Recruiting is a funny game.

There's no championship awarded. There's no win-loss record recorded.

Sure, there are rankings but, let's be honest: a signing class takes years to judge.

Given the subjectivity of the whole endeavor, I find the recent uproar concerning Tennessee's 2007 class more than interesting. There was a time when fans pleaded for UT to sign more players from the Volunteer state.

On-field championships were great, but what about the local star that slipped away because the Vols were more focused on top-flight talent from lands afar.

That's what makes this year so intriguing. There's no question that UT has brought in a crop of local talent. It's received verbal pledges from five prospects from within Tennessee's borders among eight commitments. Several others hold offers from the Vols.

"I'm OK with where we are," UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "We're very fortunate that this is the best year in-state that I can remember. I'm really happy with that."

With in-state players in the fold, the new question being asked by Vol fans is, "Has UT offered the best players available or simply taken the easy route by offering local players?"

Other than offensive lineman Darris Sawtelle from Brother Rice High School in Birmingham, Mich., UT hasn't yet landed what recuitniks would consider a nationwide, top-flight commitment.

The trio of Vol commitments last week brought the issue to the forefront. Running back Daryl Vereen from North Mecklenburg High School in Huntersville, N.C., defender Alonzo Winfield from Carver High School in Winston-Salem, N.C., and B.J. Coleman from McCallie School in Chattanooga raised eyebrows.

Vereen had received offers from South Carolina and N.C. State. Winfield received an offer from South Carolina.

Perhaps Coleman was the most surprising. I'm not saying that I doubt his ability. I think he can be an SEC quarterback. However, UT had shown strong signs they were intent on signing a mobile quarterback. Coleman, by his admission, is not that type of player.

What message does his commitment send to other mobile quarterbacks whom UT is recruiting, such as Joe Chaisson or Travaris Cadet? And is Coleman that much better than incoming freshman Nick Stephens from Texas?

UT isn't the only school that has been quickly divvying out the scholarship in the warm-weather months. Alabama, LSU, Florida, Ole Miss and Mississippi State already have 10 or more commitments.

Fulmer said that's a result of increased media coverage, the Internet and text messaging.

"It's just a thing that you have to change with the times," Fulmer said. "Is it concerning that sometimes you don't get to know a player as well as you'd like to? I think everybody is concerned about that. They've only been to your campus one or two times. You haven't been in their home yet."

As any recruiting fan will tell you, there's more than quantity to consider. Quality might even be more important. For the sake of quantifying top-flight players, we'll define them as players who have received scholarships offers from several BCS schools.

Sawtelle is a great example. He received offers from UT, Michigan, Michigan State and Arizona State among others. He is UT's lone prospect who is widely considered one of the top prospects in the nation at his position.

The Gators lead the conference in highly sought-after players with seven. Ole Miss and LSU have five. Georgia has four.

Perhaps UT has grown tired of last-second shenanigans. Top-flight prospects can often be top-flight headaches. After all, Kelvin Sheppard and Perry Riley from Stone Mountain, Ga., led UT (as well as the News Sentinel) to believe that they would become Vols only to sign with LSU in February.

Cornerback Jai Eugene from Destrehan, La., also gave the Vols false hope he would pull a last-second change of heart and sign with UT instead of Michigan or LSU. And don't forget Michael Goggans from Alexander City, Ala., who signed with Auburn despite being committed to UT.

UT's coaches shouldn't have to worry as much about de-commitments with the current crop. They all have the "OB" factor in their favor.

For those who don't know, that means "Orange Blooded", players who are genuinely excited about playing for UT. While that's obviously a plus, Fulmer said he wouldn't bend over backward just because a prospect was in his backyard.

"I don't want to reach for anybody," Fulmer said. "It's based off their ability, their character and academics, in-state or out of state. (But) If we take a chance, we don't want to go 500 miles to do it."

Is it better to take a good prospect who has always dreamt of being a Vol or a top-notch player who has dreamt of being in the NFL?

I'll let you decide.