Bad news for Maryland could mean good news for Tennessee.

"I'm open," Antonio Logan-El said Wednesday night when asked which school leads for his football services.

The offensive lineman from Forestville (Md.) High School said he was committed to the Terrapins earlier this year, but now calls his Maryland commitment a "soft verbal."

Logan-El said he has moved Tennessee high up on his list, especially after visiting Knoxville on Dec. 9. He said he is considering four schools: UT, Penn State, Maryland and Florida.

The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder would be a huge pickup for the Vols. He is widely considered one of the top offensive linemen in the nation. If Logan-El signs with UT, the Vols will have secured two top-tier offensive linemen in its 2006 class. Chattanooga's Jacque McClendon committed to UT in December 2004.

Logan-El said UT's campus elevated its standing.

"The campus was great," he said, "and the stadium, I'd never seen one like that before. To play there you'd have to have goose bumps. You could play in there four years and I know you'd still have goose bumps."

Logan-El is being recruited by UT secondary coach Larry Slade. Logan-El said he used the trip to meet other members of the coaching staff, including new offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe. Logan-El said the offensive line is a big key in Cutcliffe's offense having success.

"He (Cutcliffe) has a million different things he can do on the football field," Logan-El said. "But he can't do anything without the offensive line playing well."

Logan-El said he also met with offensive line coach Greg Adkins. He said Adkins is a coach he can relate well to.

"He's a great coach," Logan-El said. "I know he coaches his guys up and gets them ready week after week. He has a good relationship with the players, not just on the offensive line.

"He's very smart. He knows the O-line well."

UT struggled through the 2005 season with a 5-6 record, the team's first losing season since 1988. No matter.

"I really don't look at that," he said. "They're bringing back a lot of young players. They're really going to change a lot of things.

"I think coach Cutcliffe is going to look like a genius. People are going to look at them and say, 'Wow, he's really moving that offense.' "

Logan-El said he has used the Internet to research schools' academic programs. He said coaches have told him one thing about their particular schools, only to find there was more to the information later.

"By me doing that research it helps me see how I would fit in," he said. "Some schools will mislead you."

Logan-El said he plans to take one more official visit to Florida on Jan 13. He said he will announce his final decision on ESPN on Jan. 26.

Logan-El said he has no leader and remains open to his final four schools.

"I would feel comfortable at all four schools," he said. "I could pick from all four of the schools out of a hat and I'd be satisfied. I'm just looking for a place where I can succeed the most."