MEMPHIS - Memphis is the one area of the state that Tennessee football fans detest. Seemingly, prospects annually turn their back on the Vols to attend rival schools that best UT on proximity. This year should be different.

Tennessee coaches are highly interested in at least five Memphis-area prospects. To Vols fans' delight, the feeling is mutual.

"His room is covered in Tennessee stuff," Harding High School coach Paul Simmons said of linebacker Todd Cox. "When I first got here (eight years ago), being an Arkansas fan, I would give him a hard time when the Vols lost. But he stayed a Tennessee fan for a long time."

Cox said any school besides Tennessee would have an uphill battle to gain his commitment. However, he will enjoy the recruiting process by taking all five official visits.

Athletically, Cox would excel on any high school level. On the private school circuit, he is amazing. Simmons said Cox has posted a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash with spiked shoes on a running track. That would translate to a 4.45-4.5 on a normal grass surface.

At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Cox looks like the prototypical Tennessee linebacker.

"We've never played anybody faster," Simmons said. "He looks slower than he is because he takes such long strides. He's long-legged like Matt Jones at Arkansas."

Massive Michael Oher from Briarcrest Christian also has Tennessee at the top of his list. Like Cox, his interest can be attributed to childhood fandom of the program.

"I was definitely a Tennessee fan growing up," Oher said. "I'll take an official visit this fall. I want to go this summer. Coach (Phillip) Fulmer is kind of mad at me for not getting up there already."

Asked if his absence from Knoxville should be construed as a lack of interest in the Vols, Oher said, "Not at all."

Oher might have the most potential of any prospect in the state. At 6-5, 330 pounds, he has scholarship offers from LSU, Oklahoma, and Florida State.

Germantown tight end Jeff Cottam admits he has a leader between Ole Miss and Tennessee.

Said Cottam: "Tennessee is probably leading right now a little bit, but that could change."

Cottam (6-7, 260) said his main dilemma with Tennessee is playing time. He has expressed concern over sitting behind his brother, Brad, a redshirt freshman tight end at UT. Last week he expressed concern that he may bench his brother, costing Brad playing time.

Jeff said UT coaches have told him they would be willing to play both brothers, sometimes simultaneously in a two-tight-end set, if their play merited such a move.

Tennessee also has strong interest in two East High prospects: linemen Malcolm Rawls (6-4, 303) and Dan Williams (6-3, 285). Both say they have sincere interests in Tennessee.

Memphis, once a land of lost UT prospects, is looking like an in-state recruiting gold mine.

Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He may be reached at 865-342-6327