Andre Sterling doesn't have any scholarship offers yet; but his statistics should get recruiters interested.

The Farragut tailback, who'll be a senior next season, rushed for 2,043 yards and 25 touchdowns on 330 carries last season. That's got Tennessee, Auburn, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas Christian and Vanderbilt intrigued in the 5-foot-10, 193-pounder.

The next entry on the recruiting resume came during a Nike Camp in Columbus, Ohio, last month. Sterling ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, completed the shuttle run in 4.09 seconds, posted a 33-inch vertical jump and bench pressed 185 pounds for 16 repetitions.

"As soon as they post those numbers (online)," Sterling said, "I'd like to get some more looks."

Looks are a step toward that elusive, first scholarship offer. The level of colleges that get serious about Sterling is still in question, which must be a bit frustrating for one of the most productive backs in East Tennessee.

The production didn't just start last season. Sterling rushed for 1,070 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore following a freshman season in which he was sidelined by injury. During the 2006 track season, he ran the 100-meter dash in 11.2 seconds.

If Sterling finds himself a Division I prospect later this year, he'll owe a debt of gratitude to Charles Petrone of Petrone Training. Petrone has worked with several local athletes, including New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington and Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton.

"He's basically the one that got me here," Sterling said. "He's been helping out. He's an exceptionally good trainer."

On the field, Sterling said he's benefited from focusing on one position - a luxury he may not have had at a school smaller than Farragut.

"It's helped me concentrate on my position," Sterling said. "I've wanted to play some other things, but, in the long run, it's helped me."

Sterling hopes college coaches notice that he's been able to carry the football well over 300 times in a season.

"Durability is a big thing when you get up there," Sterling said. "Those are big guys and they're not fooling around."

Sterling grew up following SEC teams and TCU.

Why TCU?

Simple. L.T.

"Since I heard about LaDainian Tomlinson, I started watching TCU," Sterling said, referring to the former Horned Frog-turned-2006 NFL MVP.

The emulation is natural. Tomlinson was an overlooked prospect coming out of high school. TCU and North Texas were the only schools to offer Tomlinson a scholarship.

If a school doesn't come calling with an all-expenses paid education, UT could become a possibility. Plenty of walk-ons from Farragut have had success as Vols. Freshman linebacker Nick Reveiz wowed UT's coaches and was climbing the depth chart before a broken leg ended his participation in spring practice.

"I love UT," Sterling said. "I know a lot of people on the team."

Does that mean Sterling would walk on at UT instead of signing a scholarship with a smaller school?

"I haven't really been thinking about all that stuff," he said. "I've just been training. If I didn't get an offer, I'd go there (to UT), most definitely."

Still, Sterling hopes he doesn't have to decide between a bigger, more successful football program or one willing to offer him a scholarship. Sterling is hoping one school fits both categories.

"I'm looking very forward to hearing the first one, just from anybody," Sterling said. "That makes me work that much harder."