Late start could still land Scruggs at UT

Football coach Steve Specht knew he had something special walking the halls of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. If only he could get the school's best athlete on the football field.

It seemed like Greg Scruggs, 6-foot-5 and 230, did everything else. He was a star basketball player and even played drums in the school marching band.

Even with such a diverse transcript, Scruggs needed something more - unless he wanted to be relegated to attending a Division II school on a partial basketball scholarship.

"I told him, 'Coach, I want to get college paid for to make things easier for my family,'" said Scruggs, who is being recruited by Tennessee.

So, it was done. Drumsticks were traded for barbells and football was priority No. 1.

"If God has blessed me with the ability to play at the next level, why not do it?" Scruggs said. "Why not help out my family?"

Scruggs has the ability. Playing at defensive end last season, Scruggs made 40 tackles, 51 quarterback pressures, nine sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

With less than a full season of football under his belt, Scruggs received a dozen scholarship offers.

"Greg has potential to play on Sundays," Specht said, referring to the NFL.

Scruggs took his first official visit last weekend. The destination? Knoxville, where the Vols got the chance to make the first impression.

"The visit was great," Scruggs said. "I had a good time with all the players and the coaches."

Visits to North Carolina State, Wake Forest, Virginia and Michigan State are also scheduled.

Not bad for a prospect who, before this season, hadn't even donned shoulder pads since sixth grade.

"The improvement that he made was light years," Specht said. "And he still doesn't know what the hell he's doing. His upside is out of this world."

Specht is sure that Scruggs would be one of the top prospects in the nation had he played four seasons of high school football.

Adversely, college coaches can't help but wonder why Scruggs was so late to sign up for football.

Just how physical could Scruggs be?

Specht never worried that would be a problem, especially after watching the banger he saw on the basketball court with an aggressive attitude that easily transferred to the gridiron.

"He'll hit you," Specht said. "He'll really smack you."

Who knows what position Scruggs might play in college. Defensive end and/or defensive tackle seem most likely, but tight end has also been discussed.

Before that decision is made, Scruggs will have to make his college decision.

He said he'll cut down his five choices to three by January.

The Vols seem to be in good shape.

"Right now," Scruggs said, "I'd say Tennessee has as good a chance as any other school."

Even having such an option is a long way from marching in the band beating on the drums.

"It's pretty overwhelming for him right now," Specht said. "He hasn't had a couple of years to think about it like my other Division I prospects."

McCray's the Man: UT is putting the hard press on Lerentee McCray.

The Vols sent three coaches - Trooper Taylor, Kurt Roper and Matt Luke - to Dunnellon (Fla.) High School on Tuesday to visit with the 6-foot-2, 200-pound linebacker.

McCray took an official visit to Knoxville last weekend, then decommitted to Miami shortly after his return to Florida.

McCray is still considering Florida, Florida State, LSU, South Carolina and West Virginia.

He is no longer considering the Hurricanes, according to Dunnellon head coach Frank Beasley.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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