Vols’ Fulmer pleased with QB as UGA looms

Nick Stephens, who started his first game at quarterback for Tennessee last week, will start his second when the Vols face Georgia in Sanford Stadium Saturday.

Stephens, a redshirt sophomore, played well enough in a closer-than-expected 13-9 victory over Northern Illinois to solidify his spot as the starter for the Georgia game, according to Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer.

Jonathan Crompton, a redshirt junior, had started at quarterback in Tennessee’s first four games — three of them losses — and struggled considerably.

Against Northern Illinois on Saturday night, Stephens’ numbers were modest: 10-of-17 passing for 156 yards and one touchdown. The TD pass went for 52 yards.

“I was really proud of the way [Stephens] managed the game and threw the ball for the most part,” Fulmer said in his post-game news conference. “There is certainly room to grow, and he will do that.

“I think he played pretty darn well.”

Fulmer added that Tennessee’s offense is “still very much a work in progress” and that the Vols are “still terrible on third down.”

Said Fulmer: “Obviously, we’ve got a big challenge at Georgia.”

Georgia coach Mark Richt seemed uncomforted Sunday by the Vols’ 2-3 record or offensive struggles.

“You sit there and watch that film, you’d understand,” Richt said. “They’ve got the right kind of personnel. They’re … trying to get the right quarterback, but everywhere else they look like the rest of our league, you know.”

Richt added: “I certainly don’t want to paint a picture that we’ve got it all together and they don’t, because I don’t think that is the case. What I’m most concerned about is … can we put it together [and] rebound from our last ball game?”

That, of course, being the 41-30 loss to Alabama on Sept. 27.

Injury report

Richt remained unsure Sunday whether linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, who suffered a knee sprain early in the Alabama game, will be able to play against Tennessee.

It “will be interesting to see just how he does [Monday], just how he moves around,” Richt said.

Meanwhile, Richt said his latest information is that defensive end Roderick Battle — sidelined the past three games with a neck injury — won’t play this week.

Richt reiterated that Brannan Southerland, who played only on special teams against Alabama after missing the first four games rehabbing from foot surgery, will be back at fullback Saturday.

And Richt once again said tailback Knowshon Moreno’s injured elbow won’t keep him from playing.

On the SEC East leader …

Normally, coaches don’t like to talk about an opponent other than the next one. But Richt was willing to talk about SEC East leader Vanderbilt when asked Sunday about the Commodores’ upset of Auburn.

“Vanderbilt is pretty stinking good,” Richt said. “No one wants to hear that they’re a good football team, but I think everybody now sees it is so.”

Vanderbilt is 3-0 in the SEC and 5-0 overall — the first time since 1950 the Commodores have been 3-0 in the league and the first time since 1943 they have been 5-0 overall. They are ranked No. 13 in this week’s AP poll.

“This is the just due that those guys deserve,” Richt said.

Vanderbilt plays Georgia in Athens Oct. 18.

Agreement on No. 10

Georgia, which twice this season moved down in the polls after wins, moved up a notch in the Associated Press poll Sunday after not playing.

The Bulldogs rose from No. 11 to No. 10 in the AP media poll and remained No. 10 in both the USA Today coaches’ poll and the Harris poll.

O-line status quo

Richt said he does not expect new changes on Georgia’s offensive line, which was reshuffled before the Arizona State game and had its struggles against Alabama.

“Just keep getting better, man,” he said. “Just keep getting better.”