Baylor rusher Cooper says he'll be a Vol

The 6-foot-1, 240-pound running back from Baylor School in Chattanooga informed UT's coaches of his decision Monday.

Cooper said it came down to UT over Alabama.

"Both are good football programs," Cooper said. "Being from Tennessee, nothing is better than Tennessee football. It's a lot closer and I'll have more family supporting me by going up there."

UT first became aware of Cooper when reviewing tape of offensive line prospect Jacques McClendon, who signed with UT in February. McClendon and Cooper are close friends.

"That's my boy," McClendon said. "He's a big guy that can run. He's a great combo back."

Cooper is known as a big running back with soft hands as a receiver out of the backfield. He said UT recruited him to play fullback or running back in a single-back set.

There's no question that Cooper was a high priority for the Vols. The in-state prospect was sure to gain more interest from other schools as the summer and fall recruiting seasons unfolded.

"I was really leaning toward Alabama at one point in time," Cooper said. "Then Tennessee showed me how important I was to them. That took the cake."

Family ties also played into Cooper's decision. His older brother is a freshman at UT.

"A lot of Baylor students go to UT," he said. "I'll know a lot of students that go there. I'll be more comfortable in that environment more than anywhere else."

Cooper will be slated to fill a need for UT at fullback, where the Vols lose senior Cory Anderson after this season. Junior David Holbert has started in one game after coming to UT as a highly touted recruit from Brentwood Academy in Nashville in 2004.

Cooper is UT's fifth commitment of the 2007 class, which concludes in February with National Signing Day.

Road Ways: UT head coach Phillip Fulmer visited with Fulton head coach Buck Coatney on Monday to discuss three prospects: running back/defensive back Dennis Rogan (5-10, 180 pounds), defensive tackle Antonio Hamilton (6-1, 295 pounds) and Charles Wiley (6-7, 315 pounds).

Rogan has already received scholarship offers from Virginia Tech and Arkansas.

"I thought they were going to recruit him as a (defensive back)," Coatney said. "Coach Fulmer told me they liked him as a running back. If he gets everything else in order, I think he's going to be in good shape."

The next date to watch for Rogan falls in June when he'll participate in UT's summer camp.

© 2006, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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