A story should have a great beginning, but for top-ranked offensive line prospects like Chris Watt it's the finish that counts most.
"He's a very physical blocker that finishes extremely well," Glenbard West High School coach Chad Hetlet said of his 6-foot-3, 280-pound offensive lineman. "A lot of coaches around the country say he's the best finisher in the country.
"He's a very physical blocker and pretty relentless in his pursuit."
Such play has garnered the Glen Ellyn, Ill., prospect at top-100 rating by Rivals and at least 25 scholarship offers from UCLA to Miami. Watt's first goal of this young recruiting season is to whittle down his list of schools to eight to 10 by the end of May.
Not only is Watt a fantastic football prospect, he's also an incredible student, with a 4.1 grade point average. Such a resume has highly touted academic institutions like Notre Dame and Stanford in line, along with football powerhouses like Oklahoma and Nebraska, which offered last week.
"The people are the most important thing," Watt said when asked about the factors in his college decision. "Just being comfortable with the school. Academics are obviously very important, and winning a national championship."
But just because Watt has an astronomical GPA doesn't mean academics will be the single, determining factor in his college decision.
"Wherever I go, I can make the most out of the education," said Watt, who plans to pursue a career in marketing or advertising.
Thanks to strong recruiting efforts from Tennessee offensive line coach Greg Adkins, Watt said he expects UT to be in his top 10 later this month and would like to take a summer visit to Knoxville.
Watt's appreciation of UT grew long before the Vols recruited him. As a college football fan, he got to know the traditions of several schools, UT included.
"I know it's one of the greatest traditions in college football," Watt said. "Rocky Top and all that is really cool. It's a really good program."
Illinois would seem to be a concern for the Vols, considering it is Watt's in-state school and head coach Ron Zook is a well-respected recruiter. While Illinois may prove to be a strong competitor for Watt's services, it doesn't seem to be an unbeatable foe.
"Over the past few years I haven't cheered for just one team," said Watt, who admitted rooting for Illinois when he was younger. "I've just been watching college football."
Watt speaks fondly of Adkins, which could prove to be a significant bond in recruiting and the future.
"That's important just because you get to know your position coach a lot better," Watt said. "It's somebody you're going to be spending more time with than even the head coach."
Watt is a three-sport star at Glenbard West, participating in football, basketball and track (shot put and discus). Hetlet said hoops have been key to Watt's development.
"I think it's a major factor in why he's as athletic as he is," Hetlet said. "He's got great, quick feet. He's got great hips. He can move. He's not a kid that moves like he's 280 pounds."
Watt moves so well, in fact, that he was named all-conference in basketball. But now it's time to focus on football.
"Some of the things I need to work on are pass blocking and just getting bigger and faster," Watt said.
He'll try to do that while keeping up his better-than-perfect grade point average and handling an already huge recruiting war that's only going to intensify.
"He's trying to figure it all out right now," Hetlet said, "and I think he's doing a great job with the process."
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Comments » 59
volfan#207874 writes:
Yeah, I remember Zook's "Crooks" when he was at Tennessee. By the way, is he the "gentleman" who faxed UT's playbook to Florida, after being dismissed at UT? How do you spell integrity?
rpowell#1351102 writes:
I remember the Zook "Crooks" just before he left. I never really liked him.
tigervol9802 writes:
Well, at least we're now talking about linemen, now let's just move over to the other side of the ball...........
jamesarobertson#633301 writes:
As a avid UT fan and graduate living in Athens, GA, it is tough to read that UGA just got their 11the 2009 committement and to know that UT has not, as usual, receiving any significant 2009 committment!
jimrob
T0MMYJACK writes:
fever-
Instead of talking about the whoopin' the 'cats put on UT's baseball team, why don't we talk about 1984. You remember ... Michael Jackson (before he wigged out), Van Halen, President Reagan, Los Angeles Olympics, Bhopal disaster ... and the last time the sorry 'cats were able to beat Tennessee at football (the sport that drives the SEC). In other words, we don't really give a $hit about college baseball.
KHVOLFAN writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Phew, for a minute I thought we were after a D-Lineman. We need o-line and DBs, nothing else.
We're ok here. Scary there for a moment.
