Former Tennessee All-American offensive lineman Michael Munoz is calling it quits after not being selected in the NFL Draft.

Vols' offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens said he was surprised Munoz wasn't drafted and even more surprised to learn he was retiring from the game.

"There's no question he could play in the NFL,'' said Stephens, who has coached at least a dozen collegiate players at Florida and UT that have gone on to play in the league. "It just seems like he has a lot left to offer the game.

"But you don't know how much of a toll all the injuries have taken on his body. He obviously knows that.''

Munoz's father, Anthony, said Sunday night his son was considering all of his options and a family discussion went deep into the night.

Anthony Munoz was named to the NFL Hall of Fame after a stellar career with the Cincinnati Bengals and was voted the NFL's all-time greatest left tackle by his peers.

Michael, who in 1999 became the first Vol to start on the offensive line as a true freshman since Bill Mayo in 1981, was projected to be selected in the middle rounds of the draft by most analysts.

Anthony Munoz described his emotions as "numb'' after his son was not selected.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis called Michael Munoz on Monday to see if he was interested, according to WLWT Channel 5 in Cincinnati, but Munoz said on the newscast that football isn't in his future right now, and that though he loves the game, he never found his identity in it.

Repeated calls to both Michael and Anthony Munoz on Monday by the News Sentinel went unreturned.

Michael Munoz said recently he had been under the impression things had gone well at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

"The doctors said I checked out,'' said Munoz, who had a myriad of injuries during his career with the Vols.

The most serious injury Munoz overcame at UT was a left knee injury that forced him to undergo two surgeries in April and May of 2001 and sit out the ensuing season.

Munoz returned in 2002 and started 12 of 13 games, sitting out the Vols' contest against Miami after being hospitalized three days with a staph infection caused by a boil on his left ankle. He also suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery after the season and forced him to miss spring drills.

Munoz, a two-time team captain, played in 2003 and enjoyed a relatively injury-free season, starting all 13 games.

Many thought Munoz, finally healthy, would turn professional that year. Instead, he returned for his final year with the Vols.

"Usually it works out better for a player when he comes back for his senior year,'' UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "In Michael's case, it did not.''

Munoz missed most of the second half of last season with various injuries. Against Georgia, he "tweaked'' his knee and came out of the game as a precaution.

Against Alabama, the Crimson Tide knocked him out of the hard-fought contest with a concussion. Munoz was again injured against Vanderbilt, suffering a shoulder injury. Munoz was listed as questionable for the next two contests, but opted for rotator cuff surgery so he could be healthy in time for the NFL draft.

Munoz has a solid academic career to fall back on. He has a degree in public administration from UT, and on Dec. 7, 2004 received the coveted Draddy Award, which is considered the academic equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

Respert To Bears: Former Vols' offensive lineman Jason Respert, who also battled through injuries at UT, chose to pursue an NFL career through free agency.

Respert, who can play center or guard, signed a free agent deal with the Chicago Bears on Monday and reports to camp Thursday.