Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer isn't ready to hold any press conferences, but he still feels "fairly" confident Arron Sears will be back in a Vols' uniform next season.

Junior guard Rob Smith already has announced he's skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

Junior defensive tackle Justin Harrell has announced he'll return next season despite having the highest projected draft analysis (second round) among this year's junior class.

Fulmer said Turk McBride, another junior defensive tackle, also is sticking around as the Vols try to improve on the disappointment of a 5-6 record in 2005.

"I'm really thrilled that Justin Harrell and Turk McBride have decided to stay," Fulmer said on Friday. "That's a great help for our defensive football team and our football team in general.

"They've both said they're 100 percent staying."

Sears and defensive tackle Tony McDaniel aren't quite 100percent propositions as the Jan. 15 deadline approaches, but Fulmer feels good about UT's chances.

"Arron and Tony have indicated they are staying and that would really solidify our football team's senior class," Fulmer said. "Obviously, they're both gifted players who have the chance to drastically improve their position in the draft with one more good season."

Coaches considered holding a press conference today for some of the juniors to expound on their decisions, but that was cancelled with Harrell unable to attend because of a previous commitment.

It has been rescheduled for next week.

Sears, a 6-foot-4, 338-pound lineman from Russellville, Ala., was the Vols' lone first-team AllSEC performer this past season.

He has been projected as a possible fourth-round pick.

There is concern Smith's decision to forgo his final UT season might negatively impact Sears' decision.

Smith and Sears have teamed up to form the left side of UT's line the past two years.

Center Richie Gandy and the right side of the line, guard Cody Douglas and tackle Albert Toeaina all were seniors in 2005.

Basically, it comes down to recruiting within recruiting.

Tennessee coaches, who are focused on the class of 2006, have done their share of re-recruiting the crop of players considering a move to the professional ranks. Fulmer has had a chance to meet with the families of each player and stated his case.

It happens every year. Last year, the coup was getting defensive back Jason Allen back on campus with a switch from safety to cornerback.

Allen looked to be en route to another strong season before suffering a season-ending hip against Georgia.

"That's just something where everybody has to make their own decisions regarding their own particular situations," Fulmer said. "They have to think how it will benefit them if they stay in school.

"That's something that's going on all over the country right now with the junior class." Underset: .27 inches/ 2 lines