Williams doesn't want to follow his brother's footsteps in picking school

Williams, arguably the top high school prospect in the nation, was first exposed to the Vols when his brother, Dominique, was recruited by UT. Dominique declined the Vols' offer and opted for North Carolina.

"Once he committed, he went to North Carolina," Derrick said. "Mack Brown left (for Texas). He said he should have gone to Tennessee."

Stability is important to Derrick, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver/defensive back prospect from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Md. One of Derrick's top five schools took a major hit when Florida fired coach Ron Zook.

"It affected me quite a bit," Williams said. "I was looking for a coach that's going to be there as long as I'm there. The AD and president said coach was going to be there. It can turn just like that."

Williams visited Florida in September. He said he will definitely visit Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas. Williams is expected to visit Penn State this weekend.

Williams's high school schedule doesn't fit the usual recruiting trip itinerary. With high school games played on Saturday, Williams will be forced to visit Knoxville on a weekday. That means no game day atmosphere to woo the prep star.

"The only thing I need to know is where do I feel comfortable," Williams said.

Williams first visited Knoxville during a ninth-grade summer camp. UT was impressed. Two years later, he received a scholarship offer.

Williams plans to graduate in December and enroll in college in January. As a junior last season, Williams was extended a special invitation to his high school's senior-only prom in order to take part in what he'll miss next spring.

"Here at my school, I'm the first that ever did it," Williams said of graduating early to pursue an athletic career. "The only thing that I didn't get to do was walk across the stage (at graduation)."

With a mid-term enrollment pressing, Williams has set a Dec. 20 deadline to announce his college selection.

Williams said he hasn't been bothered by the popularity associated with being one of the top prospects in the nation.

"It really doesn't affect me," Williams said. "I'm still going out there and play my hardest. That's something for people to get on the Internet to look at. The players behind me are good enough to be the number-one player. I think I deserve to be number one, but some it's luck of the draw."

Williams has only seen UT play one game this year. He picked a good one: UT-Florida.

"He's great," Williams said of freshman quarterback Erik Ainge. "He had a brilliant game against Florida. That proved to me that they don't have an upper-class rule. I'm looking for somewhere where I can go and contribute real early."

UT seems to be a hot team in recruiting this year. Prospects have been running up cell phone minutes talking about the Vols.

"I just got a call from a safety that came in from Ohio," Williams said. "He introduced himself and said, 'I just got back from Tennessee. It was a great visit. You've got to take the visit.'"

The safety from Ohio was Adam Meyers-White who visited Knoxville last weekend. He is one of many who might see Williams in orange come January.

Almost There: Antonio Wardlow from Winston-Salem N.C., said UT is his leader.

Wardlow, a 6-1, 185-pound wide receiver/cornerback, said he plans to visit Knoxville on Nov. 6.

"I could, but right now I'm not sure," Wardlow said when asked if he might commit during his visit. "I've liked them from the beginning. I like the coaching staff. They're down to earth. I like the atmosphere and it's not too far from home.

Wardlow said South Carolina and Virginia Tech are the other schools he is considering.