Moore turns heads at practice

Denarius Moore got everybody's attention at Tennessee's football practice Monday. And he didn't even need a football.

Moore, who sat out preseason camp with an injured foot, ran through agility drills early in practice. Later in the practice, he ran pass routes.

"I'm very surprised at how well he's doing," UT coach Lane Kiffin said. "He's ahead of schedule.

"They say he could play this week, but I can't imagine that happening."

But it does look as though Moore will be ready for the second game against UCLA. UT also is without wide receiver Gerald Jones (ankle) for the season opener.

Moore has caught only 25 passes his first two seasons at UT. However, the former Texas state-champion hurdler gives the Vols another deep threat.

He had a 40-yard reception in the 2008 Outback Bowl victory against Wisconsin. Last year, he had a 63-yard touchdown reception against Kentucky and a 60-yard gain against Georgia.

Receiver Depth: Rod Wilks, a two-time all-stater from Smyrna, helped out on defense in Saturday's mock scrimmage but will be used solely on offense in preparation for Saturday's opener against Western Kentucky, according to Kiffin.

"He's doing well," Kiffin said of Wilks' transition to receiver, which he excelled at in high school. "He seems like a veteran with his approach to the game."

Wilks, a 6-foot, 220-pound redshirt freshman, was moved to safety when he arrived at UT last year. Then, he was switched to linebacker.

"Coach (Phillip Fulmer) asked me if I would rather play receiver or defense," Wilks said. "I told him it really didn't matter."

He basically told Kiffin the same thing when his new coach said he needed help at wide receiver in light of all the injuries.

"I told him I would do whatever is best for the team," Wilks said.

Secondary coach Willie Mack Garza regrets losing Wilks to the offense, but filed the loss under "what's best for the team."

"I didn't want to lose him, but they're down at wide receiver," Garza said. "He's a team player, and I'm a team coach.

"He's an unbelievable athlete, and he had two picks out here at safety for me during camp. He can run, has good body control and great hands."

Wilks is expected to play a significant role on special teams.

More Depth: Freshman Zack Rogers often was overshadowed in preseason camp by fellow freshman receivers Nu'Keese Richardson and Marsalis Teague. But he got his coaches' attention.

"He has been very consistent at understanding what he needs to do," Kiffin said. "He will play a number of plays for us."

Stacked at Safety: Garza says it's not a big deal that Prentiss Waggner was moved from free safety to strong safety the last week of preseason camp.

"In this system, strong safety and free safety are interchangeable," Garza said.

Waggner spent most of camp competing with Dennis Rogan for the No. 1 free safety job. He's now listed behind Eric Berry at strong safety while freshman Janzen Jackson is bracketed with Rogan as a starter.

"I wouldn't say (Waggner) dropped off," Garza said. "I would say other guys really emerged. Prentiss Waggner is a helluva football player."

Kiffin said, "We have six really good safeties that we feel great about."

Depth Needed: Kiffin said he's still trying to develop more depth on special teams.

"Eric Berry is on two special teams," Kiffin said. "(Running back) Montario Hardesty is on one. That's unusual."

But it's fine with Hardesty, who's on the punt-coverage team.

"Coach said he was going to put his 11 best guys out there," Hardesty said. "When we started in the spring, I wanted to get on it.

"I made the team."

Pahokee Reunion: Richardson and Western Kentucky redshirt freshman wide receiver Anthony Sheppard will be on opposite sides Saturday, and that's a switch. They teamed up to help Pahokee (Fla.) win back-to-back state championships in 2006 and 2007.

Sheppard, who started at quarterback in 2007, teamed up with Richardson on a 77-yard screen pass in the state championship game. After Sheppard graduated, Richardson replaced him at quarterback and led Pahokee to another state title.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.