Recruiting projections are a funny thing, almost as fickle as Theo Epstein, almost as political as a Supreme Court nomination.

Still, recruiting fans care about such nonsense, and why shouldn't they? College coaches annually trumpet a highly ranked class or extol the overlooked virtues of a group less thought of.

Listen to a typical conversation between two Tennessee football fans just two weeks ago. (All names have been changed to protect the innocent.)

"You think they've got a chance at the top 25?!? Scott says.

"Maybe," Rusty replies.

"A top 15," Scott says, growing more and more excited about UT's prospects.

"Probably not," answers Rusty, the more pragmatic of the two thinkers.

!"How bout a top-10 class," says Scott, who is always overly optimistic when it comes to the Vols.

"They'd stand a better chance securing a top-10 class than Theo Epstein has of securing a Supreme Court nomination," Rusty exclaims

However, I digress and, reluctantly, side with Scott in this debate.

UT will, indeed, have a top-15 ranked recruiting class for 2006 and could slip into the top 10 on National Signing Day on Wednesday. Both Rivals.com and Scout.com have UT in the top 20 right now.

Perhaps you say:

"You're just too optimistic. You're just a homer. You're just trying to get us excited about recruiting so we'll buy a subscription to Govolsxtra.com, which is incredibly affordable. The current rate is less than $5 a month, that's just 17 cents a day. Wow. What a great deal."

I'll give you that; it is a great site. But, back to recruiting, never count UT coach Phillip Fulmer out.

If I'm correct about the prospects left on the table, then Fulmer will have secured one of the most impressive classes of his career.

Remember these numbers:

5 and 6.

That was UT's 2005 record and that!|s what Fulmer had to recruit against, not just Hurricanes, Seminoles, Tigers, Gators and Gamecocks.

And UT's record was only part of the problem. Stability on the coaching staff, a Fulmer hallmark, was gone. UT replaced three coaches after this past season and had to convince prospects that it was all for the better.

UT has 24 commitments and approximately four scholarships left. Here are the players whom I believe will be added to UT!|s 2006 signing class:

• Aleric Mullins: The defensive lineman from East Lake High School in Wendell, N.C., has had college coaches'| eyes for well over a year. The 6-1, 270-pound Mullins!| quickness is as impressive as his size.

Mullins hasn't been talking much lately. He still is considering Auburn and North Carolina, but I think he'll pick UT.

• Kelvin Sheppard: The linebacker from Stone Mountain, Ga., has been smitten with the Vols for weeks. Give UT defensive coordinator John Chavis and wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor all the credit for making up some serious ground on LSU. Sheppard and teammate Perry Riley committed to the Tigers in October.

If Sheppard (6-2, 220) and Riley both sign with UT, it will be one of the biggest recruiting coups in the Southeast.

?? Perry Riley: I don't feel as certain about Riley as I do Sheppard. I think UT will get Riley but those around him say he is still genuinely undecided and is still considering LSU, which he committed to in October.

Riley (6-1, 205) could be a perfect fit if UT is looking for bigger, more physical safeties than they had last year.

Bonus Coverage: Here are some of the other prospects considering the Vols:

• Tim Hawthorne: Has Fulmer worked some last-minute recruiting magic for the 6-2, 200-pound wide receiver from Homewood (Ala.) High? UT's coaches talked him into taking a visit this weekend. We'll see.

Remember, Hawthorne grew up in Nashville following the Vols.

• Brandon Heath: Heath (6-0, 185) took his official visit to Knoxville this weekend. It will be interesting to see what the safety from Palm Beach Lakes (Fla.) High thinks of the Vols.

• Adam Patterson: This defensive lineman from Richland Northeast High in Columbia, S.C., still is considering several schools. UT seems to have a shot at Patterson (6-3, 260).

• Brandon Warren: You had to read a long way down to see the Alcoa High star's name. That gave me time to give his recruitment some more thought.

I think UT has a great shot at Warren, a 6-2, 230-pound tight end/defensive end, but it's impossible to count him among the final group as long as he is undecided. If I was forced to make a pick it would be UT.

Other names to watch this week:

• Greg Davis: The 6-2, 200-pound defensive back from Blue Ridge (Va.) High could fit well into UT's secondary or grow into a speedy linebacker.

• Jeremiha Hunter: Who knows that this enigmatic prospect might do? Hunter, a 6-2, 220-pound linebacker from Harrisburg (Pa.) High hasn't talked to the media in weeks.

• Chaz Washington: No question this is a long, long shot for UT. The 6-3, 205-pound cornerback from Destrehan, La., was often overshadowed by teammate Jai Eugene, who was one of the top 100 players in the nation. UT tried, but Washington has been committed to Miami since early November and appears set in his ways.

• Dekoda Watson: The 6-2, 200-pound linebacker prospect from South Aiken (S.C.) High still is considering several schools.

Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He may be reached at hookerd@knews.com.