Adams: Half of UT '01 football signees have contributed

By then, you won't need to consult a recruiting service. You can tell for yourself.

The 2001 recruiting class has produced only one first-team All-SEC player, junior college transfer Julian Battle. But half the members of the class have been solid contributors.

Of the 22 signees, seven either transferred or quit. Three others were junior college transfers who played only two years. Running back Cedric Houston and linebacker Kevin Simon, who has one year of eligibility remaining, made second-team All-SEC.

Here's a complete look at the class four years later:

Cory Anderson - He was a second-team all-state pick at Austin-East after playing only one season of football. He enrolled at UT in 2002 and was switched from defensive end to linebacker in the spring.

As a sophomore in 2004, he started 11 games while proving himself as both a blocker and pass-catcher. He should be one of the top fullbacks in the SEC next season.

Julian Battle - A junior college All-American defensive back in California, Battle made first-team All-SEC in 2002. He was drafted in the third round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003 and has played as a backup the last two seasons.

Shannon Benton - The defensive back from Frostproof, Fla., was an all-state pick and four-year starter in high school. He played three games for UT in 2002 and transferred to Brigham Young University the next year.

Benton was suspended last year for violating the school's honor code.

Robert Boulware - One of the prize recruits of the 2001 class, Boulware was a USA Today second-team All-American. He started three games at strong safety as a junior in 2004 and is expected to play as a backup next season.

Michael Collins - The 6-foot-6 quarterback/defensive back from Nicholson, Ga., was projected as a wide receiver at UT. He transferred to Clemson in 2002. He caught four passes at Clemson in 2003 and eight passes last season.

Jabari Davis - The former high school All-American running back from Stone Mountain, Ga., virtually disappeared from the offense as a senior in 2004 after rushing for 565 yards in 2003 and 587 yards in 2002. He rushed for 34 yards as a senior.

Jomo Fagan - A defensive back and wide receiver from Plantation, Fla., Fagan saw little playing time in his first three seasons at UT. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

C.J. Fayton - A standout quarterback from Virginia Beach, Va., he has spent his college career catching passes, rather than throwing them. As a junior, Fayton caught 21 passes during the regular season and ignited a rout of Texas A&M with a touchdown catch on UT's first possession of the Cotton Bowl.

Aubrayo Franklin - The former junior college player in Itawamba, Miss., started the last seven games for UT in 2002 and was drafted in the fifth round by the Baltimore Ravens, where he plays as a backup defensive lineman.

Richie Gandy - An all-state player in Darlington, S.C., he started four games as a junior in 2004. Gandy started at guard and center and played both offensive tackle positions. His versatility made him a valued contributor in an offensive line that was wracked with injuries.

Chris Heath - Listed as one of the top 12 prospects in Mississippi as a senior at Hattiesburg High School. He lettered two years for the Vols as a defensive back but was on a medical scholarship when he was kicked off the team this fall. He was dismissed after being charged with unlawful carrying and possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor.

Cedric Houston - The Parade All-American running back from Clarendon, Ark., finished his career in 2004 as UT's sixth all-time leading rusher. He led the Vols in rushing in 2002 and 2003. He finished second to Gerald Riggs in 2004 but rushed for more than 1,000 yards.

Montrell Jones - The former "Mr. Football" in Kentucky was kicked off the UT team two years ago after failing a substance test. He transferred to Louisville, where he had 37 pass receptions for 564 yards, and averaged 10.4 yards on 40 punt returns last season. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

Jason Mitchell - A two-time, all-state selection from Abbeville, La., he started at both inside and outside linebacker in 2004 as a junior. He had 53 tackles and two sacks and will help bolster the linebacking corps again this fall.

Jon Poe - Despite not playing as a senior because of a knee injury, he was ranked No. 12 on the News Sentinel's top 25 list. After signing with UT, he enrolled in junior college, then transferred to UT in January of 2003. He played the last two seasons as a backup and has one year of eligibility remaining.

Justin Reed - A second-team USA Today All-American punter from Punta Gorda, Fla., he finally found his niche at UT at tight end after trying punter, wide receiver and defensive end. Reed, who has a year of eligibility remaining, started three games in 2004 and had a touchdown catch against Florida.

William Revill - A first-team all-stater from Albany, Ga., Revill was UT's No. 1 fullback last spring when he quit the team. He transferred to Norfolk State, where he played in one game last season.

Ovince Saint Preux - He was an all-state defensive end at Immokalee, Fla., but never made much of a contribution while playing end and linebacker at UT. After graduating from UT in December, he transferred to Chattanooga, where he will play his senior season.

Kevin Simon - A consensus first-team All-American at football power De La Salle High School in Walnut Creek, Calif., he has been hampered by injuries throughout his college career. Simon led the Vols with 115 tackles and made second-team All-SEC as an outside linebacker in 2003. In 2004, he suffered a season-ending knee injury Sept. 18.

If he can stay healthy, he should contend for all-conference honors as a senior this fall.

Derrick Tinsley - Ranked as the fourth-best running back in the country by one recruiting service, the former Georgia all-stater flashed speed and talent but never achieved consistency as a running back or receiver. Fans will remember him for his 2-yard scoring run in an upset of Miami in 2003.

Demetrin Veal - A first-team, junior college All-American, Veal started only five games at defensive tackle in two years with the Vols but was drafted in the seventh round by the Atlanta Falcons in 2003. He was a backup for the Denver Broncos in 2004.

Keldrick Williams - An all-state running back from Montgomery, Ala., he was redshirted as a freshman, then transferred to Alabama State after the 2002 season. He led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in rushing last year as a junior and has rushed for more than 1,000 yards each of the last two seasons.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.