"Jarod is a veteran," UT secondary coach Larry Slade said. "He understands. He may not be as fast as some, but he can anticipate and he's doing a good job just using his experience.

"You go to practice every day and you're in a system two or three years, then all of a sudden that light goes on."

UT coach Phillip Fulmer was glad to see Parrish get his touches, but he made it clear competition in the secondary will go up to a new level in the fall when a group of talented freshmen come to Knoxville.

"I'm happy," Fulmer said, "but I also know we've got some guys coming in who I'm expecting to make it much more competitive than it is right now."

Ainge Crutchless: Erik Ainge had a couple of things to be thankful for around 4:15 p.m. Saturday.

One, he was walking around on a picture-perfect, 80 degree afternoon without crutches. After undergoing surgery Monday to remove a small portion of meniscus in his right knee, Ainge had tossed the crutches in his 3-to-6 week road to recovery.

Two, he wasn't running the steps of Neyland Stadium with the rest of the healthy UT quarterback contingent after a sloppy scrimmage.

McNeil Returns: Sophomore center Josh McNeil returned to participate in the three-hour scrimmage after serving his five-practice suspension.

The sophomore from Collins, Miss., was cited for underage consumption and public intoxication earlier this month.

D-Line Adds Pressure: UT coach Phillip Fulmer had some high praise for his defensive front.

"I saw a much more productive day from those guys," Fulmer said. "We had to double-team Xavier (Mitchell, senior defensive end) a couple of times. I told Antonio Reynolds we needed to get to the point where they're having to double-team him all the time.

"Demonte (Bolden) and Dan Williams made some nice moves to get some sacks and near sacks."

Bolden had the hit of the day, pile-driving running back Roy Olasimbo into the turf for a 5-yard loss.

Mitchell actually got into a brief sparring match with Darius Myers after Myers threw him to the ground with an obvious hold.

Top Stoppers: Redshirt freshman linebacker LaMarcus Thompson led the day's tacklers with eight.

Sophomore Dorian Davis added six, while senior Ryan Karl had five with two tackles for a loss and a sack. Wes Brown also had five tackles and a sack.

Lincoln Making Strides: Redshirt freshman Daniel Lincoln continued to move closer to possibly nailing down the kicking duties.

Lincoln and junior punter Britton Colquitt continue to split reps, but Lincoln nailed 8-of-10 attempts with a long of 45.

"I'm really pleased with the way Daniel Lincoln has responded," Fulmer said. "Starting from where he finished in the fall to where he is now, he's really close to being able to kick in the Southeastern Conference."

Colquitt doesn't appear to be hurting either.

His first three punts of the scrimmage went 52, 49 and 47 yards.

Injury Report: The Vols made it through the day's work relatively unscathed.

Victor Thomas (freshman defensive tackle) suffered a sprained elbow. Junior guard Ramon Foster dinged a knee "but should be ready to go."

Brad Cottam (groin), Jerod Mayo (knee) and Eric Young (shoulder) didn't participate.