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Article published Jul 5, 2009 Lineman, receiver, linebacker all list UT as possibility
www.volquest.com
Wilmington, North Carolina offensive tackle T.J. Leifheit grew up cheering for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Tar Heel state trenchman recently narrowed his list of possible destinations, but his childhood team isn't among those schools.
"I just narrowed it down to my top seven," Leifheit said. "It's Southern California, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Florida State, Florida, Tennessee and LSU. I don't have a leader. Everyone is even.
"They all fit my criteria in different ways. It's really hard to describe but they all have different advantages. By being the best fit I mean a good relationship with the coaches, comfort level around the program and campus. That kind of stuff."Tennessee is in the mix for one of his five official visits this fall. He talks with Vol assistants David Reaves and James Cregg almost every day and has a growing relationship with both.
If Leifheit is to end up in orange, the Vols will have to continue their full pursuit, but also land a top line quarterback.
"I think it definitely helps," said Leifheit, who is rated by Rivals.com as a 4-star offensive tackle in the class of 2010.
"(Scroggins) is a top tier quarterback and as an offensive lineman I always wants to protect a good quarterback. Plus I think it helps recruiting because other players will follow a quarterback."
So much talk around Tennessee recruiting this summer has focused on the quarterback position that less attention than usual (at least from fans) has been paid to who exactly might be catching passes in the future from that yet-to-be-found signal-caller. One prospect who the staff hopes to keep in the picture as a potential receiving target is Illinois wideout Kyle Prater.
Prater (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) was already tabbed as potentially one of the top playmaking threats at his position after his junior season, and closer evaluations by college programs this spring did nothing to alter that perception.
Tennessee is one of dozens of programs around the nation to make a push for Prater, and this summer the Vols found themselves one of the lucky 10 schools to make his initial cut.
"Tennessee is a school that I'm interested," Prater said of his general thoughts on the Vols. "I like what I know about coach Kiffin's offense and that staff seems like they're ready to start something new and exciting. He (Kiffin) had a great track record with receivers at USC and they're a great program in the SEC."
Tennessee had hoped to enhances its chances by hosting Prater on an unofficial visit. That planned trip didn't take place, but Prater noted it was simply a matter of circumstance and not a reflection of flagging interest in Tennessee.
The camps and competitions almost have been too numerous to keep track of for Jeff Luc.
A splendidly talented linebacker with offers from virtually every major college football program across the country, Luc left nothing to chance during a busy summer.
"Every camp I had the opportunity to participate in, I took it," said the 6-foot-1, 230-pounder from Port St. Lucie's Treasure Coast High School in South Florida. "I see it as me competing and getting better. That's why I'm not afraid to participate in any camp."
Nor is Luc, despite his status as the No. 1 linebacker in the nation and No. 8 overall prospect according to Rivals.com, afraid to take a deliberate, measured approach to the recruiting process -- even as countless coaches and schools line up for his services.
Luc recently got a first-hand look at the University of Tennessee, which has long been among his myriad offers, when he visited Knoxville during the Volunteers' camp earlier this month.
"I really like Tennessee," Luc said. "It was nice. It was real nice."
Luc now has his first official visit scheduled for Oct. 3 when the Vols host Auburn in an early-season SEC clash.
Volquest staffers Austin Price, Rob Lewis and John Brice contributed to this report. For additional UT football recruiting news, visit www.volquest.com.