Looking for a place to maximize your recruiting efforts?

Try Arkansas.

No matter your needs, Arkansas has the prospect for you. Need a 1,000-yard SEC tailback (Cedric Houston)? How about a zone-busting receiver (Bret Smith)?

Even when Arkansas prospects turn out bad, they still had their fair share of highlights. Take Roshaun Fellows for instance. Sure, he was kicked off Tennessee's football team last month, but at least the Vols got a freshman All-American season out of him.

Other states may boast more superstars, but the Natural State has contributors to build a program around.

As for accessibility, the up-and-down nature of Houston Nutt's program at Arkansas usually has in-state prospects willing to consider a move away from Fayetteville.

Take UT assistant Steve Caldwell, for instance. Thanks to his ties there, he's been pulling Arkansas prospects to Knoxville for years. Caldwell even managed to pull U.S. Army All-American Slick Shelley from Fort Smith, Ark., in 2005. Arkansas, by the way, was 5-6 the season before Shelley signed.

Looking for a prospect for 2008?

De'Anthony Curtis already has scholarship offers from UT, Clemson, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Tulsa. The 5-foot-9, 204-pound athlete from Fairview High School in Camden, Ark., also is receiving strong interest from Southern Cal, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.

"I haven't broken it down yet," Curtis said when asked which schools lead for his services. "It was real hectic at first. Offers were coming in left and right."

By even talking to UT, Curtis knows that he is beginning down a path well worn by his predecessors.

"I like the coaching staff," he said. " They say they've got top-of-the-(line) facilities. Everyone (from Arkansas) says if I go up there, I'll never come back."

The attraction, however, is more deeply rooted than in facilities.

"I've liked Tennessee since I was in the eighth grade," Curtis said. "I used to watch them on TV every time I got the chance."

Versatility may become the buzzword in Curtis' recruitment. He became a college prospect by being an all-purpose star. In 99 touches at running back, receiver and kick/punt returner, Curtis racked up 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns. He'd like to continue those efforts in college.

"Everybody's talking about (just playing) running back, except Tennessee," Curtis said. "They're talking about everything. That's good because that's what I do now."

As you would expect, it's far too early to count out the in-state Razorbacks. Curtis admits the pressure to stay in state is ever present.

"They have a real nice running game," he said of Arkansas. "They're close to home. I have some friends up there."

Curtis said he'll take summer visits to UT, Oklahoma State, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Arkansas, where he's already very familiar.

Curtis said LSU has a certain allure because of all the players the Tigers lost from last season and the opportunities their absences present.

To counter, UT's recruiters will remind Curtis of the opportunities in Knoxville and the success that recent Arkansas players have had.

Will that be enough?

"It tells me a little bit," Curtis said, "but I don't know if that would happen to me."

Two-Time Loser: Wonder why Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden is so determined to sideline Brandon Warren's college career?

Maybe it's because the tight end from Alcoa was a Freshman All-American. I'm sure that's part of it.

Maybe it's because the Seminoles spent so much money to recruit Warren before he signed in February 2006. Knoxville and Tallahassee aren't exactly hub cities when it comes to air travel. That's just half the issue.

Here's the other half. Surely Bowden wonders what Warren was telling Alcoa defensive end Rae Sykes before Sykes signed with UT last February. FSU spent the same amount of time, money and effort recruiting Sykes as they did Warren. And for all of that effort, FSU got one season from Warren.

Was Warren truly representing FSU during the countless conversations he had with Sykes, or did he give his ex-teammate a little insight that he was returning to East Tennessee to transfer UT?

Only Warren and Sykes know for sure, but don't blame Bowden for being suspicious.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.