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Alex Bullard is preparing to dole out a truckload of bad news.
Of 17 schools that have offered him a football scholarship, a dozen will have to exit stage left. No parting gifts. Thanks for coming.
The elimination round is to occur later this month. As for now, the offensive lineman from Brentwood Academy was willing to give the News Sentinel a sneak peek at his top five.
Tennessee, Florida and Notre Dame will assuredly be a part of that initial grouping, Bullard said on Friday.
UT's inclusion is merely a formality. The 6-foot-4, 275-pounder always has spoken highly of UT, which has more than just proximity on its side.
"I like the coaches there a lot," Bullard said. "I'm a big Phillip Fulmer fan. He's a great guy. I really like him."
Bullard said he appreciates the tradition and prestige of Notre Dame and Florida, although he hasn't been to Gainesville yet, meaning his knowledge of the Gators is limited.
As for Notre Dame, Bullard took a trip to South Bend this spring and came away impressed with its academic offerings.
"A degree from Notre Dame is really, really impressive," Bullard said.
UT will be quick to point out that there's a long list of private school students, like Bullard, that have achieved great academic success at UT while enjoying playing for a high-profile football program.
Quarterback Peyton Manning, running back Troy Fleming, fullback Will Bartholomew and offensive lineman Jacques McClendon come to mind. Such academic success is important for Bullard.
"I want to feel comfortable about a degree that I get from whatever school I decide to go to," he said. "That degree will support me and my family into the future."
Early playing time is another factor for any offensive lineman considering the Vols. All of UT's projected starters on the offensive line this fall are upperclassmen.
"I'm not going to say it's the No. 1 factor, but it's always something that you get excited about," Bullard said. "Who wants to sit around and watch for four years?"
Bullard has visited UT, Alabama and Notre Dame. He said there will be other visits this summer, although no itinerary has been set.
Bullard is more focused on a growth spurt than a travel schedule. With an inch or two more, he can play his desired position: offensive tackle.
Whether Bullard plays tackle or guard in college, the Vols would love to have him doing so in orange.
Rare Rivals: Expect Virginia and Virginia Tech to be frequent foes for UT on the recruiting trail this year.
As expected, first-year UT assistant coaches Dave Clawson and Latrell Scott are returning to some of their old stomping grounds. Both have strong ties in Virginia from their time coaching at Richmond.
UT is recruiting at least four Virginia prospects: defensive end William Hill from Lafayette High in Williamsburg, offensive lineman Morgan Moses from Meadowbrook High in Richmond, linebacker Mike Privott from Lake Taylor High in Norfolk and defensive end/linebacker Tyrel Wilson from Hampton High.
Moses is one of the top prospects in the nation and is considering UT, along with almost a dozen other high-profile schools.
"Tennessee is a good school and I'm looking to see more about what they're offering," Moses told GoVolsXtra.com this week.
Wilson, whom UT's coaching staff is evaluating, has strong ties to UT. His father, James Wilson, was a Vol defensive end from 1989 to 1993 and a captain during his senior season.
"There's something about Tennessee, the vibe they have," said Tyrel Wilson, who lived in Tennessee for much of his childhood before moving to Virginia. "It makes my heart start pumping when I hear 'Rocky Top'."
James Wilson said his son won't make a decision until after his senior season and is considering several options.
"I would love for him to be involved there," the elder Wilson said of UT. "What dad wouldn't be proud?"
As for Clawson and Scott, they proved to be top Richmond wranglers when they convinced a class of well-respected 2008 recruits to commit to Richmond.
Linebacker Derek Mayo was one of Richmond's top signees. Mayo's brother, Jerod Mayo, played for UT and was selected 10th in first round of the NFL draft last week by the New England Patriots.
Clawson and Scott clearly raised Richmond's recruiting image in Virginia.
They're now trying to do the same for Tennessee.
Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He can be reached at hookerd@knoxnews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by JohnAdamsIsTrash on May 3, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Vols!!
Posted by thesavageorange on May 3, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bullard is of maximum importance to this class.I saw on an Alabama thread that someone asked Chris Jordon of Brentwood ,at their A-day game, if he knew if Bullard was interested in the tide ,and Jordan just kinda laughed and said:Man he's all about Tennessee.Of coarse this could of been a Vol fan rattling some cages, but I have also heard some people say he has been seen wearing Tennessee shirts.Whatever the case we need him.