CoverOrange writes:
Zook and the playbook is one of the reasons I have hope things will be different with Florida this year. Clawson needs to change everything.
gnm53108 writes:
sounds like a good young man.does he have a brother that plays dt?
wyomingvol writes:
Don't worry too much Jamesa, We are signing some serious studs thus far.
New O coordinator, wait and see for some guys. I will be @ Ucla and rooting my arse off. Win a couple early and the blue chips will fall.
missrvrvol writes:
He will come to UT if he wants to wait until his JR. year for playing time. Its the Fulmer way.
GreerVol22 writes:
James Robertson, couldn't agree more.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
sjt18, good morning - still not enamored with the Dawgs I see. Time will tell, but it will be hard for Richt to fail with all that talent.
Still working thru the doldrums. Articles on 50+ yr old divers and polls on players not on campus. Is this great or what?
orangebloodgmc writes:
Missrvrvol, although offensive lineman are often brought along slowly to get 'em strenghtened up, if he's good enough he'll still play early as did McClendon, McNeill, Scott, Munoz, etc.
TommyJack writes:
Apparently, the Chief recruits DL's via Email..Saves on travel dollars and gas. Very green.
orangebloodgmc writes:
So, we are going with virtual DL's?
givehim6 writes:
Hope we will get this guy, sounds like several schools are after him. But sounds like coach Adkins will be an ace in a whole for us. Getting good linemen is a good thing, like gnm53108 said maybe he's got a brother that plays DT we can get.
jacksonvol writes:
"Rocky Top and all that is really cool". I am a lifelong Vol fan and alumni, but that song has got to be the worst fight song I ever heard. We sound like a bunch of inbred idiots. We need to use the best fight song we have. How about "Down the Field"?
TommyJack writes:
jacksonvol: I'll pass on the inbred part, but I do agree with you on "Down the Field"...Should never have taken a backseat.
gnm53108 writes:
o lineman are great.but we need someone with the beef that will rip the freaking head off anybody not wearing orange.
gnm53108 writes:
Rocky Top!!!
the best song ever!!!
auttat writes:
jacksonvol, are you serious? Everybody that follows CFB knows Rocky Top. That alone makes it an incredible fight song.
I blame Fulmer!
CoverOrange writes:
One problem with "Down the Field" is that half a dozen other schools use their own variation of it.
"Rocky Top" was great to hear reverberating around the upper deck of Neyland until somebody decided they needed to "whoo" in the refrain.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
obloodgmc 10:53am - "Virtual D-linemen", you, sir, have hit on it. That's how the 2-7-2 is going to work. Holographic images projected onto the field.
Would fool Dupree....
GoVol writes:
This kid will go to ND. Would love to have at TN, but unlikely he'll wear orange.
BigOrangeVol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
It would be so fantastic if all we had to be concerned about was the Fight Song.
Tennessee and Notre Dame have the most recognized and despised Fight Songs as ranked by opponents.
Rocky Top may very well be the only Fight Song ever, that the entire state knew the words to.
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
O Line gave up what, Four Sacks last year? Most QBs and Coaches will take that everytime. Sure they could have blocked better on the Run Plays, but their not exactly a bunch of losers.
Ainge and Crompton making good choices when to dump the ball is part of that, but my NO MEANS all of it.
Vol13 writes:
Pretty easy to not give up a sack when all of your WR's are running 4 yard curl routes. Ainge almost had to fall down and get touched in order to not get a pass off.
CoverOrange writes:
The fight song that annoys me the most is Michigan's. A piece that just goes absolutely no where music wise.
sigh, doldroms
thesavageorange writes:
WD40plusVol , I love Rocky Top for the same reason you hate Hail To The Victors.It annoys the hell out of opposing fans and players.
pdhuff warned us of the doldrums, but I had forgoten how bad they are.Atleast Bruce and the boys give us some excitement after football so they don't seem as long as they use to.
hmhawk writes:
Ya'll are closer to Rocky Top than I am but it is still the best damn song period.I play it all year long.Bluegrass,Rocky Top and the VOLS forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TommyJack writes:
hmhawk: It's about choice. No bigger fan than I, but if I never hear Rocky Top again, it will be too soon.
hmhawk writes:
TommyJack-I've never heard "Down the Field" so i reckon I missed something down the road.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
hmhawk 5:49 If you've ever been to a game, you've heard "Down the Field" as the band does exactly that.
