Georgia back sets up a Tennessee visit

As the new staff at Tennessee under Derek Dooley scrambles to salvage a promising 2010 recruiting class in the wake of Lane Kiffin's departure, one player that it has looked to target is running back Rajaan Bennett out of Powder Springs (Ga.) Mceachern.

Bennett was only offered by the Volunteers after the arrival of Dooley and it looks like though the interest has come late, the physical running back has some interest in the Volunteers in return. Following an in-home visit this week, Bennett has Tennessee very much in the mix for his signature.

"Coach Dooley and Coach Thompson came and visited me Monday," Bennett said. "It went pretty good. Coach Dooley said what he had to say and pretty much answered al of my questions before I could even answer them. My impressions of him were that he knew what he was talking about and knows the words that he's speaking."

Before Tennessee had offered, Bennett had focused his attention primarily on Kentucky and Vanderbilt but now the Vols have joined the mix.

"They're in my top three," he said. "I don't really have them ranked it's just my top three, Tennessee, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. This weekend I'm going to Vanderbilt and next weekend I'm going to Tennessee and after all my visits I'll be able to compare and contrast and I should have my decision by signing day."

Bennett has already taken an official to Kentucky. Following his trip to Vanderbilt this weekend and Knoxville the weekend following, he should have all the information he needs to make an educated decision.

"I'll be looking for how I feel with the coaching staff and with the player and my surroundings," he said. "How I feel in the town and do I feel welcome and is it going to be a state I want to be at for four years."

With Tennessee adding a new option to the mix, Bennett isn't holding the late entry into the race against the new coaching staff.

"When they came in, I was kind of surprised because there weren't any big schools recruiting me before Vandy and Kentucky and even though they came in late, the head coach came down. It felt like they had a real interest in me so it just became an extra option that I have."