One decision made more than 50 years ago changed a family forever.

One decision gave Tennessee's football program a three-year letterman, a team captain and a big-time prospect.

Darris McCord didn't even consider football until midway through high school. A natural athlete, McCord decided to give the game a try and played one year at Franklin High School followed by another season at Battle Ground Academy.

The results were astounding.

McCord was discovered by UT recruiter Darwin Johnson in the early 1950's. McCord signed with UT, the only school that offered him a scholarship. Johnson's evaluation was right on. His diamond in the rough earned three letters as a lineman at UT and was named a team captain in 1954.

But McCord's football career wasn't over. He went on to play 13 years in the NFL for the Detroit Lions. McCord put down roots in Michigan and raised a family.

Two generations later, another Darris was born. This time the surname was Sawtelle. Darris Sawtelle didn't wait until high school to give football a try. He knew the possibilities.

"He saw where I went," McCord said. "I probably gave him some ambition to go into sports."

That ambition helped transform Sawtelle into one of the top offensive line prospects in the nation. His grandfather's history with UT helped give the Vols a recruiting rarity, a highly touted out-of-state player that commits during his junior year. Sawtelle told the Vols of his intentions in early April.

Sawtelle's decision gives UT's 2007 signing class significant momentum heading into the usually quiet summer months.

Sawtelle grew up in Birmingham, Mich., a suburb of Detroit. He'll be a senior at Brother Rice High School in the fall.

Still, all those miles couldn't suppress his love for his grandfather's first home: Tennessee.

"He's always dreamt of Tennessee since he was two or three years old," McCord said. "Every time we come back here he says, 'I love this part of the country.' ''

McCord's family made frequent trips back to Tennessee. Sawtelle, who admits he's a country boy born too far north, remembers one trip when he got a glance into the soul of East Tennessee.

"I remember the first time I was here," Sawtelle said. "I remember going to the Farmer's Market. I was walking around and I just remember all these farmers giving me okra, corn and tomatoes.

"My mom couldn't find me. She finally found me sitting in the back of the truck. The whole attitude is different. I like that compared to where I'm from."

Vegetables aside, Sawtelle picked UT over several other suitors - most notably Michigan - because he felt like Knoxville was home despite growing up more than 500 miles away.

"I've always wanted to go to Tennessee," he said. "Even when I was little, I had stickers on my window that were Tennessee Volunteer stuff."

It's easy to see the respect and admiration that McCord and Sawtelle have for each other. There is also a sense that history is repeating itself when in their presence.

Both are natural athletes. Both have strong UT ties. Both even share the same first name.

But there's more. Sawtelle seems like a player from his grandfather's heyday instead of his own.

The two also have another common characteristic: their approach to football.

McCord is quick to point out that he rarely gave pointers to his grandson as he matured as a football player. He didn't feel he had to. But when he did speak up, he made an impact.

"There was one piece of advice that he gave me that was really important," Sawtelle said. "My grandfather, watching me play middle school football, noticed that I had this natural chip on my shoulder. But it came out only occasionally.

"He told me, 'Darris, once you step inside those lines, nobody's a friend.' "

Sawtelle believes that the advice worked and that "playing angry" helped him in the eyes of college recruiters.

"I've always had that," Sawtelle said with a chuckle while describing his mean streak. "I don't know why. I haven't had a bad childhood. I haven't had any bad memories. It's just there."

Said McCord: "I was a pretty intense player. Where I got it from? I have no idea. I think it's inbred."

McCord's life would have been much different if not for stepping on the football field more than 50 years ago. No college education. No NFL career.

Even more important, had McCord not played football for UT, he wouldn't have met his wife. They wouldn't have had a daughter who had a son to follow in his grandfather's footsteps.

And UT would be minus a big-name offensive line prospect for the 2007 signing class.

Dave Hooker covers football recruiting. He may be reached at hookerd@knews.com.