Tennessee solidified its standing as the top team on Mike Edwards’ list during an in-home visit from coach Lane Kiffin and running backs coach Stan Drayton on Thursday.

Edwards, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound defensive back from Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio, has favored the Vols since he received a scholarship offer from Kiffin last month.

Edwards said he was pleased to hear from Kiffin about UT’s academic support for athletes.

“That’s a big thing in my decision,” Edwards said, “knowing that I have a lot of support in academics because I know I’m a person that’s going to need some help in those areas. That’s a big thing for me.”

Edwards also sees a big opportunity for newcomers in UT’s program.

Edwards said he believes everyone will have an equal chance at playing time during Kiffin’s first year with the Vols.

“I’ll have a chance to come to a program where it’s new to everyone,” said Edwards, who’s also considering Michigan, Minnesota and Cincinnati. “These coaches haven’t been here so this program is going to be like a program where it’s fresh for everybody.”

Choosing UT would be a fresh change for Glenville prospects.

The program built by head coach Ted Ginn Sr. annually produces top Division I talent.

But most of those prospects have chosen Ohio State or other Big Ten schools.

Edwards said he and Kiffin talked about starting a new trend.

“I could start the chain and get more people from up this way to start coming down there to start showing people that people from Cleveland really can play football,” he said. “Because some people think that football can just be played in the South.

“If I do make this decision I’m definitely going to show the world that people from Cleveland can play football, too.”

Another one of those people is Glenville offensive lineman Marcus Hall, who is considering UT, Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois and Miami.

Edwards said he and Hall lean on each other to deal with the stress of the recruiting process.

“We’re dealing with a lot of people every day,” Edwards said. “We’re just trying to make the right decisions for our lives.

“We talk about different things other than football. We’re real good friends.”

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.