The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has at least four wrestlers ready to sign scholarship papers when the early signing period opens at 8 a.m. on Nov. 11.

The group includes Baylor's Trey Stavrum and Cole Hayes, Cookeville's Joe Proctor and Cordova's Cullen King.

Although NCAA rules preclude comments from coaches before recruits have signed and returned scholarships, new Mocs coach Heath Eslinger made it clear that he is committed to in-state and regional wrestlers.

Three of the four early commitments were 2009 state-tournament medalists. King finished fourth at 119 pounds, Stavrum placed third at 135 and Proctor was the 160-pound champion.

Hayes had a 45-1 record last year and a Division II favorite at 130 pounds, but he was forced from the tournament by a swollen spleen brought on by mononucleosis. He was a state champion in 2008.

"I'm really excited about wrestling for Coach Eslinger," said Hayes, whose elder brother, Chanse, is a freshman with the Mocs this year. "I know he's a great guy. Part of my decision had to do with Chanse being there, but I'm glad I got to stay in Tennessee and I'm glad I'm going to be part of a great wrestling program."

Hayes and Stavrum will reunite also with two other former Baylor wrestlers, Dan Waddell and Ben Johnson. Waddell, the Mocs' 149-pounder a year ago, is sitting out this season after having shoulder surgery, while Johnson is working behind former All-American Cody Cleveland at 141 pounds.

"That had something to do with me going to UTC," Stavrum said, "but I know most of the team already from practicing over there twice a week with the Chattanooga Wrestling Club. Most of it, though, was the coaching staff."

Stavrum will be a fifth-year starter for Baylor this season. He wrestled for the Red Raiders as a 103-pound eighth-grader and finished fourth in the state. He was sixth his freshman and sophomore years as a 135-pounder.

"We probably brought Trey up before he was ready, but he saved us a lot of team points," Baylor coach Jim Morgan said. "Trey is the whole package. He works hard; he never complains. He's very upbeat. He is not just an individual fighter but a team-oriented wrestler. He and Cole are team captains this year."

Morgan was delighted that two more of his wrestlers are going to UTC, where he used to coach.

"I'm very happy they're staying here. I have always had a love for UTC, and I don't think the guys could have a better college coach than Heath," he said. "The kids are very positive about Heath and his staff. I think he has elevated the level of excitement within the program, and the kids are already feeling that he is there for them."

Proctor will be the first wrestler from Cookeville to sign a scholarship.

"He's planning on signing on November 11," Cookeville coach Scott Cook said. "I told Heath I had never been around a kid of this caliber. He is seriously on a different level with his drive and work ethic. While some kids go to practice to practice, he goes to practice to win."

Cook believes Proctor would probably wind up at 174 or 184 pounds.

"He's a big boy. He's a physical specimen at 175 pounds, and I think he'll continue to grow," the coach said.