Lamaison-to-UT report taken off Mt. SAC site

KNOXVILLE — Quarterback Nick Lamaison’s reported commitment to the University of Tennessee has not been confirmed, and the newsbreaking story on Mount San Antonio College’s Web site was taken down.

The school’s site reported Wednesday night that Lamaison, a junior college All-American, would enroll at UT and be eligible to play this season. He could have returned for a second year at MSAC, according to the release.

Lamaison threw for 3,479 yards and 36 touchdowns last season for the perennial juco power.

“We will truly miss Nick. However, we are excited for him and his opportunity to play and challenge for the starting job at Tennessee,” Mt. SAC offensive coordinator Tom Craft said in the deleted release. “Had he stayed for another season with us, he would have challenged many of the all-time community college records.”

Lamaison has never publicly confirmed a UT commitment, though mutual interest has existed for months. Multiple attempts to contact him today weren’t immediately successful.

College coaches aren’t allowed to comment on unsigned prospects, but the Vols are known to be interested in several highly regarded high school quarterback prospects. Much of their recent attention has been focused on California’s Jesse Scroggins, who is expected later this month to announce a commitment to UT, Southern California or Florida.

The Vols have just two scholarship quarterbacks: senior Jonathan Crompton and junior Nick Stephens. Their 2009 class didn’t include a quarterback, while 2008 signee Casey Kelly chose a seven-figure offer from baseball’s Boston Red Sox and 2007 signee B.J. Coleman from Chattanooga transferred to UT-Chattanooga this summer.

Mike Rozier, a left-handed former professional baseball pitcher and North Carolina quarterback signee, enrolled in UT this summer as a walk-on.