McCallie School needed a play. The coaches knew to whom to turn.

After bolting to an early lead, the Blue Tornados suddenly found themselves down 35-28 against rival Brentwood Academy in the state Division II semifinals last season.

Needing a score, quarterback B.J. Coleman saw wide receiver Joel Bradford streaking down the sideline.

"We connected for an 80-yard bomb," said Coleman, who was selected as the eighth-best football prospect in the state by the News Sentinel. "In the air it was 60 to 65 yards. My arm has definitely been my strength."

It was that arm strength that convinced Tennessee's coaching staff to offer a scholarship to the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder. UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe had worked with Coleman during two UT football camps in June.

Coleman quickly accepted and committed to UT last month.

"It definitely takes all the recruiting stuff out," Coleman said of the decision. "You know where you're going. I'm very happy with my decision. I can focus on my high school team."

The decision to offer Coleman a scholarship came as a surprise to many UT recruiting analysts and fans. It's not that Coleman wasn't highly regarded. He already had scholarship offers from Marshall and Chattanooga. Alabama and Kentucky were also hot on his trail.

UT, however, seemed intent on pursuing a mobile, athletic quarterback, not a pocket-passer like Coleman, who suddenly had found his dream school.

"The main thing I wanted to do was play football in college," Coleman said. "The second thing was to play in the SEC."

Coleman got that opportunity, in part, because of a budding relationship with Cutcliffe, who recruited Coleman.

"He's second to none," Coleman said. "He's a top-notch offensive coordinator."

The depth chart at UT doesn't exactly work in Coleman's favor. Coleman will be the sixth quarterback in five years who signed with UT.

Junior Erik Ainge is slated to be the starter. He beat out classmate Brent Schaeffer, who transferred following his freshman year. Redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton and junior Bo Hardegree split backup repetitions in spring practice. UT also signed Nick Stephens in February. He'll be a freshman this year.

Coleman doesn't seem to mind.

"They've got Ainge and Crompton there," he said. "I'm lucky to learn under them."

Coleman's commitment is another sign that UT is willing to pursue football talent in Chattanooga. UT has recently signed several prospects from the area, including running back Gerald Riggs Jr. (Red Bank), defensive lineman Demonte Bolden (Tyner), and lineman Jacques McClendon (Baylor).

UT also has a commitment from Baylor running back Kevin Cooper for 2007.

"Guys are coming out and making names for themselves," Coleman said. "Chattanooga is a great area for football. We've got great coaches down here."

Coleman's strong arm wasn't enough to beat Brentwood Academy last year. McCallie lost 38-35. When recalling the story, that's when you notice another of Coleman's strong traits: his attitude.

Coleman quickly defends a teammate who mistakenly stepped out of bounds on fourth down just short of the first-down marker.

"Hopefully," he said, "those experiences will help us out in the long run."