Goggans told don't worry

The tight end/defensive end from Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City, Ala., committed to play football for Tennessee in September. Goggans said he is still committed to UT but he is being "open-minded" and considering Alabama and Auburn.

Goggans said UT's losing season and the resignation of offensive coordinator Randy Sanders on Oct. 31 caused him to start looking at other options.

"I don't know what kind of offensive scheme they're going to bring in," the 6-foot-2, 250-pounder said. "Also, Alabama and Auburn have both had good years this year. That made me open up my mind a little bit, too."

Goggans said he had become comfortable with UT's offense and his potential role within the offense. He said he would like to see the Vols hire a new offensive coordinator soon so he can know what to expect.

"For them to bring a new one in, I have no idea what's going on," he said. "I think they should get one pretty quickly so I can get a good feel for what he's going to bring in."

The leading candidate to replace Sanders is former offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe. The News Sentinel reported Tuesday that Cutcliffe had been offered the job.

Goggans said hiring Cutcliffe would put his mind at ease.

"That would help out a lot," he said. "That would make me feel a whole lot better to know that someone who had been there in the past working with Tennessee would come back in and know how to run the scheme a whole lot better."

Goggans said he had heard rumors of UT players fighting amongst each other in the locker room and different possibilities of coaching changes. He said the idea of a lack of discipline concerned him.

"That made me kind of weigh some things through," he said. "I don't want to go to a team that has a lack of class like that.

"That was running through my mind, but I don't know if it's necessarily true or not. That just made me open up my mind a lot."

Goggans said he has discussed the program's issues with head coach Phillip Fulmer and defensive coordinator John Chavis, who is in charge of recruiting Goggans. He said he spoke to Fulmer as recently as Monday.

"He just told me to hang in there," Goggans said. "They've been the winningest program for the last ten years and this is just a hiccup of what's going on.

"I just told him I understand, which I do. I'm still open-minded though."

Goggans grew up an Alabama fan, something he said will not factor into his decision. Still, he said he has seen pressure from local fans to choose an in-state school.

"They tell me all the time, 'If you go to Tennessee you're not going to be known when you come back to Alabama,' " he said. "I don't let all that kind of stuff get to my head. My parents and I sit down and figure out the right decision for me."

Goggans said he will look to his parents for support in making a final decision.

"They just told me sit down and weigh some more things out," he said. "They said, 'We're going to figure out what's the right place for you.' When we committed to Tennessee early on, we didn't know they were going to be going through this much turmoil."

Goggans has not taken any of his five official NCAA visits. He said he only plans to visit UT, Alabama and Auburn.