Quarterback race remains even at Tennessee

Senior Rick Clausen and sophomore Erik Ainge both started games last year and have been battling for the starting spot.

Ainge and fellow freshman Brent Schaeffer beat out Clausen a year ago but both went down with injuries. Clausen finished the season as the starter. Schaeffer has transferred.

Statistically, Clausen had a better night, going 14-of-16 for 91 yards. He completed his first nine passes.

Ainge was 9-of-19 for 132 yards, which included a 46-yard pass to Robert Meachem. Roshaun Fellows intercepted one of his passes.

“Rick certainly seems in command right now. Erik seems to be pressing a bit out there. When you grade the film and look at all the cut-ups and all the breakdowns of all the drills, the two guys are equal,” coach Phillip Fulmer said.

Fulmer does not seem worried about making a decision but indicated earlier this week he would like to know who the starter will be before going into next week’s practice. Preseason practice ends on Saturday, and the third-ranked Volunteers open the season on Sept. 3 against UAB.

“I’m really concerned about who’s going to be the third quarterback,” Fulmer quipped. “If it’s still even, what am I going to do? Flip a coin? No. We’ll play them both. We’ll figure something out.”

The no-contact scrimmage consisted of a little more than 100 mostly scripted plays with crowd noise turned on some of the time. The team also practiced elements of the kicking game with punter Dustin Colquitt handling the kickoffs in place of kicker James Wilhoit. Wilhoit made almost every field goal he attempted, including a 52-yarder.