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Kye Staley was recently close to committing to LSU, but he didn’t like the Tigers’ restrictions on the agreement.

The athlete from Guthrie (Okla.) High School said LSU coaches told him he wouldn’t be permitted to visit other schools if he made the commitment.

“It made me kind of upset because I didn’t get that policy,” Staley said. “Who wouldn’t want to go out there and see everything else colleges have to offer? I’m still interested in them, but I decided committing right now is not the greatest time.”

The 6-foot, 200-pound Staley said along with LSU he’s considering Tennessee, Arkansas, Michigan, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Staley said he became interested in UT because of the Vols’ winning tradition. A spring visit from coach Phillip Fulmer strengthened that opinion.

“It’s a great program,” Staley said. “Their coach (Fulmer) is a great person. The way he talks about it has me really interested.”

UT has a player that could help raise Staley’s interest level — incoming freshman receiver Gerald Jones, an Oklahoma City native.

Staley, who said he knows Jones through a mutual friend, said Jones could make him feel more comfortable with UT.

“I think it helps a lot,” Staley said. “His high school is in Oklahoma City.

“He can tell me how it feels to be out of state and away from home. He can tell me how he enjoys it.”

UT is recruiting Staley to play defense, as is Arkansas, Michigan and Oklahoma. He said LSU and Oklahoma State like him at running back.

Staley said he doesn’t have a preference.

“Offense is fun,” he said. “I like touching the ball and running the ball. But on defense you get to hit people and not get in trouble for it.”

Staley said he will take official visits to UT, LSU, Arkansas and Michigan. He said he plans to take unofficial visits to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Staley said he hasn’t heard pressure from hometown fans to choose one of the in-state schools, but he expects that to change as National Signing Day comes closer on Feb. 6.

Staley said the pressure won’t affect his decision.

“I can’t let them make me choose,” he said. “I’ll talk to my family and pray and God will help me get through it.”

Staley said he won’t allow the stress of recruiting to keep him from enjoying the process.

“I can’t say I hate it,” he said of the attention. “All the hard work from the past three years is paying off.”

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.