Montana's son - a quarterback - takes look at UT

Want a “big-name” quarterback? How about Montana?

Nick Montana, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana, was in Knoxville last weekend to check out the Vols and find out if he would be a good match for their quarterback needs.

After not signing a quarterback in the 2009 class, UT’s top goal is to secure a top-flight quarterback for 2010.

Nick Montana could fit the bill. The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder from Oaks Christian Academy in Westlake Village, Calif., reportedly has scholarship offers from several West Coast schools, as well as South Carolina and LSU.

And, if Oaks Christian High School sounds familiar, then Jimmy Clausen should come to mind. Clausen was the superstar among the many recent star-studded classes there.

And if you know Clausen and you’re reading the Knoxville News Sentinel or GoVolsXtra.com, then you know of his older brother: former UT quarterback Casey Clausen.

Casey Clausen is an assistant coach at Oaks Christian, meaning the Vols have a strong tie to one of the most talented programs in the nation.

And as if all that weren’t enough (but it should have been), Casey Clausen’s other student is sophomore Trevor Gretzky. Yes, that Gretzky. He’s Wayne Gretzky’s son — seriously.

Trevor Gretzky could soon be another highly rated prospect from Oaks Christian. For now UT is thinking Montana, who could add some early momentum to UT’s 2010 class.

Montana isn’t the only hope at quarterback.

Jake Heaps from Skyline High in Sammamish, Wash., is scheduled to visit Knoxville later this month. The 6-2, 180-pound Heaps has several scholarship offers from across the nation.

Certainly, the path is clear. UT coach Lane Kiffin told two quarterbacks for the 2009 class that they wouldn’t be a good fit for his system. Both de-committed.

As for any others, Kiffin said he had no hope about landing a top-flight quarterback for the 2009 class when he was just hired two months ago.

“It’s doesn’t happen,” Kiffin said of signing a quarterback that quickly. “You know that. You don’t find a guy with two months left to come in at quarterback.

“It’s hard to find a guy one year early much less two months early. We’re working on that right now.”

National Signing Day 2010 is still almost a year away but Kiffin knows that the nation’s best quarterback prospects will start stamping their tickets soon.

“Guys will be committing here in the next couple of months for this next class already,” he said.

Kiffin hopes one of those prospects will be committing to UT.

The Vols haven’t signed a quarterback in the last two seasons. Kiffin hinted that the situation isn’t ideal for UT, but perfect for the right prospect.

“We have a great set up — to be able to recruit a great guy in this next class,” Kiffin said. “We have a lot of work to do.”

Leftovers: UT is still awaiting decisions from tailbacks David Oku from Carl Albert High in Midwest City, Okla., and Bryce Brown from East High School in Wichita, Kan.

Kiffin maintained on Wednesday that UT wasn’t done recruiting for the 2009 class.

“It’s not finalized,” he said. “This class is not finalized. It may not be finalized for a couple of weeks.”

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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