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- Vols appear to be strong leader for Giles
- Teague will delay response to Vols' offer
- Running back from Alaska to walk on
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College football's recruiting bonanza has resumed post-bowl season, and East Tennessee high school players haven't been immune to its ripples.
Not much has changed with Maryville tight end and University of Tennessee commitment Aaron Douglas, Oak Ridge offensive lineman and Middle Tennessee State commitment Alex Stuart and Alcoa quarterback and Kentucky commitment Randall Cobb.
But a host of others are being courted. Signing day is Feb. 6. Here's a rundown of recent developments:
The Air Force Academy offered a spot on its football team to West linebacker Will Coley.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder said Wednesday that he's leaning toward accepting it, but he may take an official visit to Chattanooga. Coley was the Region 3-4A linebacker of the year and made 143 tackles this past season. He also had 13 sacks and an interception.
Vanderbilt has joined the throng of schools interested in Farragut running back Andre Sterling, who at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds amassed more than 2,700 yards this past season.
William Blount standout defensive lineman T.J. Walker, who had 22 sacks during his senior season and was named the Region 2-5A defensive lineman of the year, said Wednesday he planned to take an official visit to Virginia Tech soon.
Bearden defensive back C.J. Gunn (12 pass breakups, eight interceptions in 2007) said Wednesday he might catch on at Tennessee State.
CAK senior linebacker/fullback Joseph Bennett, who has been offered by Ohio University, said he will take an official visit to Middle Tennessee State next week. Bennett (6-1, 200) had 53 receptions for 658 yards and eight TDs this past season. He also made 151 tackles and seven sacks.
n West head coach Scott Cummings said that quarterback Jake Ryan (6-1, 180) has scheduled official visits to Chattanooga and Austin Peay. He added that Tennessee-Martin may soon be on Ryan's travel list, but Ryan has yet to schedule a visit. Ryan completed 60 percent of his passes this past season for 2,430 yards and 21 touchdowns.
One to watch for next year at this time could be William Blount's 6-1, 220-pound linebacker Cole Lail.
He participated last Friday in the U.S. Army National Combine in San Antonio. The combine for 500 of the nation's top juniors coincided with the Army All-American Game for seniors. Lail was tested in the 40-yard dash, a 20-yard shuttle run, his vertical jump and 185-pound bench-press repetitions.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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- Adams: Graduation is better than a touchdown for Staley
- Adams: A compelling reference for Maze
- Teague will delay response to Vols' offer
- Running back from Alaska to walk on
Posted by VolsorCat on January 12, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The junior combine should be outlawed.....This is not the NFL!
Posted by Oenoboy on January 12, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why should it be outlawed? High school students do all sorts of things for scholarships. Is there a reason behind your statement you would like to share? I’m not criticizing your stance, this is just the first time I’ve heard of someone opposed to the process and I’m wondering if there is something I am not aware of.
Posted by dickthompson1 on January 12, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Will Coley---if you read this, go to Air Force. Great coaches and academics. You will go out there a boy and leave a "man". Only 1,500 students in the world are selected each year. Do not miss this opportunity. Good luck
Vol fan and Air Force parent in Dallas
Posted by volster on January 12, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Be very certain before selecting a military school. It's not for everyone. Personally, I wouldn't take anything for my military experience (Marine Corps) or my college experience (UT), but I certainly wouldn't want to combine the two.
Posted by GerryOP on January 12, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Any chance Cole Lail is related to Jack Lail, KNS Managing Editor/MultiMedia? Just curious...
Posted by WD40plusVol on January 12, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, Dick, maybe you can learn me a bit. I know that to get into any of the academies you have to have the recommendation of a congressman and that has to be worked years in advance. Do sports scholarships bypass that? If not, why would Coley go to all the trouble of applying and getting a recommendation (not easy, each congressman can make only one or two recommendations each year to each academy) then think about Chattanooga?
Posted by hil6354 on January 12, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't usually get involved with these boards, but I see Cole on a daily basis--great kid, most respectful off the ball field, lot of fun, 3.5+ GPA, a real beast on the field, goes through a bunch of helmets every year. I don't know if he's related to KNS ME, but his mother's dad used to coach some highly competitive BB teams at Friendsville High School back in the 70's & 80's. Don't know which way he's leaning, but he's been contacted by many schools including TN. Right now working really hard to improve his speed and quickness. I hope I get to see him wearing Orange some day, but I don't know how things will go.
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