It took some work but Jonathan Crompton is on his way to Knoxville.

The quarterback from Waynesville, N.C., will enroll for the first session of summer school at Tennessee at the end of this month.

Crompton took his last final exam before his fellow classmates in order to graduate early from Tuscola High School and send his academic paperwork to the NCAA Clearinghouse.

"I just want to get there, get to know everybody and start working," Crompton said Thursday.

Crompton was one of the highest-ranked quarterbacks in the nation when he signed with UT in February. Practice snaps are an important commodity for Crompton with incumbents Erik Ainge and Rick Clausen vying for the starting job. Ainge will be a sophomore in the fall and Clausen a senior.

Crompton said working with UT’s receivers during voluntary summer workouts should be a huge benefit.

Most of UT’s 2005 signees will not get a full summer of extra work as the vast majority is scheduled to enroll in July as UT’s second summer session begins.

Center Josh McNeil from Collins, Miss., is expected to enroll in the first session of summer school. Defensive back Demetrice Morley from Miami, Fla., and defensive end Raymond Henderson from Oak Creek Wis., have been living in Knoxville since January and also will enroll for the June session.

Crompton spent last Friday in a hospital emergency room after he cut his middle finger in a garage-door accident. The cut required three stitches to the finger on his left, non-throwing, hand.

"It’s fine," Crompton said.

Dave Hooker covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at hookerd@knews.com.