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Vols land big-time quarterback

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Posted: Tuesday July 27, 1999 07:20 PM

PHOENIX (CNN/SI) -- Highly regarded high-school quarterback John Rattay committed Tuesday to the Tennessee Volunteers.

Rattay, a 6-foot-3 Phoenix native and younger brother of record-setting Louisiana Tech QB Tim Rattay, chose Tennessee over Arizona and Purdue.

Rattay made his announcement Tuesday morning at Phoenix's Desert Vista High School, where he passed for 3,200 yards and 37 touchdowns in 1998.

"I decided what was in my heart," said Rattay, a member of PrepStar's Dream Team, who attended the Vols' summer camp. "I had also visited Purdue and they had a lot to offer as did Arizona, but in my heart I wanted to be a Vol."

The national champion Volunteers, who will have to replace senior QB Tee Martin after this season, previously landed Georgia QB prospect A.J. Suggs during the 1999 recruiting season. The nation's top quarterback prospect last year, former NFL QB Phil Simms' son Chris, originally committed to Tennessee as well before signing with Texas.

Suggs finished high school early and was able to practice with Tennessee this spring. Rattay is believed to be doing the same.

 

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