Newton Citizen

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Britton Colquitt has gone through the Georgia game a thousand times in his head.

The Tennessee punter had plenty of time to think about Saturday's game as he completed his five-game suspension for a February DUI arrest.

'In the past couple of weeks, some of the guys I don't even talk to that much were like, 'Are you back next week? When are you back?' said Colquitt, a senior.

The Vols (2-3, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) couldn't be much more desperate for his return.

Tennessee ranks 115th out of 119 teams nationally in net punting at just over 29 net yards per punt.

Georgia (4-1, 1-1) is third in punt returns nationally - first in the SEC - with an average 21.69 return yards per punt. The Bulldogs' Prince Miller returned an Alabama punt 92 yards for a touchdown.

Sophomore Chad Cunningham filled in for Colquitt in his absence and averaged 39.5 yards per punt with a long of 57 yards. Two of his punts were blocked by UCLA and Northern Illinois and another was returned for a touchdown by Florida's Brandon James.

Coach Phillip Fulmer did not blame Cunningham for Tennessee's struggles in the kicking game, but put the responsibility squarely on Colquitt.

'Britton being back can make a difference in the game,' Fulmer said. 'I hope he's learned a heck of a lesson because our team's paid a pretty big price for his inappropriate behavior.'

Colquitt, a member of Tennessee's 'first family of fourth down,' has averaged 42.4 yards in his career. That ranks him fourth on Tennessee's career list behind cousin Jimmy Colquitt (43.9), brother Dustin Colquitt (42.6) and father Craig Colquitt (42.5).