Fowlkes follows his desire at UT

Steven Fowlkes was ready to buck a recruiting trend, and Tennessee was more than happy to oblige.

The standout from Banneker High School in College Park, Ga., committed to play football for the Vols, on Wednesday in part, because he was offered a chance to play wide receiver.

Fowlkes is the eighth commitment of UT’s 2008 signing class.

At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, many colleges projected Fowlkes as a quick, long-armed defensive end instead of an offensive player.

North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Indiana, Purdue and Central Florida were some of the schools that tried to convince Fowlkes to play defense. Not Tennessee.

Fowlkes visited UT last weekend and decided Knoxville was where he wanted to continue his career.

“They (the Vols) are going to give me an opportunity to play it (receiver),” Fowlkes told the News Sentinel on Monday. “I want to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Fowlkes began playing football in 2006, and even then his career was sidelined for five games as he battled elbow bursitis.

Fowlkes’ lack of football experience caused some confusion as to which position he should play. Still, his athletic ability helped him become a highly sought after athlete.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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