Vols looking to return injured starters

Last week’s open date couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for the Tennessee football team, according to head coach Phillip Fulmer. The Vols have been idle since defeating Middle Tennessee a week ago Saturday, but UTs sports medicine staff has been working on a host of nagging injuries to some key performers. “We got a good start on Florida, but more importantly it was good to see some of our injured folks back on the practice field”, Fulmer said following Monday’s workout at Hudson Field. “It looks like were going to be able to get some people back that certainly would not have played this past Saturday.” Fulmer expects wide receivers Tony Brown and Kelley Washington to be game-ready by Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. kickoff against the Florida Gators. He also will welcome the return of offensive guard Chavis Smith, who missed the first two games with ankle and knee injuries. Smith will be especially needed if fellow guard Jason Respert cannot play with an injured shoulder, hurt during last weeks practice. “Kelley was in such great shape before his injury, and I watched Chavis personally today and he looked good,” Fulmer said. “Were still working Sean Young in there in case of an emergency and I do expect Respert to play. I expect Mondre Dickerson to be ready to play, although he didnt get any work today. Dickerson also injured his shoulder last week in practice.” Fulmer noted Anthony Herrera was getting work at center behind Scott Wells now that both backup centers, Respert and Smith, were banged up. “The open date couldnt have come at a better time for us,” he added. “I dont think any of those guys are actually 100 percent but weve got them out here and practicing and hopefully we’ll be where we need to be by Friday.” ESPN’s College Gameday returns to Knoxville ESPNs College GameDay crew makes its fifth visit to Knoxville and sixth appearance highlighting the UT-Florida game when this weekend’s live broadcast of the sports networks football pregame show kicks off here Saturday. Host Chris Fowler joins analysts Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit for the SEC Eastern Division showdown, their six appearances being the most of any game they have previewed. ESPNs 90-minute program begins at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time. Five Knoxville appearances ties for fourth-most in the show’s history, trailing only Gainesville, Fla. (seven), Ann Arbor, Mich. (six), and South Bend, Ind. (six). GameDay also has visited Miami, Fla., and Lincoln, Neb., five times. GameDay’s last visit to Knoxville was Florida’s 27-23 triumph over the Vols in 2000. UT upset the Gators 34-32 at Florida last year in the Vols’ last game played following a GameDay appearance. Other GameDay visits to Knoxville were for the 1995 Georgia game, the 1996 Florida game and the 1999 Notre Dame contest. Injury Report (Florida Game Week): Probable — WR Tony Brown (ankle), OG Chavis Smith (knee, ankle), PK Alex Walls (quadricep), WR Kelley Washington (knee); Questionable — DE Mondre Dickerson (shoulder), OG Jason Respert (shoulder).