It's only natural to compare Vince Faison to Kelley Washington.

Out of high school, both opted for guaranteed money in baseball instead of college football.

Then, both found the minor leagues more toil and trouble than fun and frivolity.

And both decided to play football for the Vols.

Faison's decision to give football a second chance has been in the works for weeks. He'll enroll at UT in January as a 26-year old walk-on defensive back, nine years removed from signing with the San Diego Padres.

In Faison, UT coaches hope they get the best of Washington. Fans hope to do without Washington's worst.

Washington was immediately one of UT's best players when he became a "freshman" in 2001.

But the receiver was also a lightning rod for fans frustrated with an underachieving 8-5 team in 2002 that seemed more selfish than talented - quite a statement considering how many future NFL players played on that team.

Washington was an interesting contradiction. "The Future" as he called himself had the flare, but many fans didn't know he had the substance to back it up. UT strength and conditioning coach Johnny Long once called Washington one of the hardest workers in recent memory.

Washington seemed to get a bad rap.

Was he a leader? No.

Did he always plan to use UT as a springboard to the NFL? Yes.

But there were players far more detrimental to team chemistry than Washington.

Faison isn't calling himself "The Future," perhaps because he doesn't have much of one - athletically speaking, that is.

At 26, Faison's age would already raise eyebrows at an NFL combine. Not to mention the fact he had a string of injuries in the minors.

But at 26, Faison can be the type of leader that Washington never tried to be.

"That's one of the biggest things with me coming in, is my maturity and my experience," Faison said this week on the News Sentinel's radio show, The Sports Page. "I can help be a leader out on the field. That's one of the things I'm looking forward to."

Looking forward to leading? That certainly doesn't sound like Washington. How about this?

"My first priority is my education," said Faison, who was one of the highest-rated prospects in the South in 1999 when he was at Toombs County High School in Lyons, Ga. "I plan on staying all four years for my education."

Now, don't take that as an oath. No one could blame Faison if he was deemed a high draft pick and bolted for the NFL, but with his age, that doesn't seem likely.

Faison even seems ready for the teasing.

"I'm going to be the old guy on the team," he said. "I'm preparing my mind for age jokes."

Faison is older than Washington, who was 21 when he came to UT. And Faison seems more determined to be a part of a team than the secluded, private Washington ever was.

"I've always been a very social person," Faison said. "I love to talk to people."

Faison committed to Georgia out of high school when he was recruited by Greg Adkins, who is the offensive line coach at UT. Faison first called the Bulldogs about a comeback, but when they were slow to return his call, he thought back to his old recruiter.

"The first thing that came to mind was Coach Ad," said Faison, who also has a son living in Knoxville. "Wherever he is now I'd like to go."

Faison certainly talks like a football player, especially when it comes to contact.

"That's the best part of me going out on the field - is getting to hit someone," he said.

Still, it's been eight years since Faison actually hit someone on the football field. Now, he's 6-foot and 200 pounds, up 15 pounds from his high school playing weight.

Faison doesn't know what his mentality will be like when he's asked to rock down on a tailback coming through the hole at full speed.

"When I put the pads on and probably get hit the first time, I'll realize I'm back on the football field," said Faison, who could also get a tryout at receiver.

"I've got to get my mind prepared to hit people. With my mentality, I don't think it will take long, but I can't answer that question."

UT's coaches are willing to take a chance, and why shouldn't they be. Faison will be a walk-on unless he warrants a scholarship.

And UT's coaches have seen their secondary this fall. Help, no matter what form, is welcome.

"It just so happened they need some guys in the secondary," Faison said. "I kind of fit that profile. That played a big part (in choosing UT over Georgia). "Being 26, you don't want to have to wait and play behind somebody. I don't have many years left. I want to go where I can get out there right away and play and impact the team."

Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He can be reached at hookerd@knews.com.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.