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HomeFootball Recruiting

Warren report not optimistic

Vols still are trying to recruit prospects

The Warren High School recruiting pipeline is barely producing a trickle this year.

"I don't think Tennessee is on the radar," Warren (Ark.) High School coach Bo Hembree said of his two highly touted wide receiver prospects, Greg Childs and Jarious Wright. "Last time there was a lot of UT talk. This time there's been hardly any UT talk. I don't know why."

Hembree believes Childs is giving UT the most consideration, but said the Vols are trailing Arkansas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

As for Wright, Southern Cal, Oklahoma and Arkansas are thought to top his list, according to Hembree. Wright, however, declines to name any favorites but said UT will be considered.

"I'm open to all schools," Wright said.

UT has signed three prospects from Warren this decade.

The first was Roshaun Fellows in 2002. After redshirting in 2003, Fellows was a freshman All-American cornerback. Injuries, however, sidelined him much of his career before he was dismissed for an unspecified violation of team rules in April.

Receiver Bret Smith signed with UT in 2003. Smith led and tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

Smith was UT's third leading receiver last season, then was arrested and charged with evading arrest and leaving an accident scene following a traffic accident earlier this month.

Ricardo Kemp signed with UT in 2005. He redshirted his first season then played in all of UT's 13 games last season as a reserve defensive back. Wright said playing alongside Kemp would be a plus.

"I think we have a real good relationship," Wright said. "We're real good friends."

Despite seemingly trailing some other schools, UT won't give up the fight easily. Recruiter Steve Caldwell visited Warren High last Wednesday. UT coach Phillip Fulmer also was scheduled to stop by.

"It's still a long time away," Hembree said.

The next step for UT is securing a visit, official or otherwise. Wright said he's not sure which schools he'll visit this fall. UT is being considered.

Don't expect to hear from Childs any time soon. His mother isn't allowing him to be interviewed, Hembree said.

"He's getting calls from when he wakes up until he goes to bed," Hembree said.

While schools will hope for a package deal for the two wideouts, don't expect it. Wright said he and his teammate will discuss the possibility but signing with the same school will not be a priority.

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