Ultimate Warrior is Ultimate Vol

ATLANTA --- Tangie Warrior said she remembered her son, Nigel Warrior, going to University of Tennessee football games as early as age 7.

But here at the College Football Hall of Fame today, she said it was this past Sunday when Nigel informed her he intended to be a Tennessee Volunteer for fourth-year coach Butch Jones.

A four-star safety and RivalsTop100 player, Warrior had been coveted by Tennessee, among virtually every major program in college football.

"Probably after the last (official) visit at Tennessee," she said. "We've gone to Tennessee numerous times. He's been going to Tennessee since he was probably about 7, around that age. But this last weekend at the official visit, it was a very, very nice visit.

"It was almost like everything just worked. And I could just tell from his mannerisms that he felt like this is where he should be."

For Nigel, he wanted to honor the legacy of his father but also stressed a desire to carve his own path.

"I'm a Vol because I am more comfortable at Tennessee than any other school I've been to, and also I want to continue my dad's legacy and i want to beat some of his records and things like that," Warrior said. "It helped me during my decision."Coach Jones and the staff, they weren't trying to be coaches. They were actually being there as a friend or as a dad. They weren't really thinking about football. They just had me there going through the every day schedule. That helped a lot, and just being with the players, that was amazing."

Warrior keeps virtually intact Jones' perfect record with nabbing the top-flight offspring of former Tennessee standouts, from Dillon Bates to Kahlil McKenzie and, among others, now Warrior.The Army All-American stressed that he can help Tennessee immediately --- and he emphasized he doesn't believe he's limited to just the back-end of the secondary.

"I can help a lot, anywhere," Warrior said of a potential immediate impact after the Vols lost two senior safeties in Brian Randolph and LaDarrel McNeil. "Not just safety; anywhere you need me at, I'll be there."

Tangie Warrior said that while one chapter of the journey closes --- and should allow for more restful nights --- another one for her son is on the horizon.

"So excited, so proud. I barely slept last night, just ready to get here and get it done. I’m so excited for him. It’s amazing. It’s almost like I’m in a dream. … We’re here now and it almost seems like unreal," she said. "It meant a lot [that Nigel stressed her impact during his announcement]. It shows that he appreciates all the hard work that I did put in. But I just thought that was being a parent."

And what stood out to mom about the Vols?

"Family. They were very welcoming," Tangie said. "They showed my family a lot of love, outside of just football. We’d talk about football but just the love and support they were willing to give him. Even though he had the legacy there (as the son of former All-American Dale Carter), they still went beyond that. It wasn’t for them just about the legacy; they really wanted him and showed him a lot of admiration. They wanted him to be a Vol."

Added Nigel, "We've been through a lot. Me and her, we get into arguments almost every day over little stuff but that's just to show me that she loves me. Actually I'm just so happy to have her as a mom because she stays on me and I am the person I am because of her. It's something every day. She can teach me about everything."

Warrior is set to enroll at UT this summer, and he said until then he would spend time honing his craft and "probably training with my dad."