Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said "no'' to James Banks' attempt to return to play for the Vols on Monday afternoon.

"Coach Fulmer gave me a call today and told me, and I said I understand, and I wanted him to know that I'm sorry,'' Banks told the News-Sentinel Monday night. "Right now, I don't know what I'll do next.''

Banks spent the spring semester attending Division III Franklin College near his hometown of Indianapolis.

Banks said he's not sure if he's academically qualified to play Division I-AA football this fall. If he is, that likely will be his route.

"I'm looking to play,'' said Banks, a former high school All-America quarterback who led UT in receiving in 2003.

If he's not qualified for Division I-AA, Banks said he'll likely enroll in a Division I-A school for a year before trying to play out his eligibility.

"I have no hard feelings,'' said Banks, who played two seasons for the Vols. "I understand Tennessee's decision. I understand rules and standards. You can't bring me back without there being a guarantee.''

Banks, who sat out last season with a knee injury, had numerous violations at UT prior to his dismissal in December.

Banks failed a substance test in December of 2003 and was suspended for the first half of the Peach Bowl. In March of 2004, a verbal confrontation with a fellow UT student led to Banks being suspended for spring drills. Last July, Banks was charged with underage drinking and a noise ordinance. The charges were dismissed. Banks said he was involved in an alcohol rehabilitation clinic in Texas over the summer.

In December, Banks submitted a tainted urinalysis test, using a prosthetic device.

UT test administrators caught Banks when his urinalysis test didn't come in at the proper temperature.

"I wasn't doing the right things, (and) I didn't pass any classes,'' Banks said. "It's been my dream to play ball, and when it got stripped away, it's like 'Oh God.' "

"I'll stay at home (this summer), work with my dad and wait for fall,'' Banks said. "I'll have hoped to talk to more schools by fall. I'm clean. I can pass any test, any time.''