Vols question Florida allegation that teammate gave up : govolsxtra.com

Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge has a hard time believing that one of his teammates gave up against Florida, much less told an opposing player about it.

But that's exactly what a Florida special- teams player told the Florida Today newspaper.

Gators reserve tight end Derek Baldry said that a UT player told Baldry not to bother blocking him on an extra point late in Florida's 59-20 victory last Saturday and that the Tennessee player said he was tired and wouldn't rush.

According to Florida Today, the unnamed UT player stood up and did not rush on that play.

"I couldn't imagine that happening," Ainge said. "If it happened, then whoever said that would need to take a hard look in the mirror because there's a lot of guys that would do anything to go out and play on the special teams for the University of Tennessee.

"If that were the case, I wouldn't want him playing for me on my team, period."

Baldry, who spent four years with the Army's 3rd Ranger Battalion before enrolling at Florida, told the newspaper, "In the locker room, that's all everybody was talking about. It just seemed like we were going at a different speed than they were, especially at the end."

Sophomore defensive tackle Dan Williams said that if the story is correct, he hopes UT's coaches find the player guilty of the on-field concession.

"If you love the game and you have pride for yourself and pride in your team and pride in your program, it shouldn't be hard at all," he said of continuing to play hard. "The first play should be played the same as the last play of the game."

UT coach Phillip Fulmer questioned the accuracy of the report following practice Wednesday. He said earlier this week he didn't believe any of his players quit before the game was complete.

Slade's Secondary: There seems to be a strong possibility that either junior DeAngelo Willingham or freshman Brent Vinson will soon start at one of UT's two cornerback positions. The two have seen first-team snaps all week.

Willingham has been earning his coaches' praise all week.

"He's had a great week of practice, competing his tail off," defensive backs coach Larry Slade said, "really excited about him having an opportunity to play."

Willingham said he's learned to kick his work ethic up a notch from junior college.

"It's a whole other level," Willingham said.

Slade said he's also pleased with Vinson. Fulmer concurred.

"Better than I could have ever hoped it would have been," Fulmer said of Vinson's ability to play cornerback after having been moved to the position less than a month ago.

Fulmer said he's long been aware that Vinson could end up at corner.

"He wanted to play receiver really, really bad," Fulmer said. "Now, he just wants to play. He's really taken to it."

Fulmer said the Willingham and Vinson are competing with Marsalous Johnson for UT's two cornerback positions. Who will start?

"I have no idea," Slade said. "We will determine that Friday or Saturday."

Whoever starts at cornerback, it seems likely that freshman sensation Eric Berry will make the move back to safety this week.

Pinkie Watch: Ainge said he hasn't had any problems since he returned to using his right hand during handoff exchanges. Until this week, the senior had only been using his left hand, which resulted in two fumbles in two games.

Ainge said he's also been able to avoid contact between the ball carrier and the broken finger. Jamming the finger against someone could affect his passing immediately afterwards.

Captains: Fulmer said Ainge, tight end Chris Brown, punter Britton Colquitt, linebacker Jerod Mayo and defensive end Xavier Mitchell will serve as captains for Saturday's game against Arkansas State.

"I really like this football team," Fulmer said when asked to compare this team to the 2005 Vols that went 5-6. "This team has a good spirit about it and a good work ethic about it. They're likable people.

"In '05, we got splintered in a lot of directions. The staff is very much together. The players are very much together. We'll get this back to where we want it to be."

Receiver Report: Trooper Taylor has been asked about playing UT's young receivers more times than he can count. The frustration with the questions - and the situation - seemed to be mounting when he was posed the all too familiar query this week.

"It's kind of like having a car with no gas," Taylor said. "I don't want that. I want to be able to drive it."

Taylor said junior Kenny O'Neal and Denarius Moore are still the two receivers closest to cementing a regular role. And as for UT's other highly touted newcomers?

"I'm not one of those guys that says because he has five-stars that he belongs out there," Taylor said.

Taylor said he's not surprised that the newcomers haven't had more of an impact.

"Look at (Robert) Meachem," Taylor said, referring to last season's leading receiver. "He didn't do it correctly - the way you wanted him to - until he was a junior."

Do two losses increase the pressure on Taylor to turn to the bench?

"Nope," he said. "Not for me."

Booming Briscoe: Coming off his team high eight reception for 86 yards against Florida last week, junior Josh Briscoe is certainly leaving his reputation for avoiding contact in the past.

"Really has improved," Fulmer said, "Trooper (Taylor) has done a tremendous job with him."

Colquitt On Watch List: Colquitt is on the Ray Guy Award watch list, the Greater Augusta (Ga.) Sports Council announced.

Colquitt is averaging 43.3 yards per punt, despite having battled a quadriceps injury suffered late in the preseason.

The list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November with the national voting body voting for the top three finalists at the end of November. The award will be presented live Dec. 6 during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.

Drew Edwards contributed to this story.