Scout.com's No. 1 strongside linebacker, Chris Donald (6-3, 220, 4.5), from Huntingdon (Tenn.), continues to focus solely on Tennessee and Notre Dame.
"On December 8, I'm visiting Tennessee," Donald said. "I expect it to be somewhat different from when I visited Notre Dame (October 7). I'm a Tennessee boy; they treat me like a hero or something. Tennessee is my home state. I love it here and I'll be close to my mother. Tennessee is a great school, they're doing well and I've been talking to the coaches since my junior year. I have a strong relationship with all of them. My mother doesn't have a preference, but of course she wants me to stay somewhat close to home.
"Coach Charlie Weis and Coach Rick Minter (defensive coordinator/linebackers) call me every week. I enjoyed my visit to Notre Dame. If was my first time flying, which I enjoyed. And they treated my mother and I very well. They had a car and driver waiting for us at the airport. I thought that was cool.
"I met Toryan Smith (linebacker) who was my host during my visit at Notre Dame and we have, since then, developed a friendship," he said. "We text each other all the time. We talk about lots of different things. He'd love for me to play for the Irish, but understands that I have to make the decision on my own.
"A couple months ago I was considering a lot of other schools. The amount of phone calls and letters we get is amazing. Not to mention, all the planning for the official visits. My schedule, my mom's schedule and the coaches' schedule. It takes a few phone calls to line it all up. It gets annoying real quick.
"I finally had to say 'enough'," said the five-star prospect. "I'm glad I have narrowed it down to only two schools and two official visits. I don't plan on taking any more official visits. I have always favored Notre Dame and Tennessee. I figured since they had always been at the top of my list, might as well make it just between those two schools. I've told all the other coaches from other schools that my decision is now between Notre Dame and Tennessee, but they still call. I guess I'd rather have them call than not call. I'm blessed.
"Both schools are recruiting me as linebacker and say that I have great speed and a good nose for the ball. I plan on calling the coaches in early January before the U.S. Army All-American Bowl to let them know which school I have chosen. I don't want to go into the game with it all on my mind. And, that will be that."
Donald reports a 3.0 core GPA and an 18 ACT score--December retake.