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This is when it all gets real for Team Tennessee of the All American Football League.

Saturday is draft day for coach Andy Kelly, his staff and team president Larry Seivers.

From noon to 6 p.m. at the Knoxville Marriott, the braintrust of the new professional spring league will put its 60-man draft together.

They’ve protected 21 players from their three-state region of Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina. The foundation is in place, but the complete team takes shape today.

“It’s going to be pretty interesting, especially those first three hours,” Seivers said.

The first three hours of the draft will be carried on CSS from noon to 3 p.m., with Vol Network sideline reporter and former UT player Mike Stowell providing insight into the Team Tennessee operation. The remaining three hours of the draft can be seen from 3 to 6 p.m. on the Internet at www.aafl.com.

Arkansas has the No. 1 pick, followed in order by Team Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Michigan and Alabama.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch of Nebraska is expected to go high in the draft.

Arkansas already has former Razorbacks quarterback Clint Stoerner and former LSU quarterback Marcus Randall on its protected players’ list.

Florida has former Gators quarterback Chris Leak.

Practice begins in March and Team Tennessee, with its roster trimmed to 46, opens the season in Neyland Stadium on April 12 against Michigan.

“I think people are going to get a chance to see some players who have gone to some smaller schools who are really going to take advantage of the opportunity to play against Florida and Alabama in Neyland Stadium,” Seivers said. “We’re hoping some of these guys get a chance at the NFL because of this.”

One player who caught the eye of Seivers and receivers coach Alvin Harper is former Lane College standout Chris Wright.

“What a good looking athlete and good looking receiver,” Seivers said. “He was about 6-3, 210, ran good routes, could catch and I was going, ‘My gosh.’ I was shocked because I wasn’t even sure where Lane College is.

“This is going to be a new Tennessee team and all of sudden guys from those small schools have a chance to play and make $5,000 a game for 10 games — $50,000 isn’t bad at all.”

Tennessee’s protected players in today’s draft are Tee Martin (UT, quarterback), Jason Mitchell (UT, linebacker), Jason Hall (UT, defensive end), C.J. Fayton (UT, receiver), James Wilhoit (UT, kicker), Woody Dantzler (QB/Ath., Clemson), Andrico Hines (QB, MTSU), Rod Smart (RB, Western Kentucky), Dwone Hicks (RB, MTSU), Steve Josue (LB, Carson-Newman), William Henry (OL, Clemson), Maurice Simpkins (LB, Coastal Carolina), Justen Rivers (LB, Eastern Kentucky), Christopher Wright (WR, Lane College), Jeremy Darveau (OL, Louisville), Marcus West (DE, Memphis), Chris Tucker (DT, South Carolina), Benedict Ibisi (OL, Tennessee State), Raushan Rowser (OL, Tennessee State), Lawrence Smith (OL, Tennessee State) and Kenneth Hampton (WR, Kentucky State).

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.