Quarterback battle still on for No. 3 Tennessee

Senior Rick Clausen and sophomore Erik Ainge continued their competition Saturday night in the Volunteers’ second major scrimmage of preseason practice.

Fulmer also got a look at several different players at center with the top two players at that position sidelined with injuries.

The backup spot behind tailback Gerald Riggs appeared to still be up for grabs, and the starting lineup for the secondary is coming together.

Tennessee, considered by many a top contender for the Southeastern Conference championship, opens the season on Sept. 3 at home against UAB.

Fulmer has said he’s not worried about naming the starting quarterback because both of them started games last season and were successful.

Ainge took the first snap after Clausen got the start in last week’s scrimmage.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to see the tape and we’ll talk about it,” Fulmer said when asked to rate the QB race. “Rick did some good things. Erik did some good things.”

Ainge finished 10-of-20 for 91 yards, including a short TD pass to Bret Smith in a goal-line drill. Ainge completed a 37-yard pass to freshman Josh Briscoe and then was intercepted on the next play by Antwan Stewart.

Clausen was 10-of-15 for 180 yards with a 41-yard touchdown play and one interception. He completed his first four passes.

Both quarterbacks were sacked and had a few mishandled snaps. Guard Rob Smith was the first center in for injured Richie Gandy, who was the projected starter, and David Ligon.

Gandy partially dislocated his kneecap during practice this week and is expected to miss the opener. Ligon sprained his ankle in last week’s scrimmage.

Anthony Parker, Josh McNeil and Michael Frogg also played at center.

Riggs didn’t see much time in the scrimmage, but he had a nice 14-yard run down the sideline early.

LaMarcus Coker had 12 carries for 34 yards, and Arian Foster had 23 yards on nine rushes.

Montario Hardesty bruised his thigh early in the scrimmage but “showed some real flashes of toughness,” Fulmer said.

The starters in the secondary were cornerbacks Jason Allen and Roshaun Fellows and safeties Jonathan Hefney and Stewart. Fulmer’s take on the defensive backs’ performance was mixed. Hefney also had an interception.

“We got it thrown over our head a couple of times. That wasn’t too good. But a couple of times we intercepted the ball,” he said.

James Wilhoit made a 52-yard field goal, and punter Britton Colquitt tried a 50-yarder and made it.