TommyJack writes:
hawk: You've probably heard it a 100 times.
gohawks1 writes:
GoVol (3:06 p.m.) - can't imagine why any player would want to go to ND right now, unless they enjoy losing. A 3-9 record wouldn't appeal to anyone.
invisiblekid writes:
"Holographic images projected onto the field."
Sorry PD, but we have tried that the past two years with less-than-stellar results to the tune of a 69nth and 72nd ranked rush defense. I believe that the Bolden program runs on the all-potential MS service pack while the Williams program runs with the classic overachiever version 1 upgrade. The McGlothlin program ran on a Commodore Amiga. The Henderson and Haynesworth programs are currently in use at NORAD.
jeremy writes:
How do you get a 4.1gpa??? Sounds like a great prospect, I hope he becomes a Vol.
movol77 writes:
How do you get a 4.1gpa???
Weighted or advanced placement classes, which are scored on a 5.0 system.
CoverOrange writes:
When the band forms the "T" for the players to run out on to the field, they begin playing "Down the Field". Syracuse and Yale have similar songs.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Dang, they removed my post just because I listed Jack Sells current business address and phone number! Here I thought that it was more or less a Public Service Announcement.
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Wait a minute..........
You don't dis Rocky Top. If you have ever been in Neyland Stadium, singing Rocky Top at the top of of your lungs in concert with 100,000 other people (remember we do give away 7k + to the opposing team) then you would never..........ever question that song. I met a former Notre Dame football player who's best memory of playing in college was our game in 1990. He just couldn't get over the whole experience. When we sing in unison after a touchdown, we may take it for granted, but visitors carry it for a lifetime...........It's the best atmosphere for a sporting event ever created..........Chris may already get it..............I hope so!
gnm53108 writes:
hcjournals...100% agree.
gnm53108 writes:
stj..agree.i cant by into uga until they prove they can beat the vols.for whatever reason Fulmer has got Richt's #.i believe that atleast the sec east goes thru knoxville.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
sjt18- I hope the magic sprinkles that have Ga looking totally lost for the last two years continue to fall. But as for the miracles over Vandy, SC and Ky last year I know this worm turns.
We could not cover up our total lack of d-line push last year to the tune of neither pass or run defense was in the top 50 in the country.
Ol' dink and dunk is gone that covered for us so well with few turnovers last season. I hope DC's thinking is ratcheted up to the competition he will face. As you know, I have grave doubts about Chief's (or anyone) ability to coach up what Phil has recruited for him! You and I know that the d-line talent is going elsewhere.
That is where games are won. We shall hope for the best and ALL of the breaks (ala SC and Vandy) this fall. Thus, my 7-5 prediction. Pounding UCLA will tell us a lot, a whole lot. Get some sleep.
richvol writes:
In the 90's Tennessee cleaned up on d-linemen. What is it that has changed so much that we don't even hear a word about us recruiting one now? What's the byline you hear all the time in the presidential race? "It's the economy stupid". Well guess what...It's defensive linemen stupid!
It's great to recruit young men like this but Tennessee needs to have one recruiter focused solely on bringing in defensive linemen. That defense is what won us a national championship in '98. Duh!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Agree sjt18- Fla is always a pivotal monster game. It is usually the week that my emails from Gator daughter in Miami area go up from 3 to 7-9 range. Can't figure out why. We always bet an evening out (pizza and suds). I have the credit card receipts to prove it.
UCLA is the great unknown. I know Olsen (average) will be the QB, but hope Chow doesn't pull a rabbit out of his .....
pdhuff#552644 writes:
sjt18 3:10 am - Good post, but I would have finished with "a heightened level of competition we have failed to adjust to".
Maybe we'll get a better level of effort this season. One can hope.....
richvol writes:
I agree sjt18 with most of your comments but I do not believe it has nothing to do with the Tennessee program. The '98 defensive line came from South Carolina and Spurrier is not exactly getting it done for the Gamecocks. Yes there is competition in the SEC but there are other places to look...just like Tennessee has done forever. Signing 3 or 4 big athletic kids a year is not too much to ask and I don't mean offensive linemen who can't play defense.
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