GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The stakes have never been much higher in the Tennessee-Florida game.

There's plenty of reasons for UT coaches, players and fans to dream of a win in Gainesville.

There's the SEC East race, a shot at a national championship and, of course, bragging rights.

Then, there's recruiting.

UT is recruiting 20 players from Florida, where the Vols haven't lost a game since 1999. Miami defensive back Patrick Robinson from Gulliver Prep School is scheduled to attend tonight's game. UT was one of the first schools to recruit Robinson and he is considering the Vols.

UT running backs coach Trooper Taylor, who recruits South Florida, said the recent success has helped the Vols win more than their fair share of recruiting battles.

"Oh, it definitely does," Taylor said. "The guys in Florida have a lot of pride. They want to win. If you're not winning, they're not interested. So the tradition that Tennessee has had in the past has helped us a bunch.

"Obviously, we want to win that game and leave there on a positive note because all of the newspapers will be writing about it over there. The TV coverage and all those things give you an advantage if you win."

The Vols were at their Florida recruiting best last year. UT secured a commitment from former Gator pledge Demetrice Morley. The defensive back from Miami is fighting for a starting position with the Vols.

Former Florida coach Ron Zook reportedly said Morley was the best player he had recruited to Florida and that he reminded him of Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson from Michigan.

UT also signed Miami defensive linemen Gerald Williams and Vladimir Richard. Both were thought to be freshmen contributors until Williams was sidelined, and eventually sent home, after not being cleared academically by the NCAA.

"The competitive nature in that Florida area in unbelievable," Taylor said. "I think that is why when they leave and go to college they are able to do so well, because they are used to competition, whether it is playing hide and seek or football."

UT has a recruiting reputation of playing young players, which is a huge advantage for those who want early playing time. Morley's freshman contributions will only reinforce that argument.

Winning in Florida is key for UT, a program that has an uphill climb every time they step into the state to recruit a prospect who lives closer to schools like Miami, Florida State and Florida and, almost assuredly, has ties to one or all three of those schools.

"They (Florida) have a better chance because they are closer home-wise and logistic-wise but they also know that once you start a pipeline, it's easier to get that flow going," Taylor said. "They don't want that to happen obviously. They want to keep the recruits at home."

The next step for UT in keeping a Florida pipeline will be maintaining a high level of success on the field with contributors that were willing to turn their back on Florida and head north to Knoxville. Taylor knows that future Florida football stars are always watching.

"There is no question that they do that," Taylor said of younger players keeping track of UT players from Florida. "There's a lot of pride down there. Guys will get on the internet and check the scores for their (former) high school (teammates) and e-mail guys they know on other teams to let them know that their team beat their team."

The stakes are high for UT. They're even higher for first-year Florida coach Urban Meyer. Meyer is trying to secure his state's borders against recruiters determined to steal the nation's top talent out of the state that, arguably, produces the most elite prospects per capita in the nation.

"He's not just worried about us, Taylor said. "They're going to be concerned about the Vols anytime we come down there. We're not going to back down no matter who is recruiting them. If they're the best players, then we're going to be recruiting them."