Hooker: Signing these big linemen would be a coup for Vols

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tennessee’s two biggest prospects in the Under Armor All-America High School football game are just that: big.

Real big, as a matter of fact.

Antoine McClain stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 315 pounds. Kenneth Page is 6-4 and 300 pounds. They are considered two of the top offensive line prospects in the South.

Remember Tennessee’s goal stated way back in February 2007: sign offensive linemen. Well, the Vols are halfway there. They’ve received commitments from two such prospects. Another pair would complete the class.

Imagine for a moment what landing a pair of elite offensive linemen would mean to UT’s 2008 class, which has more holes than a gopher farm.

Signing four offensive line prospects would give fans reason to be optimistic about the 2008 class, and be a perfect compliment to the talent-laden 2007 class that was based more on speed than size.

However, neither McClain nor Page are ready to commit to UT, or even say the Vols lead for their services. McClain, who is from Anniston (Ala.) High School, is considering UT, Clemson, Auburn and LSU. He’ll take all of his official visits this month.

Page, who is from A.C. Flora High School in Columbia, S.C., is considering UT, South Carolina, Notre Dame, Clemson and North Carolina. He’s already been on official visits to UT, Notre Dame and South Carolina. He’ll see Clemson and North Carolina later this month.

Page has shown the most interest in the Vols. Aside from his official visit, he’s taken two other trips to check out Knoxville.

“They’re in good shape,” Page said.

Page said he’s not worried about the turnover on UT’s offensive staff, which has four vacancies.

“The only coaches I have to be concerned with are the head coach and mainly the offensive line coach,” Page said.

UT offensive line coach Greg Adkins’ stability is just part of the draw. Page said the two have struck up quite a relationship, adding that Adkins has become his primary recruiter, trying to finish the job that defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks began.

In a winter of change, Page ironically sees stability as one of the Vols’ greatest offerings.

“Phillip Fulmer, he has a legacy there,” Page said. “I know he’s going to be there for a while. The way he runs and operates things is smooth.”

McClain became a center of recruiting attention when he expressed an early desire to leave Alabama to play. It’s not often that such prospects decide to leave the Yellowhammer state.

“They’re about full,” McClain told the News Sentinel of Alabama’s 2008 class. “By the time I take my visit with them, they’re probably about full because everybody’s wanting to go there. I’ll just go do my own thing.”

Although McClain won’t say so, it seems there was some pressure to commit early.

“I didn’t want to make a decision so soon,” he said.

UT was in perfect position to swoop in and sign McClain, especially when LSU coach Les Miles seemed destined to leave for Michigan. Now, Miles’ return will make things a lot harder for the Vols.

“A whole lot,” McClain said when asked how much Miles staying will affect his decision. “I didn’t really want to go to a program where the head coach is leaving or thinking about leaving. That’ll just throw the whole program off.”

McClain says his relationship with Fulmer is one of the strongest draws to Knoxville.

“He thinks I can come in and be an instant player that can play early and make a change on the football team,” McClain said.

Tallahassee Terrance: Terrance Parks isn’t surprised that former high school teammate Eric Berry has risen to freshman All-American status at UT.

“He’s one of a kind,” the 6-1, 200-pound safety from Creekside High School in Fairburn, Ga. said. “He works hard. He just does what the next person doesn’t do to get the edge over a person. He’s a great person and a great friend. He’s a good person to look up to.

“I ain’t surprised at all. He did it all in high school. I look at him on TV and that’s the same thing he did in high school.”

Parks once said he was split between UT and Florida. But when Florida State came calling, his recruitment was over.

“I’ve been wanting to go there since I was in middle school,” Parks said.

Parks considered following in Berry’s footsteps to UT. But the relationship wasn’t enough to convince him to head north.

“I felt like I had to branch off on my own,” Parks said.

Josh Ward contributed to this report.

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

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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