Defensive lineman Cory Hall of Chattanooga Brainerd High School has committed to play football for Tennessee and plans to sign scholarship papers on Wednesday.

"Tennessee football is as big as it gets; that’s the SEC," the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Hall said on Monday. "I feel like it is the best place for me."

Hall is a player with plenty of potential. Only academic concerns have lessened his standing among the state’s best prospects.

Hall considered Marshall and Middle Tennessee State before committing to UT. The Blue Raiders and, especially, the Thundering Herd remained strong contenders because Hall could sign with those schools, enroll and sit out the season while focusing on academics if he didn’t qualify to play.

If Hall signs with UT with the same issues, he cannot enroll, as per SEC rules. Hall would have to attend a prep school or junior college before becoming a Vol.

Hall told GoVolsXtra.com that he was leaning toward signing with Marshall last week but apparently had a change of heart over the weekend. Now, Hall is focused on becoming eligible as soon as possible, hopefully this year.

"That is the main thing now," Hall said.

If Hall isn’t eligible this fall, it probably makes things easier on the Vols, who now have 30 commitments for the 2007 signing class. UT can have 27 prospects enroll this year and still stay under the NCAA mandated 85 scholarships, meaning there are at least three prospects who are not expected to be academically eligible this fall.

Back Up Plan?: North Carolina isn’t waiting idly while Dwight Jones contemplates whether or not he’s still committed to the Tar Heels. North Carolina picked up two Nashville commitments, according to CarolinaBlue.com, when Pearl Cohn receivers Rashad Mason and Brian Gupton pledged their services Monday.

The two are the third and fourth receiver commitments for North Carolina’s 2007 class, if you count Jones. The 6-4, 210-pounder from Cummings High in Burlington, N.C. claims he’s still a North Carolina commitment but recently told GoVolsXtra.com that he’s also considering UT and Clemson.

Jones committed to North Carolina in February 2006 under head coach John Bunting, who was fired following last season.

Jones will announce his decision at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Site Droppers: UT coach Phillip Fulmer and offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe didn’t let a trip to the Super Bowl in Miami on Sunday limit their recruiting efforts.

As a matter of fact, contacting prospects from football’s biggest game and mentioning former UT quarterback Peyton Manning’s involvement likely helped.

"That didn’t hurt a thing," Fulmer said Monday. "David and I spent a little time on the phone before and during the ball game — texting and even talking to a couple of guys."

Neither coach was allowed to travel on Sunday to visit prospects, as per NCAA rules.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.