Tajh Boyd
Entering Week 11 of this college football season, we have already seen a handful of coaches either resign or get dismissed. This week, the dark cloud reared its ugly head over Knoxville: Phillip Fulmer, who won a national championship in 1998, was the latest big name set to be let go (effective at the end of the season).
We acknowledge that the Vols are enduring a disappointing year between the white lines (1-5 in SEC play), but does athletic director Mike Hamilton have a game plan on how to keep their potential top-10 recruiting class from imploding off the field? For Volunteer fans, hopefully it's better thought out than the contract extension he recently signed with Fulmer.
For now, there could be reason for optimism on the recruiting front: It appears that the tumultuous week at Tennessee has not led many commits to jump ship (not yet, at least). Actually, just one prospect, No. 26-rated offensive tackle Antonio Foster (Valdosta, Ga.), has decommitted, and most of the recruits we spoke with appear to be in a wait-and-see mode, saying they are content with keeping their options open.
In our opinion, Hamilton has a significant influence on this current No. 13-rated class; its stability could depend on whom he hires to succeed Fulmer and whom he retains from the current staff. In fact, Tennessee may even continue to add to its impressive group of pledges with the right decision. One of the top uncommitted prospects in the country, receiver Marlon Brown (Memphis, Tenn./Harding), told us this week that in-state Tennessee is still in the mix, and he plans on visiting at the end of January.
"I have to see who the coach is. But I'm still going to take my visit there." Brown told ESPN.com's Midwest recruiting blogger, Bill Kurelic.
This Tennessee class, and today's prospects in general, seems savvy when it comes to avoiding rash decisions as they weigh their recruiting options. For integral Vol commits like ESPN's No. 5 running back Jarvis Giles (Tampa, Fla./Gaither), top-10 receiver Je'Ron Stokes (Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast) and recently committed No. 8 quarterback Tajh Boyd (Hampton, Va./Phoebus), countless programs across the country would welcome their talents until signing day, so waiting for some definitive answers on the future of Tennessee's program is rational at this time.
The longer the process plays out, though, the more time prospects have to look elsewhere and become influenced by other programs. So how can Hamilton relieve some of that uncertainty and create an unwavering atmosphere among Tennessee's 19 remaining commitments while he looks for his next head coach? By following in UCLA's footsteps last year -- it kept top recruiter DeWayne Walker on board after firing head coach Karl Dorrell.
Rick Neuheisel basically inherited and subsequently signed the No. 14 class in the country last year because recruits felt a strong connection with the retained Walker. A similar situation to the one that occurred in Westwood is evolving down in Knoxville. First-year running backs coach Stan Drayton came to Tennessee with a national reputation as a great recruiter, and it didn't take him long to influence some this class's best to become future Vols.
Under Armour All-American Giles told us he was disappointed that Fulmer was let go and will have to start thinking about other schools. That said, later in the week, he sounded more optimistic about sticking with the Vols, telling Southeast recruiting blogger JC Shurburtt that Drayton thinks he will remain on board.
"[Drayton] told me just to call him and he would keep me updated. He thinks that whoever the new coach is, he will keep him and coach [Latrell Scott] because they are recruiters and all that," Giles said.
Scott had a big hand in landing ESPNU 150 prospects Boyd and outside linebacker Jerod Askew (Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Frommel Smith). But there is no guarantee he or Drayton will be retained.
Depending on how Hamilton structures his contract, the newly hired coach may have total influence on his future staff and ultimately whom he signs in his first recruiting class come February. Stokes, ESPN's No. 8-rated receiver, displaying a sentiment seemingly shared by a lot of Tennessee commits, tells us he has to "have a plan B" now but wants to see whom they bring in and avoid making a "hasty decision." Despite the pressure to win, Tennessee has a lot to offer, and Hamilton should have some impressive résumés on his desk in the near future. We trust Tennessee's current commits will be keeping close tabs on those developments in Knoxville.
link
Hybrid Mode
