Todd Campbell has plenty of reason to pick Tennessee. Today, he'll make it official.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver from Franklin High School is expected to pick UT over South Carolina and Vanderbilt at an afternoon press conference.

"I'm glad to get it out of the way," Campbell said Tuesday night. "It gets hectic. If you know where you want to go, then you should get it out of the way. I know where I want to go."

If Campbell picks UT as expected, he will be the Vols' third commitment of the 2006 class. Area players Anthony Anderson of Austin-East and Tyler Maples of Maryville were the first to commit to UT.

The opening trio shows a strong commitment to talent within the state's borders. UT has also offered a scholarship to linebacker/safety Harrison Smith of Catholic, linebacker Chris Donald from Huntingdon and Golden Tate from Pope John Paul II in Hendersonville.

If Campbell does indeed pick UT, then it would help the Vols build momentum.

"I think Todd's best football is ahead of him," Franklin coach Craig Clayton said. "He's a raw athlete."

Clayton said Campbell has good hands and runs in the 4.4 to 4.5 range in the 40-yard dash. Clayton said Campbell needs to continue working on his consistency and play-making ability after the catch.

"He has a tendency to play towards the competition," Clayton said.

This will only be Campbell's second season in Tennessee. He played at Todd County High in Kentucky before moving south. Clayton coached in the same area of Kentucky before moving to middle Tennessee.

Clayton and Campbell only knew of each other from afar in Kentucky. Once Clayton arrived at Franklin, Campbell was ready to suit up for the coach and his wide-open passing attack.

"I've always thrown the ball quite a bit," Clayton said. "I think he benefited from the offense we ran here."

Franklin finished 8-4 last season in Clayton's first season. This year, Clayton's star player should have fewer distractions thanks to today's announcement.

Campbell said he's been to Knoxville almost a dozen times. His grandparents live in Knoxville and his mother attended UT.

"It's a great place," Campbell said. "It's not too big and not too small. It's mellow."

Campbell said he won't take any official visits. National Signing Day is in February.

"I want to thank all the people in Tennessee for believing me," Campbell said. "Being an outsider, they took me in."

© 2006, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.