UT in the mix and hunt for star players

UT is in the hunt for several of the country's top prospects, having already landed commitments from Jacques McClendon and Lee Smith, who have been ranked among the top 100 players nationally.

McClendon is a 6-foot-3, 320-pound lineman from Baylor School in Chattanooga. Smith is tight end/defensive end from Powell.

Here are some of the other highly touted players Tennessee is interested in signing for the 2006 class:

• Marcus Ball: The 6-1, 205-pound linebacker/running back is considering several SEC schools including Auburn and LSU.

The Stone Mountain, Ga., star will keep a close eye on this season. He says winning is the most important factor in his decision. Ball said he's not too fond of Georgia, good news for other schools trying to pull him from Stephenson High, deep within the Peach State.

• Jai Eugene: The 5-11, 170-pound cornerback from Destrehan High School in Destrehan, La. might be a tough pull for the Vols. Eugene has expressed interest in staying close to home to be with his newborn son.

Eugene's interest in UT could grow if nearby LSU struggles under first-year coach Les Miles.

• Percy Harvin: The 5-11, 182-pound athlete from Landstown High in Virginia Beach, Va. seemed to write off the Vols last month. UT is not giving up.

It will be up to UT's coaches to secure Harvin's last available official visit. Harvin is set to visit Florida, Florida State, Miami and Southern Cal.

UT will surely remind Harvin that senior receiver C.J. Fayton made a successful jump from Virginia Beach to Knoxville.

• Tim Hawthorne: The 6-3, 205-pound receiver lived in Nashville until he was five years old. Hawthorne maintained his Vol fandom even living in Homewood, Ala.

It's hard to tell if the Homewood High School star is simply having fun with the recruiting process or truly testing the waters to see how other programs stack up to UT.

• Vidal Hazelton: UT has had good success sending players to Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. The 6-3, 195-pound receiver from New York could be a surprise pickup.

UT has some ground to make up but their relationships and success rate with former Hargrave players should help their cause.

• Antwine Perez: UT has plenty of connections to this Camden, N.J. star. Perez is UT defensive lineman Turk McBride's cousin.

Perez is a 6-2, 200-pound safety being recruited by UT's Trooper Taylor. His Woodrow Wilson High School teammate, 6-2, 190-pound receiver Andrey Baskin, is also considering the Vols.

• Stephen Schilling: Most haven't considered the Vols in the race for this lean lineman from Bellevue High School but UT is in better shape with the 6-5, 290-pounder than has been reported.

It would be a long haul to get the Bellevue, Wash., star to Knoxville but Erik Ainge showed that UT can recruit the northwest.

• Andre Smith: He would be a perfect fit for UT. Pairing Smith with McClendon would figure to give the Vols two powerful guards for the foreseeable future.

The 6-5, 330-pound offensive lineman from Huffman High in Birmingham, Ala. has more than 40 offers. Smith has declined to even name a group of favorites throughout the summer so where he is leaning is anybody's guess.

• Josh Tatum: He is well aware of other California prospects who made the trip to Knoxville, like Casey Clausen, Kevin Burnett and, good friend, Kevin Simon.

The fact that UT defensive coordinator John Chavis made a visit to McClymonds High School in Oakland, Calif., in May shows what UT thinks about the 6-2, 220-pound Tatum. Tatum's relationship with Simon could be key.

Other To Watch: Defensive lineman Gerald McCoy from Southeast High in Oklahoma City, running back LeSean McCoy from Bishop McDevitt in Harrisburg, Pa., and running back Stafon Johnson from Dorsey High in Los Angeles are three other top prospects considering UT.

Cyclone Collins: James Collins decision to play at Iowa State was a bit surprising. The Mobile, Ala., star announced his commitment earlier this month.

Collins said he was intent on signing with UT as a promise to the father of a close friend killed in a car accident. The friend's family has been lifelong UT fans.

In the end, the 236-pound linebacker may be a better fit in Big 12 football than the SEC. Collins would have been a middle linebacker or fullback at UT. He didn't have the size to move to defensive end and was too big to play outside linebacker.

UT could still sway Collins back to Knoxville if his play warrants it this fall. UT has not yet offered him a scholarship.

Snake Charmer: Lee Smith may have a new career on his hands if Jeff Corwin ever decides to retire. Working at Humphammer's Market and Deli in Powell, the 6-6, 245-pounder volunteered to fish out a snake from a frequent customer's pool.

Smith left his post at the eatery and removed the reptile.

"Just trying to help people in distress," Smith said with a chuckle. "I didn't have to dive in and wrestle it or anything."

Dave Hooker covers recruiting and may be reached at hookerd@knews.com.