Trautwein impressed with Vols

Offensive tackle Phil Trautwein from Voorhees (N.J.) Eastern Regional traveled south of the Mason-Dixon line for his third official visit and got a taste of what southern football is all about. He was very impressed with the attitude he saw in Knoxville, Tenn., and said the Vols rank near the top for his services.

“It went good,” he commented on his visit. “They showed me how much football means down south. It is life down there. I mean they had 101,000 and it was the smallest crowd since 1995.

“The Vols walk was amazing. I mean the band, plus people screaming and stuff. It was a nine, but a good nine. It was almost a 10.” He was hosted by Vol sophomore offensive tackle Richie Gandy.

Trautwein had already visited Michigan State and Boston College and compared his trips to the three campuses.

“MSU and Tennessee both love football and both live and breathe it, and that is where I want to be,” he commented. “At BC they just liked it and didn’t love. It is not as big there.”

He has two remaining visits and said he will choose between Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Rutgers, and Florida for those last two slots. He said he will probably take a visit on the Dec. 12, then hold the last one for January.

“I am looking at the atmosphere since I will be there five years, and the coaches’ success, because success means the coaches will stay,” he commented on his college criteria. “I am also looking at the players and a place that will make me the best I can be.” He plans to wait to make a decision until after he has taken all of his trips.

Rated the No. 26 offensive tackle by Rivals.com, Phil stands 6-foot-6, weighs 280 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 5.3 seconds. He has not allowed a sack in three years, has graded out at more than 90% every game, and is averaging 10 pancake blocks per game. His team is currently 7-3, and will play in The Turkey Day Game Thursday, before concluding his high school career Dec. 6 in the state championship game.

He is an excellent student with a 3.7 GPA and scored a 900 on the SAT. He plans to major in mathematics.