Hawthorne feels at home with Tennessee

The wide receiver from Homewood, Ala., visited Knoxville on June 18 during UT's Senior Camp. Hawthorne said it was like being at home.

"I felt like I kind of knew people," the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder said. "I kind of knew what to expect when I got up there. I think I've got a real gist of how it's going to be there. I feel real comfortable."

Hawthorne is familiar with UT. He lived in Nashville until he was five years old. His interest in UT was sparked when he watched quarterback Peyton Manning and, then, the 1998 National Championship team.

Hawthorne said he has been able to develop a relationship with the entire UT coaching staff. He said UT coach Phillip Fulmer writes him almost every week.

"I truly know they want me," Hawthorne said. "When I talked to coach Fulmer the last time I went up there, he just told me the ball is in my court. He said, 'Whatever you want to do, it's up to you now. We extended the offer and we extended that we really want you up here.'

"Now that I know that it's in my hands, it makes me feel real comfortable that they're going to respect the time management of when I'm going to make my decision. That let's me know that they really care about me."

Hawthorne said immediate playing time is a key factor in his decision.

"All I ask is that they give me the opportunity and I feel like I'll seize that moment," Hawthorne said. "We can go from there. (Wide receivers) coach (Pat) Washington told me they play freshmen and that's something I wanted to hear."

Hawthorne said he met with UT defensive back Jason Allen, a fellow Alabama native, and was impressed by a meeting with quarterbacks Erik Ainge and Jonathan Crompton.

"It let's you know that they have a bright future and they've done the job of recruiting pretty good quarterbacks," Hawthorne said. "Now they just need to recruit the receivers for them to throw the ball to. They have a really good thing going."

Hawthorne said he has scholarship offers from 15 schools, including UT, LSU, Georgia, Louisville and South Carolina. Hawthorne said the recruiting process has been a bit overwhelming.

"It's been amazing," he said. "It's something you look at and read about other players in the past and you're like, 'Dang, I wish I could do that one day.' Just like every athlete dreams about being in the NFL, it's like when it happens, 'Ding, dong.' It hit me.

"Coming into this recruiting thing I didn't know I would have 15 offers like I do now. When that blew up I kind of just looked at things from a different perspective and just try to look and get as much information from these schools as I can."

Hawthorne said he does not plan to decide on a school until January after taking his official visits. Hawthorne said he feels most comfortable at UT but would not name them his leader as he has done in the past.

"I feel pretty good about Tennessee but everything is even right now," Hawthorne said. "It could go either way. I could tell you Tennessee is on top but tomorrow it could be something totally different. That's why I'm wide open in everything."