Feb. 23, 2007

Tennessee's theme of toughness kicks into another gear Saturday when the Vols don full pads for the first time in this year's spring practice.

"We're going to find out a lot about our toughness," head coach Phillip Fulmer said after Friday's 21/2-hour workout at Haslam Field. "We've got some guys who have been in the football wars and we know where they are. There is some toughness on this team but there is not enough of it right now.

"The guys have got to prove their merit on the field, especially some young guys who have been redshirting and not really participating. They've been good scout-teamers but it's not scout-team time now. It's about who is going to play."

Saturday morning's action features the first live contact of the spring as Tennessee looks to fill a number of needs heading into 2007.

"It's kind of like baseball in that you want to be strong up the middle," Fulmer said. "Defensively, our tackles have got to take the challenge for us to have any chance at being a good defensive team. It starts right there.

"I'm confident in our middle linebacker, whether it will be Jerod Mayo, Ellix Wilson or a couple of other guys who could play in there. And I've been really happy with our safeties so far. Jarod Parrish has picked off a couple of balls in the first two days and that's a good sign. He knows what to do, he's just one of those guys who have to get up in there and tackle. I think he will."

Fulmer said he was pleased to have returning experience on the offensive side of the ball, especially up the middle.

"We've got a veteran center, a veteran quarterback, veteran tailbacks and that's good. The two guards -- they've got to take the challenge because they are not there yet."

Tennessee practices Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of next week.