An SEC battle for Tennessee FB/LB

Four-star Nashville (Tenn.) fullback/linebacker David Holbert has three of the SEC’s premier programs among his current leaders.

“Auburn, Tennessee, LSU, Wisconsin and MTSU have offered so far,” he said. “Those are the ones recruiting me the hardest. I’ve heard a little bit from Georgia, too, a letter or two. I’d like to hear more from Florida State. I’ve always liked them and Georgia.”

Holbert (6-1, 225, 4.6) said Nick Saban’s Tigers currently hold a slight advantage in his recruitment.

“They sent their head coach in to see me personally,” he said. “That really showed me a lot. I was very impressed with him that day. I like where he’s taking their program. They’ve been having some of the best recruiting classes the last couple of years. I think they’re ready to make some noise, and one thing I want to do is go somewhere I’ll have a chance to play for a championship.”

The two other SEC programs appear to fit that bill as well.

“I like Auburn because we’ve had a lot of players from our school go there,” he said. The Tigers 2003 roster includes former Brentwood Academy linemen King Dunlap and Taylor Bourgeois, linebacker Jake Slaughter and kickers Kody Bliss and John Vaughn.

“It would be nice to be around a bunch of people I already know. Plus, it’s a good program that seems to ready to make a run at a championship, kind of like LSU.”

And what about the home state Volunteers?

“I didn’t really grow up a big fan of theirs,” he said. “I always liked Florida State and Georgia the most. But I do like their program. They always have great teams. Plus, it’s close to home. That would be the place where my family could come and see me play easier than anywhere else. That’s something I’ve been thinking about.”

This summer saw him attend the Wisconsin camp.

When noted that seemed like an odd choice for his lone camp appearance, Holbert said: “My pastor went to Wisconsin, and I’m close friends with his son. So we decided to go up there and check things out. We had a good time. It was pretty nice, and I liked their coaches. They seemed really high on me.”

Holbert rushed for more than 900 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior. He also recorded 80 tackles, four forced fumbles and two interceptions at linebacker.

Auburn is recruiting him as both a fullback and a linebacker. Tennessee projects him as a fullback. LSU, Wisconsin and MTSU like him at linebacker.

“I don’t really care about one more than the other,” he said. “I just like to play. Wherever they can get me on the field and play the most, that’s what I like.”

Academically, he maintains a 3.0 GPA and has scored a 21 on his ACT.