Linebacker Moses Osemwegie was out of the starting lineup with a sprained knee last week, but played sparingly. Yesterday he said his knee was no worse off after playing.

''It's just sore, that's all,'' Osemwegie said.

He is back with the starting unit on the weak side, but a change has been made at strong side, with Eric Byrum replacing Brandon Walthour.

''We're trying to keep those guys fresh,'' Coach Bobby Johnson said. ''Eric does some good things. Walthour is probably a little more athletic. When Moses is in there, we think we can get [Walthour and Osemwegie] to be pretty athletic at linebacker because Hunter Hillenmeyer has been playing very well in the middle.''

Hillenmeyer leads the team with 40 tackles, and Osemwegie is fourth with 24.

Kovolisky questionable: X-rays of starting offensive guard Brian Kovolisky's right ankle showed no fracture. The sophomore remains questionable for Saturday's game at Ole Miss with a high-ankle sprain. Freshman Mac Pyle has moved from tackle to guard to step in if Kovolisky can't play.

No WR change: Even though Brandon Smith has had six catches for 69 yards in the last two games and starter M.J. Garrett hasn't had a catch, Johnson said a change in the lineup is not necessarily imminent.

''You always look at that to see who you want to throw it to, but there are other things besides just catching it,'' Johnson said. ''You've got to block. We're going to run the football a good bit and the wide receivers, and everybody, has got to get a little bit better at blocking on the perimeters. We had chances for even bigger gains against Auburn, but we didn't get blocks on the corners.''