LOUDON — Josh Hawkins didn't take long to return University of Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer's phone call.

That's how it works when you've been waiting by the phone.

The Loudon High School senior became Tennessee's 10th commitment from the Class of 2007 on Monday less than an hour after the Vols offered him a scholarship.

Hawkins, a 6-foot-1, 194-pound athlete, got a call from Redskins coach Jeff Harig telling him Fulmer had called to offer a scholarship while he was waiting at the doctor's office for a preseason physical.

"He said UT offered," Hawkins said Monday, the first day high school teams were allowed to practice in pads. "It was a big surprise and a dream come true."

Hawkins, who rushed for more than 1,400 yards last season, including 1,051 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season, nearly committed to Kentucky late last week.

The Wildcats, as well as Mississippi State, Wake Forest, Kansas State and West Virginia had already offered scholarships.

"He was ready to commit, and his best offer was from Kentucky," Harig said. "I called (UT assistant) coach (Dan) Brooks and said Josh was leaning towards Kentucky."

Brooks asked Hawkins to wait.

It didn't take much selling to get Hawkins interested in the Vols.

"From the start, that was his No. 1 school," Harig said.

Hawkins attended UT's camp in June, but wasn't able to run the 40-yard dash after pulling his hamstring the week before at Alabama.

In that camp, he was timed in 4.55 seconds. His best 40 is an electronically timed 4.47 seconds.

"I was worried about (not running the 40 at UT's camp," said Hawkins, who also plays basketball and baseball at Loudon. "I did the drills, and I thought I performed pretty good. I guess they liked what they saw."

What UT's coaches saw was an athlete.

Harig said Tennessee's coaches recruited him at tailback, but a move to defensive back or even linebacker could be in Hawkins' future.

While he prefers running back, Hawkins said he would play wherever he is asked.

Hawkins is Loudon's first major-college commitment since linebacker Cedric Kline signed with Tennessee in 1986.

Hawkins' cousin, Reggie Brown, committed to Tennessee as well in the 1980s but did not earn a letter.

"It means a lot to me," Hawkins said of being Loudon's first SEC commitment in 20 years. "One was my cousin. Things happened and it didn't go well (for Brown). I guess it's up to me to make up for it, I guess you could say."

Harig said that Hawkins' commitment was the result of academic and athletic effort.

"He's a great kid and a great person to have around the coach's office," Harig said. "To me it shows that hard work both academically and athletically pays off."

Harig also said the recruiting process with Hawkins could help future Redskins, too.

"They know where Loudon is," he said. "It gives our program some exposure."

Exposure hasn't been much of a problem for in-state players in the Class of 2007.

Austin-East's Anthony Anderson and Maryville's Tyler Maples have already committed to the Vols, while Tennessee has offered Catholic's Harrison Smith and Alcoa's Rae Sykes.

"People say the best teams are out in the west (part of the state)," Hawkins said. "But over the past couple years the east has shown we're holding that down."

© 2006, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.