Hooker: QB recruits swayed by Cutcliffe's departure

Nothing disrupts a recruiting class like coaching changes.

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Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe’s departure from Tennessee to Duke has seriously damaged the Vols’ chances to land elite quarterback Terrelle Pryor from Jeannette (Pa.) High School.

“Tennessee is still in the mix, but on the back burner,” Jeannette coach Ray Reitz told the News Sentinel on Sunday. “They were moving close to No. 1 with Cutcliffe there. He (Pryor) had a good relationship with Cutcliffe. There was a lot of interest in Tennessee.”

With less than two months until national signing day, the Vols have some serious ground to make up to be serious players in the Pryor chase again. It was Cutcliffe’s experience with Peyton and Eli Manning that drew Pryor to the Vols.

“That’s one of the reasons he wanted to go there and learn from him,” Reitz said. “… He liked Coach (Phillip) Fulmer, but Coach Cutcliffe’s pedigree was big.”

Pryor also downgraded West Virginia on Sunday, Reitz said, because former Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriquez is headed to Michigan. Now, Reitz said he expects Pryor to take a hard look at Michigan, and consider Florida and Ohio State.

But as for the Vols, Reitz added, “It’s not what Tennessee did, it’s just losing Cutcliffe at his position. He wanted to learn from Coach Cutcliffe.”

Quarterback Casey Kelly from Sarasota (Fla.) High School said he will not completely eliminate UT, but the damage has been done.

“Tennessee was kind of my No. 1,” said Kelly, who also is considering North Carolina, Arizona State, N.C. State and Oregon. “Now it kind of opens everything back up again.”

Less than a week ago, Cutcliffe seemed unsure if quarterback Sean Renfree from Notre Dame Prep in Scottsdale, Ariz., was Vol worthy. Renfree said early last week that Cutcliffe wasn’t ready to offer a scholarship to UT and was still evaluating Renfree. There’s no such deliberation at Duke.

“He called me within a couple of hours when he took the job and offered me a scholarship to come to Duke,” Renfree said.

Renfree seemed hesitant to enter a rebuilding situation, which will be the case at Duke. Still, Cutcliffe made a strong pitch.

“He said he can assure me he’ll have one of the best (coaching staffs) in the nation,” Renfree said. “He mentioned a couple of pro guys are going to be on the staff but I don’t remember any names or specifics.”

Renfree said he’s unsure if the Vols will continue to pursue him.

“I don’t know if they’ll follow through and stick with me or if Coach Cutcliffe will just try get me to go to Duke,” Renfree said. “I’d definitely still consider Tennessee. I love that school. Coach Fulmer is one of the best coaches in the country and it’s still one of best schools in the SEC.”

Before Cutcliffe bolted for Duke, UT’s class was already in a tenuous position. With approximately a dozen commitments, the Vols had a strong base but needed to double the class with a strong finish to garner national acclaim.

That base, which is built mostly on in-state players, may be more important than ever. A trio of UT prospects was asked their thoughts on Cutcliffe’s departure following Saturday’s inaugural Toyota East vs. West All-Star Classic at Carson-Newman College.

“I’m still going to go to Tennessee,” Smyrna receiver Rod Wilks said. “I wish I would have gotten to play for him; Cutcliffe is a real cool guy and a great person.

“He’s going to be OK at Duke. He’s going to take Duke a long ways. I believe in him, but I also believe in Tennessee. I stand by my decision.”

Maryville tight end/defensive end Aaron Douglas echoed Wilks’ sentiment.

“Coach Cut, he’s just making the best decision for him,” Douglas said. “I know UT will get someone in there that can run the offense.”

The NCAA-mandated dead period begins today, meaning coaches can’t initiate contact with prospects until Jan. 1. If prospects are concerned about the direction of UT’s offense, they can call. UT’s coaches can’t call them.

And as if the Cutcliffe loss isn’t tough enough to overcome, the Vols also could lose one of their best recruiters. Receivers coach Trooper Taylor was in Waco, Texas, interviewing for the Baylor offensive coordinator job Sunday. Talks will continue today.

If he receives the Baylor offer and is passed over for the same position at UT, expect Taylor to be headed home to Texas. And the Vols to be facing yet another major disruption while trying to assemble their 2008 class.

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

Jesse Smithey and Josh Ward contributed to this report.