Hardesty to start; Foster expected to play

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Coaches Fulmer, Clawson and Chavis talk about Vanderbilt's DJ Moore. UT's Eric Berry chimes in as well Watch »

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UT coaches and player, Eric Berry, talk about the impact of Coach Fulmer stepping down at the end of the season. Watch »

To say Tennessee’s backfield is in flux would be a huge understatement.

First, there’s the tailback position.

Coach Phillip Fulmer said junior Montario Hardesty will start against Vanderbilt on Saturday but senior Arian Foster will also see playing time.

Foster returned to practice Thursday. He missed the Wyoming game on Nov. 15 and hasn’t practiced since.

“Looks like Arian is well enough to anticipate (him) playing,” Fulmer said. “It was good to get him out here to see his presence.

“He’s been a tough guy since his time at Tennessee and this has been one of the slower things to getting him to return from.”

Fulmer complimented Foster’s return.

“He did good, actually very good,” Fulmer said. “Still a little bit sore but that swelling has gone out. It went from his thigh to his knee and most of that’s out. With another day, I think he’ll be ready to go.”

Then, there’s the quarterback position, where junior Jonathan Crompton will replace sophomore Nick Stephens, who started UT’s last six games.

That’s not the end of the changes.

Fulmer said earlier this week that he expects redshirt freshman B.J. Coleman to play on Saturday.

“He’s done a good job,” offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said. “We’ll see what happens but we’d love to have a chance to get him in the game.”

Clawson said UT’s coaches are still finalizing the plan on handling the quarterback rotation.

“If I knew,” Clawson quipped, “I wouldn’t tell you anyway.”

Practice Report: Fulmer called UT’s offensive practices leading up to Saturday’s game some of the sharpest the Vols have had all year.

That, however, is nothing new. UT’s coaches have been complimentary of their players’ practices through the 2008 season.

“Dang, I hope it carries over into the ball game,” Fulmer said.

Especially with Crompton’s play.

“Jonathan has always done the things in practice that I like to see,” Clawson said. “That’s never been an issue. He practices great. He really does. Hopefully we get it carried over.”

Clawson said UT’s strong practices are likely a byproduct of the week off and a realization that the season is winding down.

“I think there’s a definition to the season,” Clawson said. “We know this group is only going to be together for two more games. You kind of enjoy it while you have it.

“I even think as coaches, we’re probably coaching two more games here. Coach Fulmer has two more. You enjoy being here and enjoy being with the players.”

Nearly Nostradamus: Defensive coordinator John Chavis hasn’t wavered in his praise of safeties Eric Berry and Demetrice Morley.

“In preseason I thought that we may have the two best safeties — as a pair — in the country,” Chavis said. “I still think that.

“I think Eric Berry is probably the best defensive back in the country right now. I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone that’s playing at a higher level than him right now.”

The Spread: The Vols have remained a 3-point underdog to the Commodores all week.

“I don’t know whether that will be motivation,” Chavis said. “You don’t know what will motivate a football team.”

Chief Chat: Chavis was hesitant to share more of his thoughts of Fulmer’s forced resignation, but eventually relented when queried by an out-of-town reporter.

“I really don’t want to revisit that but to say that things haven’t changed would not be the truth,” Chavis said. “It’s changed dramatically.

“You look at what our young people went through trying to prepare for a game two weeks ago and what they’re still going through, that’s just part of it.”

Gerald’s Game: Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell has been impressed with Gerald Williams’ improvement as of late.

“He’s not busting the defenses like he was doing earlier,” Caldwell said.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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