John Bruhin and Jared McGaha are well connected.

The two Powell High School football players have strong ties to at least three schools: Tennessee, Alabama and Marshall. Once you add in the other schools that have shown interest, the two linemen have futures that are tougher to predict than Bode Miller's party schedule.

First, there's the UT connection. Teammate Lee Smith signed with the Vols in February. Bruhin's father, John, played football for the Vols 1985-87. McGaha's father, Tony, played baseball for the Vols 1986-88.

Then, there's Marshall. John Bruhin's older brother, Zane, signed with the Thundering Herd in 2005.

How about Alabama? The Crimson Tide signed former Powell teammate Baron Huber in 2005. You can bet he's singing the virtues of Tuscaloosa. It's no coincidence that Bruhin and McGaha visited Alabama this weekend.

John Bruhin played for many of the Alabama coaches, including coach Mike Shula, when "Big John" played for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Ready for some more possibilities? "Lil' John", who doesn't exactly live up to his nickname at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, was recently invited to Miami and Auburn's junior day and visited Ole Miss last weekend. He's convinced McGaha, his good friend, to take a look at Oxford as well.

McGaha was the first of the two to receive an offer when Illinois extended an official invitation. As long as the 6-6, 270-pound McGaha shows he can add a few pounds, more schools surely will come calling thanks to his athletic and academic prowess.

"Lil' John", who also is in good shape academically, took mental notes when his brother went through the recruiting process.

"You gotta get the grades," "Lil' John" said with a smile. "He had a pretty hard time getting his grades through, but once he did he was all set."

Comparing the Bruhins is tough to avoid. Former Powell coach Larry Stephens, who resigned after last season, sees something in the younger Bruhin that could benefit him at the college level.

"John's got a little bit of a mean streak in him," Stephens said. "That kind of sets him aside. Lee has that and Baron had that. John wants to hurt you when he gets there and his work habits are unbelievable."

McGaha, who Stephens describes as a smart, hard-working player, is finally receiving the attention that has often eluded him because he played next to four of the most talented players in recent Powell history. In 2005, Huber was the first Division I signee since 1992 when Chad Painter and Rudy Stinson signed with Vanderbilt and UT, respectively.

As McGaha excelled, Smith, Huber and the Bruhin brothers were often the first to draw interest from colleges.

"Why not just give them someone else to look at?" McGaha said. "I just wanted to make a name for myself."

"Big John" Bruhin is taking the same approach to "Lil' John's" recruitment as he did his elder son. He's standing back and letting the process play out.

Don't misunderstand. "Big John" cares. He just knows the good -- and the bad -- of a life devoted to football.

"I didn't want to push football on him," Bruhin said. "There's a lot more important things out there in life than football. Look at me. My body's shot."

Dan Brooks, UT's defensive tackles coach, is in charge of recruiting Powell's 2007 class, which also includes linebacker/fullback Jordan Lakin (6-0, 220).

The Vols passed on Huber in 2005. Academic concerns, mainly a late college entrance exam score, prevented Zane Bruhin from receiving an offer from the Vols. Both father and son admit they'd have a tough time turning down an offer from UT.

"Lil' John" figures he'll play offense in college. Defensive tackle also is a possibility and, truth be told, a preference.

"I like the aggression part (of defense)," the soft-spoken Bruhin said. "That's more my personality. It's fun to hit people. I like to be mean about it sometimes."

"Lil' John" admits his aggressiveness is likely a byproduct of being picked on by his older brother.

"I think that's got something to do with it," he said with a wry smile. "We used to fight all the time."

As for McGaha, he looks like a lean, prototypical offensive tackle. He moved there last season after playing guard as a sophomore.

"Lil' John" said he won't be swayed by his many college connections. That may be easier said than done when former teammates start recruiting him later this year. Both Bruhin and McGaha, close friends since third-grade, said playing college football with each other would be a factor in their decisions.

Stephens said Miami has shown strong interest in Bruhin while Ole Miss seems close to offering both Panthers. Notre Dame, thanks to McGaha's strong academic resume, is also on his trail.

"They're going to get some good offers," Stephens said.