There weren't any surprises, no last-minute changes of heart.

Five Tennessee football juniors stood behind coach Phillip Fulmer promising to return the Vols to greener pastures next season.

In turn, they each chose to turn down richer fields of the National Football League.

In a Wednesday night media opportunity, offensive tackle Arron Sears, defensive tackle Justin Harrell, defensive tackle/end Turk McBride, defensive tackle Tony McDaniel and fullback Cory Anderson each said they would return to UT for their senior seasons in 2006.

"Obviously this is a great day for the Tennessee Volunteers," Fulmer said. "These young men represent some of the finest football players in the country.

"We're thrilled they chose to stay for their senior years."

The only Vols' underclassman making the move to the NFL is offensive guard Rob Smith. He wasn't present at the media gathering.

Sears, a first-team All-SEC selection, was the player who took the longest to decide on his return. When Smith made his choice, Sears said he had some things to rethink.

"My friend Rob made his decision to go to the next level and that made it really tough again," he said. "But my coming back to this university to turn it around, to be a captain of this football team, that's what pushed me to coming back to school."

Sears is the only returning starter to the offensive line, a circumstance and position he's not taking lightly.

"Coming back here I have a chance to be a leader because the four guys who are going to step in there are going to be looking to me," he said. "It'll be a little strange (without Smith), but I can't worry about what I don't have.

"I've got to worry about what I do have, and that's some young guys who are hungry to play under a great coach in (offensive line coach) Greg Adkins. The sky's the limit for a few of these young guys like Anthony Parker, Ramon Foster and Eric Young."

The man with the biggest smile in the Thompson-Boling Arena media room might have been the man standing in the background.

UT defensive tackle coach Dan Brooks got three players back who projected as second-to-fourth round picks according to the NFL draft advisory board.

"This is huge," Brooks said. "If you lose three guys like Parys Haralson, Jesse Mahelona and Jason Hall, then turn around lose three more of these guys caliber, you're wiped out.

"I told them if they were all going to leave I might as well head out the door with them. It's big for our whole football team because I think they're all good people."

Turk McBride is expected to make the move from tackle to defensive end when spring practice begins in March.

"He loves where he's at, but our whole thing is to get the best four players on the field," Brooks said. "It makes sense. That's what coach Fulmer and coach (defensive coordinator John) Chavis have talked about. He's going to jump in there and be the best he can be."

It's just a matter of priorities for McBride.

"I believe if we go out and handle our business the way we're supposed to next year, we might have three, four or five guys go on the first day," he said. "I think our defensive line might be the best in the nation."

Underclassmen have until Sunday to declare for the draft.