Don't believe the NCAA when it claims that eliminating text messaging is about saving prospects a few bucks. Or that college football's governing body wants to protect prospects from a steady stream of cellular correspondence.

That's not why text messaging is likely to be banned later this summer.

It's all about control.

Not to say that's a bad thing. Coaches have long been expecting some sort of legislation for the technological loophole.

Here's a typical text message from a recruiter:

"Hey there, it's a great day to be a Southwestern State Possum! Wouldn't you like to be one? Call me."

The NCAA really doesn't have a problem with the first two sentences in such a transmission. Schools can still use letters to send that sort of propaganda.

During non-contact periods when coaches can't call prospects, it's that last sentence the NCAA wants to legislate.

It's really a matter of interpretation. If I text you to call me, who really made the call?

Some coaches say the NCAA should continue to allow text messaging in a limited form because that's how teenagers prefer to communicate. Fair enough, but that would be harder to legislate than $100 handshakes.

Still, I'm a bit surprised by the NCAA's all-or-nothing approach. I expected the governing body to limit "texting" but allow it to continue. But this isn't the first time (and won't be the last) that an NCAA decision can be a bit befuddling.

As for UT fans, I think the Vols could actually benefit if the NCAA eliminates text messaging. The Vols have many of the same coaches they had in the 1990s when they were one of the top recruiting programs in the country.

Head coach Phillip Fulmer's staff is about building relationships and selling a family atmosphere. That's hard to do in a text message.

The Vols' recruiters have handled text-messaging fine, making it a valuable part of their repertoire. But going back to basics might end up playing to UT's strengths as other schools are forced to eliminate one of the weapons in their arsenal.

After all, many believe the best "texter" in the SEC, and maybe the nation, has beenFlorida's Urban Meyer.

Camp Closed: There was a Nike football camp on Georgia's campus in Athens this weekend. Did you hear about it? Probably not.

That's because the NCAA eliminated combine-style camps from college campuses. This weekend's camp was about teaching fundamentals, not testing tangible measurements like the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and so on.

Prospects had the opportunity to go to combine camps in January. Needless to say, that's pretty poor timing. Many are still beat up from football season and even more are playing basketball.

UT didn't even staff the event in Athens. The Vols officially began their spring evaluation tour on Sunday.

Most of the time, recruiters knew who they were interested in long before they went to a combine-style camp. They were just there to make sure "6-foot-2" meant 6-foot-2, not 5-11.

But occasionally a prospect would post such an incredible time that coaches in attendance and beyond had to take notice. It happened last spring to former Catholic High School star Harrison Smith. His 40-yard dash time and shuttle run truly elevated him among the top prospects in the nation.

But that's all gone.

Way to go, NCAA.

Oops: If there's a bigger in-state recruiting mistake in the Fulmer era than Patrick Willis, I can't think of it. Willis is a surefire first round pick in Saturday's NFL Draft after a stellar college career at Ole Miss.

UT, like most SEC schools, didn't offer Willis a scholarship. But unlike those other schools, Willis, who's from Bruceton, Tenn., was in UT's backyard.

Ignored or overlooked, Willis picked the Rebels over Memphis and Arkansas State.

Quiz time. Remember the two linebackers UT signed instead of Willis in 2003?

Tick. Tick. Tick.

The answer isDaniel Brooks and John Poe. Poe turned out to be a solid contributor. Brooks was - well, you know the whole Brooks' story.

Brooks had a puncher's chance to play defensive end after taking a swing at linebacker before being knocked out of UT following another round of fisticuffs.

I apologize. That was too easy.

Top Flight: Scout.com named Terrelle Pryor the top quarterback prospect in the nation last week. The 6-5, 220-pounder told the News Sentinel earlier this month that he won't focus on college recruiting until later this summer, but is considering UT among many schools.

Middle linebacker Arthur Brown from East High School in Wichita, Kansas, is the top prospect in the nation, according to the online recruiting service. A startling 16 of Scout.com's top 25 prospects of 2008 have already committed.

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

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.