Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said he's not surprised that senior tight end Chris Brown has become the Vols' most versatile offensive player this season.

"He allows us to do a lot of things because he's a really, really smart football player," said Cutcliffe about Brown, who has played all three of UT's tight end positions as well as fullback. "He's one of the smartest football players I've been around. Chris just needed to bring his game to a consistency. That's what he's done."

Brown, who has 17 receptions for 141 yards and four touchdowns this season, said he welcomes the multiple roles as UT prepares for Saturday's game at Mississippi State.

"They trust me to do a lot of things," said Brown. "I think it's a compliment that they can trust me to do that."

It was obvious that Brown's role would increase when senior tight end Brad Cottam went down in the preseason with a wrist injury. Fullback David Holbert's season-ending knee injury in August made Brown even more valuable.

"When they went down," he said, "I knew I had to step up."

With Cottam still sidelined, Cutcliffe said Brown has been a steadying force for UT's younger tight ends: sophomore Jeff Cottam and freshman Luke Stocker.

"He's been a coach on the field as well," Cutcliffe said. "I really appreciate what he's done to this point."

UT coach Phillip Fulmer said the Vols are fortunate to have a player as versatile as Brown.

"If we'd have moved him to defense," Fulmer said, "he would have been a good defensive player for us."

Senior Savvy: Whether its preparation, experience or both, quarterback Erik Ainge said he hasn't been confused by any defense he's faced this season.

"Just about anything they've done," the senior said, "I've seen at some point."

That, however, doesn't mean he's executed UT's pre-snap audibles to perfection.

"I've gotten a couple of delay penalties trying to be too cute," Ainge said. "Sometimes just playing ball is the better answer, not trying to be perfect."

Ainge admitted Mississippi State might be easy to overlook, if he hadn't done his homework.

"If you watch them on film," he said, "you'd have to be a fool to not get yourself ready to play."

Mississippi State's defense ranks 30th in the NCAA.

Slade Says: After starting five different secondary lineups is five games, defensive backs coach Larry Slade admits it feels good to start the same secondary for two games in a row.

That doesn't mean competition for starting positions is off. Slade spoke highly of junior DeAngelo Willingham and freshman Art Evans.

While there could be some competition in the future, Jonathan Hefney (free safety), Eric Berry (strong safety), Brent Vinson (cornerback) and Marsalous Johnson (cornerback) have a strong hold on their respective positions.

Rogers Responds: Receivers coach Trooper Taylor faced a tough challenge recently when sophomore receiver Austin Rogers dropped a handful of passes against Florida and Arkansas State. Rogers admitted that drops had become mental.

"It's important that you do find that balance," Taylor said of being too strict or too lenient, "so that you don't put them in the tank and never get them back."

Against Georgia, Rogers had five receptions for 61 yards and, most importantly, no drops.

Captains: Fulmer named Ainge, offensive lineman Ramon Foster, safety Jonathan Hefney, receiver Lucas Taylor and defensive ends Antonio Reynolds and Xavier Mitchell as captains for Saturday's game.

This is the first game that the quiet, soft-spoken Taylor has been named a captain.

"Lucas is very quiet but you can be a leader in a lot of different ways," Fulmer said. "The best way to be a leader is by example. He's played really tough and obviously played well for us."

Small Man Syndrome: At 6-foot-6, defensive tackle Demonte' Bolden drew some strange looks when he described himself as "small" during media interviews following Wednesday's practice.

But at 279 pounds, he actually is lighter than most of the offensive linemen he'll face in college football. Bolden came to UT weighing 320 pounds. He said he'd like to weigh 295, but can't keep weight on during football season.

"Somehow, someway or another, I always lose weight," Bolden said.

With mass not often in his favor, Bolden is relying on some other attributes.

"If I work on quickness," he said, "I can get a little edge on them. If I get off the ball hard, I don't care how big you are. As long as I push you back, I got my job done."

So how come Bolden weighed more before arriving at UT?

"In high school," Bolden said flatly, "I didn't do nothing."

More Mapu: Fulmer said senior defensive tackle J.T. Mapu will retain his starting job.

But Fulmer was quick to point out that sophomore Dan Williams and junior Walter Fisher have played well lately.

"It's an ongoing competition," Fulmer said.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.