Tennessee in Driver's Seat for Sawtelle

It isn't often that top talent in the state of Michigan spend their college days anywhere other than in the Wolverine State. However, five-star lineman Darris Sawtelle of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills has strong ties to the University of Tennessee, and is in Knoxville this weekend.

When GoBlueWolverine.com spoke in March with offensive lineman Darris Sawtelle of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., the five-star talent said that despite claims that Michigan and Tennessee were his leaders, his recruitment was wide open. The grandson of former Tennessee and Detroit Lions star Darris McCord is now in Knoxville on an unofficial visit, and has a solid leader. "We got in on Thursday evening and will be here through the weekend," Sawtelle said. "I have a lot of family here and we're spending time with them right now. We'll be meeting with the coaches and visiting the (Tenn) campus over the next couple of days. You can say that Tennessee is solidly my leader right now." Tennessee will be playing their Spring Game today.

The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Sawtelle said that while a commitment to the Vols was a possibility, it wasn't a done deal. "I really like it here and am comfortable," he said. "Whether a school has good academics or a good football team or any of the other things are not really that important to me as a lot of people think. What it's going to come down to for me is where I feel most comfortable."

Sawtelle said he had no immediate plans to visit Michigan.

McCord was an All-American with the Volunteers before spending his NFL career with the Lions. He graduated from Cass Tech High School in Detroit. Sawtelle said that if a decision does not come this weekend, he will stick to his original schedule. "I want to have it done by the end of summer," he said. "I want to be able to concentrate on the season." Brother Rice will be defending their Division 2 state title in 2006.