Pahokee players have UT on lists

Tennessee lost out on a Pahokee High School prospect on Monday but the news from the Florida school isn't all bad.

Except for receiver De'Joshua Johnson, who committed to Florida State, UT appears to be in good position with the other Pahokee prospects.

UT hosted 11 players from Pahokee at its summer camp last weekend. The Vols have offered scholarships to four of the players, not including Johnson: defensive linemen Richard Ash and Antonio Ford, cornerback Merrill Noel and linebacker Zach Allen.

UT's best impression seemed to be made on Ash.

The 6-foot-3, 265-pounder said he arrived at UT with little interest in the Vols. Ash said that changed after he worked with defensive line coach Ed Orgeron.

"I liked Coach O," Ash said. "He was just saying they need some big d-tackles that can come in and be All-Americans at UT.

"That felt good because I know Coach Orgeron was in the NFL. It's good to know that you have a coach that has NFL history teaching you techniques."

Ash said UT will receive serious consideration along with Florida, Southern Cal, LSU, West Virginia and UCLA.

"It put them up there," Ash said of the Vols.

Noel said he thinks more highly of UT after visiting the school's campus.

"It really boosted them up a lot where they stand in my rankings," he said. "I'm looking at them hard."

The 5-foot-8, 160-pound Noel said he's also considering Georgia, Florida State, West Virginia and Miami.

UT's recruitment of Noel could be aided by former Pahokee receiver Nu'Keese Richardson, who is Noel's first cousin. Richardson is enrolled at UT after signing to be a Vol in February in a highly contested recruiting battle with Florida.

Noel said he'll consider Richardson's presence at UT when making his college decision.

"That would influence me a lot to come to Tennessee," Noel said. "We always talk. He lets me know what's going on and what to expect at Tennessee."

UT was able to show off its coaching abilities to several hundred prospects during the camp. Allen said he was impressed with what he saw from UT's staff.

"They teach you the basics but at the same time they teach you their scheme," he said. "They do a wonderful job."

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Allen said he's open among his 17 scholarship offers but has mentioned UT, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Miami, Pittsburgh and West Virginia as teams standing out.

Pahokee has stood out in the recruiting world recently because of UT coach Lane Kiffin, who made less-than-flattering comments about the town shortly after National Signing Day on Feb. 4.

UT assistant coach Eddie Gran was asked to leave Pahokee during the spring evaluation period. UT's coaches are now welcome after Kiffin apologized for at least a second time.

Noel said he and his teammates have moved on from the incident.

"He probably didn't mean anything bad about what he said," Noel said. "I still think he's a great guy and I look up to him a lot."

The Pahokee players said they still hope to announce their college decisions on Sept. 25. They've picked that date to honor former teammate Norman Griffith, who was shot and killed last September.

UT has offered a scholarship to one other Pahokee player, receiver Chris Dunkley, who didn't attend the camp.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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