"Georgia" and "offensive linemen" figure to be frequent buzz words for Tennessee's 2011 recruiting class."Georgia" because the state is key to any rebuilding project for the Vols. It also should be well covered by new UT coach
Derek Dooley and assistant Lance Thompson, who have strong ties throughout the state.
Credit Thompson with bridging the gap between former coach
Lane Kiffin and Dooley. Of the 25 prospects UT signed in 2010, Thompson was involved in the recruitment of at least 10 of them.
"Offensive linemen" is the other term that will be heard quite frequently between now and signing day in February. The reason is obvious: UT needs offensive linemen.
UT signed four offensive linemen in 2010, but there's still a need for more.
The two terms will be used together throughout this recruiting season. As usual, Georgia has some of the top offensive line prospects in the region, led by Watts Dantzler.
The massive 6-foot-7, 310-pound offensive tackle from Dalton High School recently set the recruiting world on it's ear when he named his top five schools: Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
"A lot of people just kept asking me what my top five was," Dantzler said. "I was tired of answering that so I put those out."
Those five are far from permanent. Dantzler still plans to visit North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest in April with his family. He said any of those schools could raid his top grouping.
Those five schools have certainly put themselves in fine position. They have already hosted Dantzler for on-campus visits. He was in Knoxville for the 2008 Alabama game and last season's Western Kentucky game.
"It's a pretty campus," Dantzler said. "The fan support is great. The stadium was really loud. The facilities were great. The indoor facility was great. It was one of the best I've seen."
Certainly, the Vols will have to battle the Bulldogs to land Dantzler, whose father, Danny Dantzler, played offensive guard for Georgia. Dantzler's mother also attended Georgia.
If Georgia can be overcome, then UT, led by Dooley and Thompson, may be the team to do it. Dantzler didn't seem fazed by UT's recent coaching volatility.
"I guess with any team, it could have a bad year and changes could be made," said Dantzler, who plans to announce his college decision on Nov. 16, his birthday. "That's something you just have to adapt with whatever team you play for."
As for the other schools topping his list, Dantzler said he's fond of Auburn coach Gene Chizik, thinks Alabama has one of the loudest stadiums he's ever seen and a proven coach with Nick Saban and appreciates the future that a Vanderbilt education can provide.
With 18 offers, Dantzler has plenty of options. Although, Dantzler isn't the only highly thought of offensive lineman in Georgia. Alan Posey from Clarke Central High in Athens is also considering UT, along with Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Maryland.
However, Posey isn't talking about recruiting after a local newspaper allegedly "twisted his words".
"But I will say one thing," the 6-6, 305-pounder said, "I'm high on Tennessee."
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