Camp performance earns Brown UT offer

On Tuesday, the University of Tennessee hosted some of the top skill players on its recruiting board for a prospect camp. It also hosted some elite players that were yet to receive an offer from the Volunteer staff. One of those prospects was Centre (Ala.) Cherokee County athlete Desmond Brown.

Brown is a unique athlete that stars all over the field for his high school program. However, he wasn't able to play until late in his junior year due to a mid-year transfer from the state of Georgia. Due in part to his limited exposure, Brown's recruitment has not been quite as active as should suit a player of his talents. However his performance on Tuesday should help accelerate things.

Most likely a safety in college, Brown didn't let that stop him from lining up at cornerback for most of the afternoon in Knoxville.

"I tried to test myself today by working out at cornerback instead of safety," Brown said. "I just wanted to show the coaches that not only can I hit hard but I can cover too. You don't have to sub me in and out to cover. I believe I stood out pretty well so I'm proud of myself on that."

Brown came to Tennessee hoping for big things out of his visit to Knoxville and from the moment he arrived, he was not disappointed.

"When I got there, I really didn't know what to expect," he said. "I saw the nice facilities coming in and there were a lot of athletes there and a lot of top prospects. I can't say anything bad about Tennessee. I loved it as a matter of fact."

One thing in particular that Brown was hoping for out of the trip to Knoxville was an offer from the Vols. When camp ended, Brown met with both defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and head coach Lane Kiffin and got the good news that the offer was indeed in.

"I got to talk to the defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and I got to talk to the head coach after I talked to him and he was just talking to me about the offer and if Tennessee was the place I wanted to be," he said. "[Monte Kiffin] was just talking to me about my speed and noticed as a safety what kind of speed I had saying he was real impressed and saying I could possibly be one of the best in the SEC. Right after he said that he went and talked to his son Lane Kiffin."

The young had coach also left a favorable impression on Brown.

"I liked him," he said. "He seemed real cool, especially in that locker room, he seemed real crunk and the coaches were real enthusiastic."

While Brown wasn't ready to make any major decisions following the Tennessee offer, he did come away very impressed with the total atmosphere in Knoxville.

"It seemed like a good place for me as a DB," he said. "It seemed real calm and chill place but also has a lot of excitement in the program. They are one of the top three. They are at the very top. I'd have to work for some early playing time but the way I was playing there, I think I could get it."