Athlete Fugate commits to Vols

Tennessee's football camp is paying early dividends.

UT picked up a commitment on Thursday when Channing Fugate from Breathitt County High School in Jackson, Ky., pledged to be a Vol. The offer came shortly after he participated in camp drills.

"They liked me," Fugate said. "They offered and they wanted me to commit. It was too good to pass up."

UT recruited the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Fugate to play a hybrid fullback role in which he could catch 35 to 40 passes a season. Fugate played running back and strong safety in high school.

"I feel like it's more natural," Fugate said of playing offense.

Fugate had scholarship offers from Illinois, Indiana, Stanford, Purdue, Western Kentucky and Troy.

"I wanted to go to the biggest place I could possible go," Fugate said. "I wanted to go to the SEC."

Fugate's in-state Kentucky Wildcats didn't present him with that opportunity.

"They haven't shown much interest at all," Fugate said. "If Tennessee showed that much interest, I would have thought they (Kentucky's coaches) would have offered by now."

Asked if that would motivate him when he plays Kentucky, Fugate answered "Definitely."

UT has nine commitments for the 2010 class. More will likely be coming soon as the Vols' camp continues through Saturday.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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