Bullard and Moses would be a nice start.Throw in a Eric Shrive and Long is long forgotten.
Posted by pdhuff on May 3, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Have to watch ND on this one.
We can hope.
Posted by RichRollin on May 3, 2008 at 10:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If he wants a good education, he can keep it in state and go to Vandy. If he wants to go for football, keep it in state and come on down to ROCKYTOP! We need this one.
Posted by pmidude56 on May 3, 2008 at 11:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This guy's the real deal. I've seen him play the last two years and he's a man among boys out there. Great footwork. Great attitude. An asset to any program. We gotta get him!
Posted by jasvol on May 4, 2008 at 12:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pmidude: You have seen him play. O.K. can he play DT?
My faith in the coaches...they must feel comfortable about the DT position because they aren't recruiting any. I've looked at Rivals and I'm not seeing UT listed very much. What's worse.. listed are other SEC schools!
Posted by dburgVol on May 4, 2008 at 1:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Man, these guys don't stop for anything! I was a Trooper Taylor fan, but Latrell Scott is on a roll! I just hope he coaches half as good as he recruits. Go Vols and keep em coming!
Posted by RichRollin on May 4, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dburgvol, I agree. This offensive staff seems to be as agressive recruiting as any that I have seen in a while. But we need this guy. Anyone here anything about Marlon Brown, #1WR nationally from Memphis,TENN? There is no way this guy should get out of state, I'm just getting over losing Patrick Turner several years ago. Gotta keep'm in state.
Posted by firefightervol on May 4, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds great hope we get him.Has anyone heard anything about jordan reed lately? I mean I know Clawson was supposed to visit him.
Posted by jawbreaker on May 4, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bullard need look no further than another Brentwood Academy product, Scott Wells, to see how successful he could be in orange. Of course, he might want to look past David Holbert and his host of troubles.
Posted by sjt18 on May 5, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If Clawson's offense is successful and really does highlight the skills of playmakers, I think Brown will be hard to get away from the Vols based on what I've read. Supposedly he grew up a UT fan. That doesn't mean he's automatic by a long stretch but it does help.
If he can play for the team he's always rooted for AND play in an exciting offense... that would seem to bode well.
Even so, the WR from J'ville, FL that is high on UT would be a good one too.
WR isn't a position UT is having alot of trouble recruiting for.
Posted by BigOrangeJeff on May 5, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"I'm a big Phillip Fulmer fan. He's a great guy. I really like him."
All you haters take note. You're welcome to your opinions about Coach Fulmer, but the players seem to like him. I don't see how the constant bitching and moaning could possible help the recruiting. In fact, it most probably hurts. If you truly are fans, instead of continually bashing the program to get yourself some attention, maybe you should keep those thoughts to yourselves.
BOJ
Posted by volboy81 on May 5, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wouldnt call Florida's 15 years of winning "Tradition", but thats all the Gators can offer, compared to ND and TN's 75 to 80!
Posted by Brama on May 5, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like he would be nice to have but not to many Brentwood academy stars pan out.
Posted by sjt18 on May 6, 2008 at 1:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
volboy81, That's nice and all but young kids seldom care about football played in leather helmets or without face masks. Don't kid yourself about what UF has to offer no matter how frustrating it is for those of us who despise them.
Posted by T0MMYJACK on May 6, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OK BigOrangeJeff, now you've done it. You have released the fight or flight hormones of a small handful of jokers who sit at their keyboards all day doing nothing but hooting on Fulmer. Now they'll start crying about how only they are "unbiased" and only they display "critical thinking".
Here come the tears. And the fritters. And the YouTube posts.
Posted by TurboFan on May 6, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If he likes Phil personally, probably won't like Meyer too much.
If he is all about education, career and supporting his family, hard to beat ND. Having an alumni card from there is like being a member of the Skull and Bones society at Yale.
If he wants a shot at the NFL, UT has a tradition built in the last 15 years.
Posted by sjt18 on May 7, 2008 at 1:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If he wants education to be THE ONLY consideration, drop all the pretenses and go to Duke, Vandy, Stanford, Northwestern, Ga Tech, etc.
I've only known a couple of ND grads in my far flung travels... and neither was particularly impressive.
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