Quarterback situation still muddled

Remember that bit about making assumptions? Go ahead and apply that to Tennessee's quarterbacks.

Heading into Saturday's 6:30 p.m. season-finale against Kentucky in Neyland Stadium (TV: ESPN2), the Vols' quarterback situation remains as muddled as it's been for much of the season.

"I don't know if I'd assume anything right now," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Sunday during his weekly teleconference. "We're just looking and working and seeing what we need to do."

The Vols' 20-10 victory over Vanderbilt only served to muddy the waters more.

Jonathan Crompton returned to the starting lineup for the first time since a loss at Auburn on Sept. 27. He lasted two series before being pulled in favor of redshirt freshman B.J. Coleman only to return late in the game.

Wide receiver Gerald Jones and safety Eric Berry also took snaps at quarterback against the Commodores.

But this week's starter is yet to be named.

"We haven't really decided that at this point at all," Fulmer said. "We'll go to practice and see what we're going to do and then go from there. We obviously need to throw the football better than we did (Saturday)."

In all, the Vols threw nine passes for 21 yards and did not attempt a pass in the fourth quarter as they clung to a 10-point lead.

Through 11 games, UT has 1,649 yards on 147-for-301 passing with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions.

In 2005, when UT struggled at quarterback on its way to a 5-6 finish, the Vols had 2,178 passing yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

"It's by far the most challenging quarterback situation that we've had," Fulmer said. "Even in '05, there was some concerns and inconsistencies, but nothing like we've faced this year."

Emotions At Bay?: With all the emotion surrounding his final game as UT's head coach Saturday, Fulmer said he's trying to focus on the task at hand.

"I have a lot of great memories and great experiences," he said. "But I want to concentrate on this game and this team and get one more win out of this thing and then we'll have lots of time to reflect perhaps."

Saturday also marks the final game for UT's seniors.

With three weeks passed since UT's press conference announcing Fulmer would not return in 2009, the Vols have moved on, Fulmer said.

"We've gotten past the emotional things, I think," Fulmer said. "I'm hopeful they'll just be determined to win this football game to finish up the season on a positive note."

Running Man: Coleman finished Saturday's game with 17 yards rushing (which included two sacks). Several times, UT called designed runs for the redshirt freshman.

"He's a good runner, ran it in high school and did a good job," Fulmer said. "That's one of the reasons we felt like he could fit in our package in some things. He's not Eric Berry or anything, but he's a guy that can make some plays and get up in there and get it done."

Injury Update: Cornerback Brent Vinson likely will have an X-ray to further evaluate an injury to his right calf.

Vinson's leg was swollen, but he did not need crutches to leave the stadium.

Fulmer said he expects Vinson will play Saturday. "We'll have to get him an X-ray and look at it and see what it looks like," Fulmer said. "Then we'll go from there."

Vinson missed practice Sunday for academic obligations.

Montario Hardesty did not practice but is expected to play against Kentucky.

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

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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