Tennessee needed a few surprises on National Signing Day, but not like this.

UT got bad news even before the signed letters of intent began rolling in Wednesday morning. Michael Goggans from Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City, Ala., signed with Auburn.

Goggans called UT coaches on Tuesday night to inform them of his change of heart. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound tight end/defensive end was expected to reaffirm his UT commitment made last summer after considering Auburn and Alabama.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer said he's all too aware of the emotions associated with a committed prospect that changes his mind late in the recruiting season.

"You get sad, you get mad, you get flustered, or if you're on the other side of the coin you get happy," he said. "You just feel great if you get it done. We were in a lot of fights the last few days. We won our share in protecting our guys and closing on some guys that last week or so."

UT also received surprising news from Kelvin Sheppard, who told the News Sentinel on Tuesday evening that he was planning to sign with the Vols.

Instead, the Stephenson High School linebacker from Stone Mountain, Ga., signed with LSU.

Sheppard had been committed to LSU since October but took a hard look at the Vols over the past few weeks, along with teammate Perry Riley. Riley also signed with the Tigers.

Riley, Sheppard, and his father, Kelvin Sheppard Sr., did not return repeated phone calls Wednesday from the News Sentinel.

Fulmer said dishonesty in recruiting is a much-more significant issue now than it was a decade ago.

"There's guys that just lie to you - flat lie to you," Fulmer said. "That goes back to upbringing."

The bad news for UT continued into the afternoon when Aleric Mullins from East Lake High in Wendell, N.C., signed with North Carolina. A source close to UT's program said Mullins told UT's coaches that he was committed to being a Vol during his Jan. 13 official visit.

Mullins took his official visit to North Carolina last weekend giving the Tar Heels the last word.

Greg Davis from Blue Ridge (Va.) High was also thought to be considering UT as late as Wednesday. The 6-2, 200-pound safety signed with West Virginia.

Fulmer declined to talk about specific players that spurned the Vols but spoke to the overall recruiting landscape at a press conference Wednesday evening.

"It seems like it's a little worse than it was because of the (recruiting) services," he said. "Somebody's directing all this business. That's OK. We're a good recruiting staff. We can adjust."