Instate tailback Ty Chandler decided to stay home for his college career Monday afternoon when he announced he would play his college football at Tennessee.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Montgomery Bell Academy product has said throughout the process the opportunity to play close to home was a big deal.

“It’s the opportunity and just staying close to home and just representing Tennessee as a whole and having the opportunity to stay in state,” Chandler told Volquest.com this summer.

Chandler has put on 10 pounds this off-season and MBA head coach Marty Euverard has seen his senior tailback grow physically and blossom as a player during his first three seasons.

"He's one of the best I've ever coached," Euverard said. "He's fast. He's physical. He has great vision and he's a team player. He's a better person than he is a player."

Chandler added this summer's haul of recruits for the Vols let him know something special was being built in Knoxville.

“It definitely opens my eyes to things. It shows that UT is obviously doing something right. When I see other guys commit it makes me take a little bit deeper look at things,” Chandler explained. “I was up there with Maleik (Gray) when he committed and it was just eye-opening to see all these guys committing from the state and them really preaching the message of staying instate is something special and I think they are doing a good job of it.”

Even though he's one of the most prolific ball carriers in the country, Euverard said he's just as good a teammate as he as an athlete.

"He's very unselfish," Euverard said. "He blocks and he carries out fakes. He never complains about how much he gets the ball. He's a true leader. He brings the younger players water and that is the part that is so impressive."