Justin Garrett can officially be counted as a firm commitment to the University of Tennessee.

The safety from Pasadena (Calif.) City College said he plans to cancel a visit he had scheduled to take to Washington next weekend. He said he plans to visit UT on Jan. 20.

Tennessee's coaches had hesitated counting the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Garrett as a commitment if he was still taking other visits.

Garrett's brother, defensive end Brandon Garrett, will come to UT as an invited walk-on.

Justin Garrett said the chance to help UT immediately in the secondary was a main factor in his decision.

"They want me to come in and come straight on the field," he said. "They said I fit every aspect of their game. They said they need help in the secondary because their two safeties they have now are cornerbacks."

Garrett is referring to Jonathan Hefney and Antwan Stewart.

Justin Garrett said his biggest asset as a safety is his aggressiveness and ability to tackle. He said that attitude comes from his brother.

"Ever since I was small, my brother made me lift and work out with linebackers," said Garrett, who played his freshman season at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif. "My work ethic has always been bigger than the position I play. It just came with the territory."

Justin Garrett said having his brother at UT should make the move from California to Knoxville an easy one.

"That's my backbone," he said. "He's been with me ever since I was little. We played everything together and did everything together."

Garrett said he hopes to enroll at UT in May. Until then, Garrett said UT secondary coach Larry Slade will help him learn the defensive system while he finishes school in California.

"I'm going to pick it up fast," he said. "I know I can help them real well on the run stopping. I've got great cover skills, too."

Garrett grew up in Baton Rouge, La., and said he always wanted to play football in the SEC. He said the SEC's competition should get him ready to play on the next level.

"That's the best conference you can play in," he said. "That's the biggest of the big dogs. If I can shine on this level, the NFL ought to be a breeze."

Garrett is UT's 14th commitment of the 2006 class. National Signing Day is Feb. 1.