Commitment Ambles has big plans for Vols

By Josh Ward

Originally published 11:18 a.m., July 28, 2009
Updated 01:22 p.m., July 28, 2009

Markeith Ambles is ready to help Tennessee win a championship.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound wide receiver from Henry County High School in McDonough, Ga., committed to play football for Tennessee on Tuesday.

Ambles said he chose UT over Florida, the school he once favored.

He said UT won out because he wants to help the Vols return to a championship level.

“There’s going to be some good things happening at Tennessee,” he said. “I just wanted to jump on board.”

Ambles will now try to convince a quarterback to jump on board with UT’s 2010 class.

The Vols have struggled to find a commitment from a quarterback, but Ambles believes his pledge will change the UT’s luck.

“If I was a quarterback I would want to go throw to some good receivers,” Ambles said. “If I commit and some more receivers commit it’d be a good spot for a quarterback to come in there.”

Ambles said he’ll help make sure UT finds a quarterback for 2010.

He said he plans to join the Vols’ coaching staff as another recruiter for UT’s next quarterback.

“I’ll probably just ask them who they want me to call,” Ambles said. “I know a few that are being recruited that I’m going to call up.”

Ambles said one of those quarterbacks is Barry Brunetti from Memphis University School.

He and Brunetti got to know each other at UT’s summer camp June 2.

Getting Brunetti to choose UT would take some convincing. He committed to West Virginia in June.

“I know he’s committed to West Virginia,” Ambles said, “but it might change since I’m committed to Tennessee now.”

Ambles will likely point to Southern Cal when he talks to other quarterbacks.

He said he believes UT’s offense will duplicate what USC accomplished during Lane Kiffin’s time as a Trojan assistant.

“Were going to have some good receivers,” Ambles said. “We should be able to get it turned around and do some big things. It’s going to be kind of like USC’s pro-style offense.”

Ambles said highly touted freshman running back Bryce Brown is a reason he believes UT’s offense will be successful.

He said he and Brown should complement each other.

“It’ll make it easier for him and easier for me,” Ambles said. “When they’re looking for me to catch it he’ll be running out of the backfield. When they’re looking for him to run, I’ll be catching it.”

Ambles still plans to visit other schools this fall, but he said UT fans shouldn’t worry about his commitment.

He said he wants to see other schools while he has the chance.

“I’m solid,” he said. “I’m not switching anywhere.”