Hooker: Vols may get kick by adding unknown Cisco

One of the most intriguing high school prospects to come out of Tennessee's football camp was local unknown Cisco Carter.

Now I don't know if Cisco (and yes, I will be referring to him by his first name from this point forward) will prove to be a big-time college prospect.

However, I do know that Cisco (no relation to the Cisco who sang "The Thong Song") intrigued UT's coaches enough that they spent a lot of time with him during Tuesday's skill-position camp.

"That helped me," Cisco said. "If I messed up, they would just encourage me to do better."

Cisco certainly has the frame. He's 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds.

Cisco seems to have the athleticism. He held his own with many of the talented prospects on campus.

And he'd love to play for the Vols.

"It was nice," Cisco said. "I want to come to UT. This is the first time I've been in the facilities and spent time with the coaches."

Wait, there's a kick.

The lanky young man with dreadlocks is also a field-goal kicker.

"I can make 60-yard field goals," Cisco said.

Cisco is so interested in kicking that he attended UT's kicking camp on Wednesday. The amazing part is that Cisco only kicks casually.

He began kicking footballs in eighth grade for fun after playing soccer most of his life. Boom. Sixty yarders.

"I thought I'd stick with it, that maybe it could take me a little farther," Cisco said.

Uh, yeah.

Cisco didn't play football last year. He had to sit out the 2008 season after he transferred from Webb to Bearden.

This year he'll be a full-fledged Bulldog. Whether you hear from him as a safety or a kicker is anyone's guess.

This much is sure. Cisco is worth a look from the Vols. I doubt he'll warrant a scholarship offer but he's the type of player that is worthy of invited walk-on status.

With the Hope Scholarship, it wouldn't cost Cisco much to come to UT. And he's certainly considering it.

For Kicks: UT's kicking camp didn't receive the same sort of publicity that the previous two camps did because, well, it's a kicking camp.

Still, the Vols will need to replace junior Daniel Lincoln soon.

UT has reportedly offered a scholarship to Michael Palardy from St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Will Hagerup from Whitefish Bay (Wisc.) High is also a possibility.

Corey Acosta from Christian Brothers in Memphis was at UT's camp, kicked well and could also factor into the Vols' plans. Andrew Fletcher from Montgomery Bell Academy was also at UT's camp.

Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He can be reached at hookerd@knoxnews.com.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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