Christian Academy of Knoxville's Davis Howell chooses Mocs

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Arkansas-Oklahoma State Live Blog

Davis Howell made history during his high school football career at the Christian Academy of Knoxville, setting a national record with 358 receptions.

Despite being 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and clearly in possession of a good set of hands, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga was the only Division I school to offer him a scholarship. Howell was offered the scholarship last week and took his official visit Saturday, committing to the Mocs before heading back to Knoxville.

"I was considering some other colleges, but UTC was always the front-runner," said Howell, who had a few Division II offers and had received some interest from some FCS schools.

Howell caught 143 passes for 22 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 yards as a senior. It was during CAK's 48-14 rout of Milan in the Class 3A state championship game that Howell set the record. He had 15 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the game.

The notoriety of setting the record increased the recruiting activity around him a little, but he said he expected more Division I interest. And not getting it will make him a very motivated player when he joins the Mocs.

"All the other schools that didn't offer me or thought that I couldn't play or wouldn't fit into their system, they better look out," he said.

Howell is the second receiver to commit to the Mocs, joining North Cobb (Ga.) High School's Xavier Borishade. National signing day is Feb. 6.

Contact John Frierson at jfrierson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6268. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/mocsbeatCTFP.

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