Manning a draw to Tennessee for Bray

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Kingsburg (Calif.) High School quarterback prospect, Tyler Bray

Tyler Bray has a chance to follow in his idol’s footsteps.

“I’ve loved Peyton Manning ever since I was little,” the quarterback prospect from Kingsbury (Calif.) High School said on the News Sentinel’s radio show, The Sports Page.

Bray will take his official visit to Tennessee this weekend. His interest in UT and his limited scholarship offers (UT and San Diego State) have Vol fans rooting for a weekend commitment from Bray after he tours campus.

“If I like it, I might commit there (in Knoxville),” said Bray, who committed to San Diego State in July. “Who knows? It depends on how I feel.”

As he prepares to head east, the 6-foot-6, 200-pounder is optimistic.

“I just want to see that Tennessee atmosphere I’ve been hearing about,” Bray said. “It’s kind of exciting.”

Bray isn’t ready to turn his back on San Diego State until he sees UT up close.

“I’m still, as of right now, committed to San Diego State,” he said. “After the trip, I’ll see how things go and compare (the two schools) with my coaches and my family. We’ll see where that takes us.”

Bray said he committed to San Diego State because it has an experienced coaching staff, a pro-style offense and is close to home. However, Bray said distance from home isn’t important.

“That will not be a factor,” Bray said. “My family is going to end up moving wherever I go, so it really doesn’t matter.”

Bray could be a quick contributor to either school since he is on schedule to graduate from high school in December and enroll in college in January.

“It’s going to make a huge difference, getting in there early and getting to know the new offense I’m probably going to have to learn and gaining weight,” Bray said. “I need to put on about 20 more pounds and I’ll be there.”

Bray has already put on over 10 pounds this summer. His slim build was a common critique among recruiting analysts. Bray said he’d like to weight 220 to 225 pounds by the beginning of the 2009 season.

“I’m pretty much 200 pounds right now,” Bray said. “Things are going good as far as weight.”

Bray has improved his stock with recruiting services by proving to be one of the standouts in summer camps. He said the experience of showcasing his wares has been stressful but fun.

He is being recruited primarily by UT quarterbacks coach David Reaves and said he has been impressed with UT head coach Lane Kiffin.

“He’s a great coach,” Bray said. “He’s had experience. He’s been in the pros.”

The lure of the SEC seems to only be a modest draw.

“When you’re on the west coast, it’s normally USC and UCLA and all those guys,” he said. “But the SEC is a big conference, one of the biggest conferences in America so you can’t go wrong with that.”

Bray said he has a strong arm, is accurate and has good footwork — all attributes modeled after Manning. Yet he is looking for more than to just follow in someone’s footsteps.

“It would be nice to meet him,” Bray said, “but that wouldn’t have anything to do with my decision.”

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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