By JIM STEELE
pressbox1.com

KNOXVILLE - For a long time, Chris Donald was a sought-after commodity. His athletic prowess was the topic of conversation among college football recruiters and analysts since he was in junior high.

And why not? Donald helped lead his Huntingdon Mustang junior high team to a 9-0 mark as an eighth grader, then followed up that campaign with a TNT state basketball championship and another undefeated ledger. When the phenom entered high school, Huntingdon coach Mike Mansfield knew he was going to be dogged by inquests about his prodigy for the duration of his prep career.

Donald had a great freshman season, helping the Mustangs to a 14-1 mark and a state championship. His 200-plus-yard effort against Milan in the state semifinals vaulted the ‘Stangs to the turf in Murfreesboro and elevated his status in the football world. One Mr. Football trophy and a high school football career later and Donald finds himself in a place he wanted to be to begin with: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn.

The former Mustang has been part of the University of Tennessee football fold since June and says he’s ready to get going. He can hardly believe his time in an orange uniform has started. He’s finally a member of the Tennessee Vols’ football team.

"It feels good," said Donald, beaming with a big grin as he survey’s the cavernous green sword of the 102,038-seat facility. "I’ve been here since June and haven’t really had a summer, but it’s all been worth it."

Donald has used this time to get a jump start on the Tennessee defensive schemes. He has some good tutors: his position coaches, defensive coordinator John Chavis and several players who have taken him under their wings.

"The big challenge for me is that I used to know where to be and what adjustments to make and now it’s all different," he said. "But I want to learn and I want a chance to step up and compete."

He has befriended returning linebacker Jerod Mayo, a 6-2, 230-lb. junior linebacker.

"Chris is going to fit in nicely," Mayo said. "He’s anxious to learn and he knows I’m always here to teach him."

"I’ve been staying after with Jerod and trying to learn," said Donald. "He’s been a big help."

As of Saturday, Aug. 4, the Vols hadn’t worked in full pads yet, so the jury is out on who will play and who will redshirt. But all indications are that Donald will get every consideration and right away. Fulmer indirectly included Donald during his remarks.

"I do expect an impact from our freshman class," said Fulmer. "I don’t know how they’ll respond until you get them in situations; we just have to get these guys ready as a group."

Specifically, Fulmer singled out Donald as someone who has a lot of potential to help right away.

"Chris is a big guy who can run, but we want to see what it’s going to be like with him when we put the pads on," Fulmer said. "We’ve got to let them go out and see what they can do and we’ll have a better idea in about two weeks where we are."

Chavis agreed.

"Chris Donald has not disappointed me at all," said the "Chief," as he is known. "I think Chris is a good football player, athletic and talented."

Donald is also learning from Kevin Simon, who was a top-flight linebacker for the Vols just five years ago.

"Simon is a cool dude," Donald said with a laugh.

Florida State and Notre Dame were hot after Donald during the recruiting process, but the prodigy disclosed that Tennessee is where he wanted to be from the start. The rest was just a formality.

"I always wanted to come here," Donald said. "One of the main reasons was because of the family atmosphere here. The choice wasn’t too hard but I just wanted to make sure that this was the right place for me."

Donald says the challenge in front of him is to learn the position all over again. He likes to hawk the ball, he likes being a head-hunter and he likes to hit.

"I just need to learn the plays, the reads and the spots," he said. "I just want to keep getting better. Sometimes I feel like a lost puppy, but I’ll get better. I just have lots to learn."