There’s a reason Robert Ayers leads Tennessee in sacks. Simply put, the junior defensive end isn’t the player he used to be.

“I was holding myself back,” said Ayers, who has three sacks this season. “I wasn’t putting in the effort in the weight room. I wasn’t coming out to practice everyday and trying to get better.

“Everything’s on me.”

Since signing with UT in 2004, Ayers had never come close to reaching his potential in his first two seasons, having registered only 30 tackles and zero sacks in spot duty.

“He was one of those guys that was always just better than everybody,” UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said. “He just didn’t have a great work ethic. That’s the truth. It’s been a battle.”

Making the battle more frustrating for UT’s coaches was Ayers’ potential.

“It’s just unusual to have somebody that gifted that doesn’t have the work ethic. He’s got it. He’s doing it now,” Fulmer said.

Fulmer said Ayers is also playing the run much better than he did as an underclassman, as evident by his 14 tackles, 3½ for a loss.

“He’s reaching the potential we hoped he would reach,” Fulmer said.

Pinkie Press: Quarterback Erik Ainge has gotten some much-needed rest for the broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand. And there’s more to come.

After practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Vols will hold a morning practice today then break until Monday. The most painful part of the injury, Ainge said, has been handling the snap from center.

“It’s getting better,” Ainge said of his finger. “I think the off-week will really help it out a lot. Practice a couple times this week and not do a whole lot. That’s the biggest problem, banging on it every day practicing.”

Troop’s Take: Receivers coach Trooper Taylor, who returned kicks and punts while playing for Baylor, believes UT returner Jonathan Hefney was pressing last week when the senior lost 17 yards on four attempts.

“It’s not the club,” Taylor said, referring to Hefney’s “dancing” against Arkansas State. “You’ve got to stick your foot in the ground and get north and south.”

Taylor added that Hefney didn’t have many opportunities for a good return because UT was in “safe” punt return mode, meaning they were lined up to defend a fake.

“It’s not a bad thing to fair catch a ball,” Taylor said.

Injury Report: Head coach Phillip Fulmer said senior tight end Brad Cottam might not be deemed 100 percent healthy until after the season.

Cottam suffered a wrist injury that required surgery during a preseason scrimmage. He was originally scheduled to return in November.

Fulmer said UT is applying for a sixth year of eligibility for Cottam, who has endured five surgeries and a myriad of ailments during his career.

“It would be absolutely the right thing to do for a young man,” Fulmer said of the NCAA granting an additional year. “If the NCAA is pro-athlete — as they say — this would be a case in which you could do it.”

Senior cornerback Antonio Gaines had successful surgery after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament against Southern Miss on Sept. 8. Fulmer said he hadn’t talked to Gaines, who has graduated, about applying for an additional year.

Moving On Up: Junior college transfer Nevin McKenzie said he liked playing linebacker last week against Arkansas State, his first game after being moved from safety.

“Some of it’s basically the same as strong safety, so I should pick up on it pretty fast,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie registered five tackles against the Indians.

The move seemed to capitalize on McKenzie’s aggressive, physical nature.

“It’s comfortable for me,” he said. “I’ve just got a couple of adjustments to make.”

Strict on Stephens: Redshirt freshman quarterback Nick Stephens was jogging around the indoor practice field following practice on Wednesday.

“I’d say he probably missed class or something,” Fulmer said.

Drew Edwards contributed to this report.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.