Tennessee defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks knows plenty about Dalton Freeman off the field.

Once he sees Freeman on the field, UT might be ready to offer him a scholarship.

Freeman, an offensive lineman from Pelion (SC) High School, has offers from about 20 schools, including Georgia, South Carolina, Clemson, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State and Wake Forest.

He said UT and North Carolina have shown strong interest.

Brooks visited Freeman last Thursday and received video on the 6-foot-6, 285-pounder.

What Brooks sees on the screen should add to what he already knows.

Freeman’s father, Ben Freeman, is the head coach at Pelion. Dalton Freeman said his father has known Brooks for more than 10 years through his involvement with different coaching associations.

Freeman said he has strong interest in UT because he knows he can trust Brooks and the UT coaching staff.

"That’s huge," Freeman said. "I know they’re not going anywhere. That staff has a lot of security, especially if they keep winning. The fact he knows my dad, that plays a role."

Freeman said he favors Clemson and Georgia because they’ve shown the strongest interest, but an offer from UT could put the Vols in the mix.

Freeman attended a game at Neyland Stadium in 2005 and immediately became excited about UT’s program.

"You get in the stadium and see over 100,000 fans," he said. "I remember being really impressed by the fans and the die-hard crowd."

Freeman said he’s always known UT as a program that emphasized running the football. He sees that as an added importance to his position.

"If you get beat up front you’re swamped the rest of the game," he said. "Their tradition of linemen is a big factor, especially as big a program as they are. They’re going to compete for the SEC championship every year and if you don’t watch out the national championship."

Freeman said he’ll take unofficial visits this summer to help choose his five official visits allotted by the NCAA.

He’ll have help from his father, an offensive lineman at Wake Forest from 1978-82, while he sorts through his choices.

Freeman said his father’s guidance gives him an advantage over other recruits.

"He went through the recruiting process," Dalton Freeman said. "He’s as good a person to put in this situation as you could ask for. I’m so lucky to have him as my dad and coach."

Ben Freeman said he hopes to help his son handle the stress brought on by recruiting.

"I can’t imagine a kid going through this process that doesn’t have someone he can lean on," he said. "It can be really hectic and mind boggling.

"Everybody looks pretty good right now. They need somebody that can guide them a little bit, too."

Ben won’t be the only Freeman parent involved. Dalton’s mother, an elementary school teacher, will lend her hand as well.

"My dad knows the football deal and my mom’s the school teacher and knows the academic deal," he said. "Putting them both together is the perfect deal and I’m very blessed to have them."

Freeman said he’s already taken unofficial visits to Clemson, South Carolina and Wake Forest.

He said he hopes to visit UT and Georgia this summer. He has planned trips to Colorado, Nevada and Central Florida, all of whom have offered a scholarship.

The offensive line is a high priority in the 2008 class. UT only signed two offensive linemen last year.