By Dave Hooker
Originally published 06:45 p.m., May 17, 2008
Updated 06:45 p.m., May 17, 2008
Think Stavion Low is serious about Tennessee? Just check his summer schedule.
The offensive lineman from Brownwood (Texas) High has only one visit planned this summer despite 19 scholarship offers. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Low will be in Knoxville for UT's football camp in mid-June.
"When I got that offer it was exciting," Low said of UT's official invitation. "I haven't known too much about the school. I just liked that school for the heck of it.
"When I got that offer, little vibes went off. As I got to talk to some of the coaches and did some homework on them, I just grew to like them that much more."
Low said he plans to take some official visits this fall, but it seems UT has the inside track.
"It's a good school," Low said. "I like them. I think that would be a good fit for me."
Low would be an unusual prospect in most any state but talent-rich Texas. With four offensive linemen committed to both Texas and Texas A&M, those schools have stopped recruiting Low.
The smaller Texas schools, like Texas Tech, Texas Christian and Baylor, don't think they have a chance to land him once they face off against the other suitors. Therefore, Low is a national prospect even if there's not much interest in him in-state.
Florida was the most recent to offer a scholarship. Arkansas, Auburn, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Miami also are on board.
"I kind of wondered a little bit (about Texas and Texas A&M backing off) but at the same time business is business," Low said. "I wondered about it but I wasn't pouting about it. It's kind of crazy."
Low isn't complaining about a lack of interest. So far, he's seen a college recruiter every day during Brownwood's spring practice.
"We've never had a kid that's been recruited like this," coach Keith Wolfe said.
Wolfe has had five offensive linemen sign Division I scholarships in the past seven years. Still, Low is different.
"He's the most athletic offensive lineman we've had in the last seven years," Wolfe said. "What the college guys really like about him is his mobility. He can get out and run."
Brownwood also has other prospects that are drawing nationwide interest, although one, safety Kenny Vaccaro, is thought to be firmly committed to Texas.
Quarterback Casey Pachall is committed to TCU but is thought to be considering other options, which include Notre Dame, Nebraska and Arizona. UT is evaluating Pachall.
Low said he's mostly considering SEC schools, Big 12 schools and Miami, although in no definite order.
That long list of candidates could depend on that June visit to Knoxville.
Asked if UT fans should see the trip as a positive sign for the Vols, Low said, "Yes sir, it is, definitely."
Class Watch: UT is working to sign a top-notch quarterback for the 2009 class and is willing to go to parts afar to do so.
Josh Nunes from Upland (Calif.) High and Allan Bridgeford from Mission Viejo (Calif.) High are two prospects that UT has shown interest in. Bridgeford would seem to be off UT's board after committing to Cal on May 8, although National Signing Day in February still is a long way away.
Nunes has scholarship offers from several West Coast schools. Nebraska and Oklahoma also are pursuing the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder.
Expect more quarterbacks to crop up on UT's board following the conclusion of the spring evaluation period this month.
The Vols have plenty to sell a quarterback prospect. This season, UT will have a junior starter in Jonathan Crompton that will be yielding the position in 2010. The Vols have two quarterbacks on their roster, sophomore Nick Stephens and redshirt freshman B.J. Coleman, with no game experience.
Both have shown flashes, but probably wouldn't be considered overwhelming threats to a top-notch prospects' playing time.
That means a quarterback with enough talent could redshirt in 2009, learn UT's system and compete for a starting position in 2010 with four years of eligibility remaining.
It will be interesting to see what kind of quarterback UT offensive coordinator Dave Clawson recruits. Athleticism could prove more important to the first-year assistant than his predecessors, although pocket passing surely will be a part of the equation.
Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He may be reached at hookerd@knoxnews.com.