Martez Eastland's schedule between now and national signing day on Feb. 3 just got busier. Since learning that he is academically qualified for NCAA Division I play, Ringgold High School's star fullback and Tigers coach Robert Akins have noticed a significant increase in calls from notable football programs.
Eastland and Akins met Monday morning with Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt and Rebels offensive coordinator Kent Austin at the Chattanooga airport, where he finalized a plan for an official visit Jan. 29. Although Eastland is scheduled to visit Georgia Southern this weekend, Akins said North Carolina is trying to line up a visit for the same time.
"If North Carolina finalizes everything, Martez will go there this weekend instead," Akins said. "We're not sure if he'll play fullback or linebacker at the next level, but everybody that's calling says they just like how versatile, quick and powerful he is.
"It may be late in the recruiting process, but since word has gotten out that he is qualified now, there are a lot more coaches calling. I just talked to (Auburn assistant) Tracy Rocker, and things are starting to get a lot busier for us."
The 6-foot, 235-pound Eastland, who is rated the nation's No. 4 fullback prospect by Rivals.com and Georgia's 48th best overall prospect, said he was very interested in Tennessee before a summer visit soured him on the previous coaching staff. But head coach Lane Kiffin and some of his assistants left UT for Southern California last week.
"When I got there, Coach Kiffin and some of the other guys were cussing a lot and up in your face, and I didn't like that," Eastland said. "They never said anything about the school or the academics; it was all just about coming to play football for them. I knew (Kiffin) was up to no good when I met him. I just felt like something wasn't right.
"Then we all got in a room and some of them started ripping their shirts off. I thought they were idiots. I thought it was stupid and I wanted to leave, but I was afraid it would have been disrespectful. That just wasn't my type of environment."
When Derek Dooley was hired as Tennessee's new coach, Eastland asked Akins to send a copy of his highlight video to Knoxville in hopes of being asked to come for an official visit.
"I haven't heard from Coach Dooley yet, but I hope to soon," said Eastland, who rushed for 1,561 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, had 310 yards and three TDs receiving and currently is averaging a double-double in basketball. "I would really like to get to know him, and if Tennessee calls and wants me to visit, I would drop any other plans and go visit there.
"I think a lot of schools forgot about me for a while because they weren't sure about my grades. But now that I have a 20 on the ACT and my GPA is up, I'm good, and that's been a big relief because I've always wanted to play in the SEC."