CHATTANOOGA -- Bobby Bowden had his chance. Phillip Fulmer will have his. Now, it's Jacques McClendon's turn.

Florida State and Tennessee have done their best to secure a firm commitment from Alcoa High School star Brandon Warren. Warren, the News Sentinel's top prospect in the Tennessee, is now fielding a recruiting sales pitch from McClendon, a close second to Warren in terms of top in-state prospect honors.

McClendon, despite the accolades and willingness to recruit for the Vols, doesn't claim to be the leader of the 2006 class. He's much too humble for that.

He is, however, UT's top-rated committed prospect. He was UT's first commitment of the 2006 class. And now, he has his sights set on Warren.

"I talk to him every so often," McClendon said. "When we talk, we're real cool."

McClendon said he and Warren have known each other since middle school, when they played summer league basketball against each other.

Now, McClendon is a 6-foot3, 320-pound offensive line prospect and Warren is a 6-3, 235-pound tight end/defensive end. Both are considered among the top 100 prospects in the nation.

McClendon made his initial commitment to UT in December 2004. Sure, he's wavered since but he said the early decision allowed him to avoid much of the stress that Warren faces right now. Warren is considering UT and Florida State.

"I know it's got to be a hard decision for him because he's such a great player," McClendon said. "FSU is a great program, too. They'd love to have him. He'll make the best decision for him and I hope it'll be Tennessee."

McClendon seems optimistic that Warren will pick the Vols within the next week despite committing to be a Seminole last summer.

Warren is scheduled to make an announcement Monday. McClendon said Warren's official visit to Knoxville this weekend could be the deciding factor. Warren, with his extended family, took an official visit to Florida State last weekend.

The new role is quite a change for McClendon. It wasn't that long ago that he was considered a tenuous UT commitment as he explored other options in light of recent coaching changes in Knoxville.

Now, McClendon is more than a prospect, he's a recruiter and Warren is his prime target.

"I hope we get him," McClendon said.

McClendon received yet another award for his play this season. This time, it was a leather jacket presented by a Chattanooga radio station. McClendon was named the Division II player of the year by WGOW and Coca-Cola on Wednesday.

"For an 18-year-old, he's the most professional person I've ever met," WGOW co-host Scott McMahen said. "His maturity for 18 is just amazing."

UT fared well with a past winner of the award. Former UT defensive end Jason Hall from McCallie won the same award in 2002. Hall started last season for the Vols.

Raines 'em in: Stephaun Raines is scheduled to make his announcement tonight at his high school football banquet in Dalton, Ga.

Raines is a 6-0, 170-pound athlete who could play wide receiver or cornerback in college. The Dalton High School star is expected to pick UT but also is considering Arkansas.