There's a tradition growing among private schools in Tennessee - one that the University of Tennessee's football coaches aren't too crazy about.

Notre Dame is as comfortable recruiting in the Volunteer state as it is playing Big Ten teams in the snow.

During the past three years, Notre Dame has pulled three private-school prospects to South Bend: defensive back Harrison Smith from Catholic and athlete Golden Tate from Pope John Paul II in Hendersonville in 2007 and, most recently, Alex Bullard from Brentwood Academy.

Bullard, who is the News Sentinel's second-best prospect in the state, committed to Notre Dame on June 6.

"There are a lot of similarities between the college and private-school setting at my school," said Bullard, who plans to major in computer science or mathematics. "Of course, it's the college level, but it's just similar in the way they do things."

With Bullard, Notre Dame acquired a good player but a much better prospect, one who has yet to scratch the surface of his potential.

Don't be surprised if Bullard, who is projected to play offensive guard, grows a couple of more inches and into a tackle.

His father, Louis Bullard, did the same thing in high school.

"The biggest thing with Alex is his upside," Brentwood coach Ralph Potter said. "He's still fairly young. His dad was an NFL player. He's got that pedigree."

Things worked out well for Louis Bullard. He played five years in the NFL and another five in the USFL from 1978 to 1995 following his college career at Jackson State.

"We spent a lot of time in the backyard just learning fundamentals," the elder Bullard said of his son.

"Alex is way more athletic than I was. He is one of the most athletic players I've seen on the offensive line. He can run, has good agility and he's smart."

Alex Bullard was so athletic that he started as a freshman at Brentwood, a rare feat for an offensive lineman.

Whether or not Bullard was dominating the line of scrimmage, there were lessons to be learned.

"It was about being competitive and being prepared to compete," Louis Bullard said. "The fact that he was able to compete and start was a good thing.

"With that came some maturity."

Alex Bullard said he chose Notre Dame based as much (or more) on academics than athletics. That surely comes from his upbringing.

Louis Bullard said he taught his son that faith, family and friends all rank ahead of football.

"Football," Bullard said, "was probably fourth or fifth on the list."

Even so, Alex Bullard ranks second on this list.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.