Land of Lincoln is between the uprights

Tennessee kicker Daniel Lincoln isn't moving into the Vols' record books.

He's sprinting.

The redshirt freshman's two field goals against South Carolina not only made him the SEC special teams player of the week, they moved him just two field goals shy of UT's freshman record.

James Wilhoit, Lincoln's predecessor, kicked a record 17 field goals as a freshman in 2003.

With his next kick, Lincoln will move into the top 10 in single-season field goals, joining Jeff Hall, John Becksvoort and Phil Reich with 16.

"I didn't know about that until just now," Lincoln said Monday morning. "I'm looking at names on that list. … It's amazing. I was not aware of that until now. That really hits home."

Lincoln, who has met Alex Walls, Hall and Fuad Reveiz and played with Wilhoit, wasn't aware of his spot in UT history until he saw a list compiled by UT's sports information office.

"To even be mentioned with those guys, that's such an honor," he said. "To have my name on that list, I wonder if I'm even worthy. But that is a huge honor right there."

He could reach even more honors.

Lincoln's 1.88 made field goals per game leads the SEC. If he continues on that pace, he would finish with seven more field goals.

That would rank third all time on UT's single-season list, behind only Fuad Reveiz's 27 in 1982 and Carlos Reveiz's 24 in 1985.

And after Saturday, he's hit a game-winning field goal, too.

"You can't really prepare yourself for a moment like that until you're in it," Lincoln said. "Until you're really there and feel what that's like, that's an unbelievable moment.

"That's not pressure. That's fun."

Young Missed: Count right tackle Ramon Foster among those who will miss Eric Young's presence on the offensive line for the rest of the season.

Young, UT's starting left tackle, underwent season-ending surgery Sunday morning to repair a ruptured quadriceps tendon.

"Eric was a warrior," Foster said. "I think he'll be fine after he rehabs and gets his quad right. It's definitely a big loss for us and something we have to get through and persevere."

Tennessee, which has rotated eight offensive linemen this season, still is in pretty good shape.

Right guard Chris Scott will move to left tackle, where he spent time during spring practice and fall camp.

Jacques McClendon, who has played primarily right guard this season, will start there this week.

"It won't be that much of a dropoff not having Eric down there," Foster said. "Chris has to learn how to play left side better now that he's switched from right to left.

"Having the experience that Jacques has over there and being that we've played a lot together, we should be pretty fine on the right side."

Berry Staying Put:<B> </B>Eric Berry's interception return against South Carolina has some wondering if the true freshman safety might see action at punt returner or even at quarterback.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer has thought about it, but doesn't want to risk Berry at safety in an already depleted secondary.

"He's playing so much defense, and we're so thin back there," Fulmer said. "That's one of those things - how much do you want to roll the dice?

"We've talked about him playing at quarterback a little bit because he did in high school. If we were playing 60, 65 plays or 55 like we used to, we might be more willing to do that."

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.