UT's new assistants good pitchmen

This season will serve as judge and jury for Tennessee's offensive staff, which consists of four new coaches.

Just how will they fare in the SEC? That answer is only a few short weeks away.

Nevertheless, we've already learned that UT's newest coaches and first-year UT director of high school relations Kevin VanDerzee can recruit. The Vols have 17 commitments for the 2009 signing class.

As for the new quartet, they have been the primary recruiters for seven commitments, played a major role in countless other pledges and are in the mix for some of the top talent on UT's recruiting board.

Here is the breakdown of each coach's gets, assists and chases.

Dave Clawson, offensive coordinator

Gets: Clawson's primary responsibility was securing UT's quarterback of the future, preferably before the season started so he could then focus on game planning.

Mission accomplished.

Clawson secured two quarterbacks for the 2009 class: Josh Nunes from Upland (Calif.) High and Bryce Petty from Midlothian (Texas) High.

Clawson deserves extra credit for securing defensive back D.J. Hunter from Middletown (Ohio) High.

Assists: Clawson has been a factor with every offensive player on UT's commitment board.

Chasing: UCLA. For a coordinator, it's time for recruiting to take a backseat to game preparation.

Stan Drayton, running backs coach

Gets: Drayton's most significant get is one of the best prospects on UT's commitment list - tailback Jarvis Giles from Gaither High in Tampa, Fla.

Assists: Drayton also played a major role in landing Dominique Allen from Henry County High in Paris, Tenn., running back Toney Williams from Milton High in Alpharetta, Ga. and offensive lineman Aubrey Phillips from Olive Branch (Miss.) High.

Chasing: Drayton is still working on linebacker Frankie Telfort from Gulliver Prep in Miami and linebacker Jon Bostic from Palm Beach Central in Wellington.

Drayton is also one of two coaches double-teaming receiver Marlon Brown from Harding Academy in Memphis. Brown is the News Sentinel's top-rated prospect in the state.

Jason Michael, tight ends coach

Gets: Michael proved early that his run in the NFL didn't cause him to forget how to recruit. Michael secured UT's second commitment of the 2009 class with Allen in April.

Assists: Michael was the first to evaluate Petty. The subsequent recommendation must have been right on as UT offered him a scholarship shortly thereafter.

Chasing: Michael isn't done with Allen, as evidenced by his recent trip to LSU. Sometimes "chasing" means babysitting.

Michael is focusing his other recruiting efforts on tight ends Logan Thomas from Brookville High in Lynchburg, Va., and Orson Charles from Plant High in Tampa.

Latrell Scott, wide receivers coach

Gets: When UT needed a linebacker, Scott delivered with a commitment from Nigel Mitchell-Thornton from Stephenson High in Stone Mountain, Ga. Picking up Mitchell-Thornton was big; opening a pipeline into the talent-rich area that had long spurned UT may prove even bigger.

Scott was also the primary recruiter for Williams.

Assists: Scott played a role in landing two receivers: Zach Rogers from David Lipscomb in Nashville and Je'Ron Stokes from Northeast High in Philadelphia.

Chasing: Scott, along with Drayton, is working on Brown.

Scott is also heading up the charge for linebacker Jerod Askew from Oscar Smith in Chesapeake, Va., safety Darren Myles from Carver High in Atlanta, defensive end Will Hill from Lafayette High in Williamsburg, Va., and cornerback Branden Smith from Washington High in Atlanta.

Scott is also the primary recruiter for one of the top remaining prospects on UT's board - offensive lineman Morgan Moses from Meadowbrook High in Richmond, Va.

Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He can be reached at hookerd@knoxnews.com. .

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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