Anthony McAlister just might be a Division I prospect after all.

The Austin-East High School linebacker and PrepXtra defensive player of the year met with Tennessee assistant coach Dan Brooks on Wednesday about possibly becoming an invited walk-on with the Vols.

McAlister said he hopes for results similar to former A-E star Cory Anderson, who walked-on at Tennessee in 2002 before earning a scholarship and becoming a starter this year at fullback.

"We went over there earlier (Wednesday) and they said it's a possibility," McAlister said Wednesday. "If I can play, if I can help the team, then I can earn a scholarship.

"They said I could be a walk-on and try to follow what Cory Anderson did."

McAlister had 117 tackles and four sacks last season, but at 5-foot-11, 225 pounds, Division I schools passed on him because of his lack of height.

McAlister isn't too worried about size, though.

"(Former UT linebacker and Denver Broncos star) Al Wilson, he's just about as tall as I am. (Former NFL linebacker) Bill Romanowski, there's a lot of them.

"Some of the best players in the world are kind of short."

McAlister has scholarship offers from Tennessee Tech and Gardner-Webb and is still considering playing at a prep school, likely Fork Union Academy in Virginia.

He expects to make his decision next week, but said that walking-on at UT would be his first choice.

"You don't know how that will work out," A-E coach Stanton Stevens said. "Tennessee was recruiting three of the five top-rated linebackers in the country. It was just going to be hard to sign Anthony when you've got guys of that caliber that you're already offered to."

Meanwhile, Oak Ridge standout Rick Daniels-Mullholland turned down a scholarship offer from Furman to walk-on at Tennessee.

Daniels-Mullholland, a 6-5, 240-pound defensive end and tight end, had 117 yards receiving and had 31 tackles in his first year of varsity football.

Four other A-E players signed this week, including running back Albert Harris.

Harris chose Carson-Newman College, joining several other Knoxville-area players at the Division II school. Running backs Nick McFadden (Catholic), Zacc Pate (Sevier County) and Ryan Walker (Webb) have already signed with the Eagles.

"It's pretty cool," said Harris, who chose Carson-Newman over Tennessee Tech and Charleston Southern. "I won't feel like I'd be left out since I know some people up there."

Linemen Steven Soles and Tyrone Jackson signed with Miles College in Birmingham, Ala. Receiver Kelvon Yancey signed with Concord University in Athens, W.Va.

Drew Edwards covers high school sports. He can be reached at 865-342-6274.