There's a battle going on for David Cutcliffe's time.

Have no doubt; Tennessee's recently hired offensive coordinator is a recruiter first and foremost until National Signing Day on Feb. 1. Then the eager coach in Cutcliffe takes over.

"I don't want to hurry recruiting up," Cutcliffe said, "but I'm anxious to get into meetings with the staff and have some pre-spring meetings with the players."

Until then, Cutcliffe tries to find any time he can to plan out UT's offensive future. Spring practice starts in March.

Cutcliffe often heads back to the office after a family dinner to meet with his fellow offensive coaches.

"I've got a big file right now of offense," he said. "I've been talking to the coaches off and on late at night when I can grab them. I've got about two legal pads full of things were going to do, talk about, discuss, and look at."

Cutcliffe's also found that the airlines' "no cell phone" policy gives him time to jot down a play or two.

"I can't use my cell phone to recruit," he said. "That turns into football time."

Offensive line coach Greg Adkins, UT's recruiting coordinator for the past two season, also is looking towards the future whenever possible.

"Every chance that we get an opportunity that we're not on the phone with a particular prospect, we're bouncing ideas off each other," Adkins said. "Certainly, I'm excited about the opportunity to work with Coach Cut."

Despite the constant juggling between recruiting and coaching, Cutcliffe couldn't be happier after sitting out last season recovering from heart surgery last spring.

"I'm really having fun," Cutcliffe said. "There's an energy surrounding a good program. This program has a lot of energy right now. I've enjoyed the coaches. I've certainly enjoyed recruiting and getting out and seeing players. That's been a lot of fun."

Cutcliffe's budding relationships with UT's two holdovers from 2005, Adkins and newly named wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor, has been, by all accounts, seamless.

"That is a tribute mostly to Greg and Trooper," Cutcliffe said. "They're easy to work with, easy to talk to. I've enjoyed them. They're extremely knowledgeable football coaches. The players respect them. We've just kind of fallen in place."

Adkins agrees.

"It's seems like I've know him (Cutcliffe) for a longer period of time than really I have," Adkins said. "He's real easy to get along with, very comfortable to be around."

Don't feel sorry for Cutcliffe as he endures 70-hour workweeks, frequent travel and the challenge of getting a struggling offense on track.

He couldn't be happier.

"Every stage, I'm really going to try to enjoy it," Cutcliffe said. "Being out of it for a year, I enjoy it that much more."

Graham To Chattanooga: Former UT graduate assistant Jay Graham was named running backs coach at Chattanooga.

Graham starred for the Vols 1993-96 and is UT's sixth all-time leading rusher with 2,609 yards and 25 touchdowns. Graham was a graduate assistant for the Vols for the past two seasons.

2007: Harrison Smith from Catholic is one of the first area recruit to keep an eye on. The 6-3, 210-pound linebacker/safety received a scholarship offer from the Vols last week.