Whatever doubts Tauren Poole had about playing football at Tennessee apparently has been resolved.
“I think that’s it now. I’m coming to Tennessee,” the 5-foot-11, 200-pound tailback from Stephens County High School in Toccoa, Ga., said following his official visit this weekend.
The Vols couldn’t have put on a better show for Poole, who was considering South Carolina even though he committed to UT in October 2006.
Of course, the 27-24 overtime win over the Gamecocks in Neyland Stadium on Saturday night helped. But the clincher hit a bit closer to home.
“My mom got a feel of it,” Poole said. “She’s a big part of the decision. I was just waiting on her to say the word. She told me and that’s it.”
Now, Poole can focus on his final few weeks of high school football. With the playoffs looming, Poole has rushed for over 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns.
“I don’t have to think about it,” he said. “Now, it’s over.”
Poole is widely considered one of the top tailback prospects in the Southeast.
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Comments » 16
tedpat#209381 writes:
To Mr. T. Poole: If you want to play on Sunday Tennessee is the Place. The Vol Coaches have sent more RB's than anyone else to the pros. Look foward to watching you next year. Ted from Md.
ncvol17 writes:
Cmon, these kids change their minds 10x b4 signing date. Look at Chris Sims & Cadillac Williams to name only 2 of many.
Recruiting news is like reaidng a mystery whose end hasn't been written. It fools you to the bitter end.
jweaver3#395614 writes:
get up on the wrong side of the ncvol17
GO VOLS!!!
TXVOLSFAN
wkjq#213863 writes:
it looks like nc is having a little trouble spelling too.
londonvol writes:
I believe him until it's clear he lied to us!
FWBVol writes:
This kid has claimed to be on board since last year, and has never given anybody a reason to doubt things. Yes, Chris Simms and Carnell Williams changed their minds and went elsewhere, but I think that was only a 50 percent loss. I never have been impressed with Simms. His dad seems like an OK guy, but Chris has always come off as a cry baby momma's boy. I've never met him, and I may well be wrong, but that's just the way he comes across to me.
Through the years I'd dare say we've had our share of players jump to UT after saying they were going elsewhere.
Of course, it isn't a done deal until the kid signs in February.
arkyvol writes:
chris simms was a bust at texas and is following that up as a bust in the nfl. i remember that his excuse for reneging on his commitment was that he was bothered by the racial situation at tennessee (figure that one out if you can). the irony in his stupidity was that tennessee was starting a black quarterback before he was born. i'm glad he reneged--it saved both sides a lot of wasted time.
BigUn writes:
Glad you are coming to the Big Orange Mr. Tauren Poole!!! We are glad to have you.
thevol writes:
Hey smokey65, better check your stats again. Say what you want about the coaches but sending players to the NFL is not one of the problems. Just an ignorant, uninformed statement.
Colliervol writes:
Hmm. Evidently, ol Smokey doesn't watch the NFL much. Guess he doesn't realize UT has like the second largest number of players in the NFL among all colleges. Nah, we never send anybody to the pros do we?
A common problem around this site. Some folks' mouths kick in before the brain engages. You can go back and play in the sandbox now. Recess is over.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
wouldn't playing in the sandbox indicate that recess is still going on?
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
also, ut started suffering in the won loss column with the missed recruiting of chris simms....remember, then came the clausens (and they were outstanding college quarterbacks, just not nfl type quarterbacks)....also arguments here are about how many nfl guys tennessee has...simms is with the tampa bay bucs ...while neither of the clausens are in the nfl...the loss of simms really hurt ut that year, i personally wanted the kid to bust in the nfl...however his recent injury showed the man has "heart...."
arkyvol writes:
i don't think losing simms hurt UT in anyway at all. in fact quite to the contrary. ask the people at texas their opinion. the harshest criticism mack brown has had was over his inexplicable decision to keep vince young on the bench for two seasons while trying to make a qb out of simms. it didn't happen in austin, it ain't gonna happen in tampa. now--vince young, there's a qb we could have used!
jhenson#377512 writes:
LMAO !!! Smokey65 definitely wins the prize for the day ALLVOL. Too funny.
That's pretty lame Smokey65. Now if you had questioned Phil's use of said talent on Saturdays, I've got your back all the way.
Tennessee has 37 active players in the NFL which puts us behind only
Florida State (They have 40)
Miami
Michigan
Ohio State
Oenoboy writes:
Check out this story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution. I'm not sure if the interview was before or after this past weekend but it sounds like Pool is still weighing his options.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sha...
phi0129 writes:
Let's talk about Sims and Williams.
Did you guys know that because of Sims commitment, we didn't get Ken Dorsey? By the time Sims denied our scholarship he had signed with Miami and we were forced to get Casey Clausen. That sucks!!!
Williams didn't come because of Houston and Davis. They were higher priority recruits and rated higher coming out of high school. Too bad Williams ended up being the prized back of the 3.
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