David Cutcliffe's track record as a coach speaks for itself. But what can Tennessee recruiting fans expect if he becomes the Vols next offensive coordinator?

Much of the same.

UT is expected to announce Cutcliffe as its next offensive coordinator within a matter of days. Cutcliffe's primary responsibility will be to restore accountability and toughness to an offense that had its worst season in Phillip Fulmer's tenure.

Cutcliffe can have an even-more immediate impact in recruiting. His hiring could have a calming effect on a class that seems to lack momentum and certainty among its commitments.

Cutcliffe's recruiting prowess with quarterbacks is well documented. While at Tennessee, Cutcliffe helped secure quarterbacks Heath Shuler and Peyton Manning then landed Eli Manning at Ole Miss.

The Mannings were No. 1 picks in the NFL draft. Shuler went No. 3.

Some might be surprised to know that Cutcliffe, while UT's offensive coordinator, was the primary recruiter for several other UT stars such as defensive end Leonard Little, running back Jay Graham and defensive lineman Shane Burton.

Cutcliffe is quick to point out that a coordinator's strongest impact in recruiting can come from talent evaluation. The time demands of a coordinator's job don't allow one to cover a large area's worth of recruits.

"If you're a coordinator, you're making evaluations on every offensive player, every position," Cutcliffe said. "That's going to be important to your success. That's always the case."

Cutcliffe said developing relationships with prospects and parents during official visits is also a way for a coordinator to have an impact on recruiting. Leadership is also important.

"There are so many ways to contribute," Cutcliffe said. "I think it's a big key to have your own recruiting board in the offensive staff room and make your offensive staff very aware of what you have to do as a group to recruit well."

Cutcliffe is very forthright when it comes to the potential impact he could have on a recruiting class already months in the making. If he accepts the UT job, he knows he would be playing catch-up with just 10 weeks until national signing day.

"Recruiting happens so fast and so early now," Cutcliffe said. "It's difficult to sit there and say if a coach steps in to a situation halfway into recruiting how much impact they can have."

Still, the calming effect on a program turned upside down would be Cutcliffe's greatest holiday gift to the Vols.

"I would hope so," Cutcliffe said. "I don't want to sound arrogant, but I think that if I'm put in a situation where I'm coaching again, I think I bring a track record that says we're going to be successful.

"Players and parents know that. The reason I know that is that's the kind of response I got at Notre Dame."

Cutcliffe spent only a spring at Notre Dame before his heart surgery sidelined him. He said the response to his name in recruiting circles was unbelievable.

"We were real-well received," Cutcliffe said. "I was surprised how many people in Michigan and Pennsylvania and different people along those lines knew who I was and what we accomplished. It really did catch me off guard."

Silver Lining: No one in UT's program would even begin to suggest that the Vols are better off not being in a bowl game in order to spend more time on the road recruiting. There should, however, be one week worth of logistical advantages.

With no bowl practice, UT's coaches will have a week that they can solely focus on recruiting. The contact period ends Dec. 18 and usually overlaps bowl practice by one week.

UT's coaches are usually forced to travel after bowl practice during that week and return to Knoxville that night. This year, coaches will travel all day allowing them to see more prospects.

UT recruiting coordinator Greg Adkins said he and UT's staff don't feel anymore pressure to turn in a top recruiting class just because the Vols struggled in 2005.

"I don't think so," Adkins said. "You recruit the best players year in and year out for our needs at our positions."

Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He may be reached at hookerd@knews.com.