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. .
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Comments » 34
threehundredbowler writes:
Sounds like a good coaching team has been assembled.Give them this year to establish themselves before feeding them to the Lions.I believe this year will be the begining of many successful runs for championships at the sec and national level.Recruiting has already improved and there has already been a noticeable attitude adjustment in the coaching staff as well as among the players.Good things are about to happen with Big Orange Football,and both basketball teams.
miamiVOL writes:
so far so good, Morgan Moses would be fantastic
philfan writes:
I believe that several months ago Fulmer announced that one of the assistant coaches would be later named the recruiting coordinator, based upon his performance in recruiting. If you were to vote for one of the four coaches above to get that position, who would you choose: Drayton, Scott, Michael, or Clawson?
volunteer_cowboy writes:
drayton only because clawson needs to concentrate more on developing QB's and offense but drayton has connections to florida talent
tngivem6 writes:
300bowler, I couldn't agree with you more..big thinks happen to those who wait..
Vols area a sleeping giant..we are getting nothing mentioned about us except we should finish third in the EAST..
well thats ok..We beat Miami when we got looked over in 85' Sugar bowl...
We won the National Championship in a "Rebulding Year"...
The year of the BIG ORANGE is almost upon us..
GO BIG ORANGE!!!!
volunteer_cowboy writes:
When and who will be the next comitt?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Sounds very positive.
budrhon writes:
And Chavez bonus check will be deferred to those mentioned above also.
tngivem6 writes:
Sounds like the VOLS 2 best recruiters are trying hard to get Brown...
we might sneak up and get a easy top 10 class if not higher in '09
volroadwarrior writes:
I hope my optimism about this year is correct. Some of the critics still say we need some DTs. I believe they are right about that. We need some depth and hope we can pick up some good Jr College prospects in that position for the next 2 years.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
hicks would be NICE
volunteer_cowboy writes:
morgan moses said he wanted to go somewhere that the coach was going to be there all 4 years and where he had a chance for early playing time.......... Well he will be playing early if he comes to tennessee because our whole O-Line will be in the NFL next year
vol4gzus writes:
Chavis, not Chavez the Venezeulan(SP) dictator. As they say,"time will tell."
I, for one, am optimistic(NAH REALLY)about the season and recruiting. We will be learning new system with tough schedule so I figure realistically 9 wins tops. On the recruiting side the new energy and youthful infusion bodes well for us down the road. Obviously know where to go and how to say the right(integrity) things to parents and recruits. GO VOLS!!!
slammingseth writes:
dont we all just miss randy sanders? lol jk
gohawks1 writes:
300bowler is spot on. We have a great bunch of coaches in place, and things are starting to look good already. Give them time to get their guys in place and the new system going, and the Vols will be in the mix for the SEC championship every year.
Volomatic writes:
If these guys can get a few more big talents on the d-line for next year we may be in for a great ride to the top faster than everyone else thinks. And the way we play through the year this year may be the deciding factor for the guys waiting to visit schools during game weeks
lets just hope we dont break down this year and those guys
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Volomatic writes:
*loose
utwick writes:
Vol4, I agree with your prediction. I don't know if we can beat all our foes but I would at least like to see our guys be competitive this year against our main rivals. I will give this tean some slack since we have so many new coaches, a new offensive scheme and a new quarterback. Go Vols, beat the Bruins.
bloodrunsorange writes:
I understand the apprehension but don’t sell us short yet. The home games Neyland Stadium will help. The 5 away games, 2 should prove to real beneficial to the reserves. The other 3, one is in the east division, one really doesn’t have our talent and one I really think is over rated (best team in the USA). Great, 2 NEW names that were not on my recruiting lists. REMEMBER THE SUN IS UT ORANGE! KEEP THE FAITH, GO VOLS!
utfpmd writes:
So who "gets" the defensive linemen?
givehim6 writes:
I really hope there will be an end to the UF dominnation eather in 08' or 09'. An out right SEC championship, not just the east champs. And soon a end to the N/C championship 10 year drought, high expectations? Yes! With recruiting like we have now, I see good thinge on the horizon. GO VOLS!
BSweet writes:
Was just checking out Volquest, is Schofield's 3 star ranking new? I didn't think rivals had him that high before.
Savage, if you are reading(I haven't seen you lately), what do you know about the DT prospect Arthur Jeffrey? I think scout has him as a 4 star and rivals a 3 star. I hadn't really heard of this kid until recently. Any info? Also, I expect commitments will probably slow with the season beginning, but do you think UT picks up any more verbals in the near future? If so, who? If you continue with your accuracy, you may want to change your screen name to Magic8Ball, lol. As always, thanks for any insight.
vol4gzus writes:
They did the mash.....the MONSTER mash.....
Phelps just did the olympic mash #8!! USA USA USA USA!!!!!!
Now VOLS make us proud!!!
BigOrangeVol writes:
Greg Atkins is listed as “getting” DT-Herbert; QB-Nunes (with Clawson) and WR-Zach Rogers. (3)
Steve Caldwell is listed as “getting” OL-Revis. (1)
Chief is listed as “getting” LB-Schakelford. (1)
Larry Slade is listed as “getting” WR-Stokes and ATH-Thigpen. (2)
They have Drayton with 1; Scott with 2; Michael with 3 and Clawson with 3.
Clawson, Drayton, Michael and Scott have to get their feet wet AND get comfortable with recruiting for a new school.
On the other hand...Phillip, Chief, Atkins, Brooks, Caldwell and Slade have to get busy!
BigOrangeVol writes:
Participants in the 16 SECCG:
Florida- 8
UT-5
Bama-5
LSU-4
Auburn-3
Arkansas-3
UGA-3
Miss. St.-1
*Twice we were tied for 1st in the East but didn’t go to the SECCG because of the tie-breaker.
We have 6 National Championships in 116 years (average one every 19.3 years).
We have won 13 SEC Championships in 74 years (average one every 5.6 years).
I’ll agree that we should have had at least two more SEC Titles since ’98.
It took us 31 years since the ’67 NC Championship to get the '98 NC and I never heard anyone calling for Majors' head for not winning one in 15 years.
Phillip wins one and half of you want him fired because he hasn’t won another one in the last nine years!
stlvol writes:
BigOrange - 6 National Championships? I think only 1951 and 1998 are generally recognized although its hard to believe a team that went through the season unscored upon (1938) didn't win it. What other years are you including?
richvol writes:
Prior to '67 there was no generally accepted official national championship award. There were however several nationally recognized organizations that awarded the their version of the award. Tennessee has won six...the unscored upon '38 team was one of them. If anyone else doesn't agree that a team like that deserves a NC then they might be a little naive.
Check out Haywood Harris' and Gus Manning's book on the six Tennessee NC's.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
we have 17 commits. I think we take 9 more for 26 total. I will list resignees who will likely be counted against last year's class. I will first off list the 9 I think we will get, based on research on the net: 1-Peter White, 6'4, 340 OG, Washington DC. 4 stars. be a huge get, he likes the Vols, called us his leader. 2 - Marlon Brown, 6'4, 200 WR, Memphis, TN. recently dropped to 4 stars. I think he's all Vol, probably has been for a while. USC is backing off. 3 - Darren Myles, 6'1, 180 DB, Atlanta, GA. 4 stars. Has liked us for awhile. Likely our top DB target left. 4 - Morgan Moses, 6'7 350, OT, Richmond, VA. 5 stars. #1 OT prospect in America. absolute beast. OL don't get 5 star for no reason, he is an Orlando Pace type, would be a huge get. some sources who think UT leads. 5 - Jerod Askew, 6'1, 230, LB, Chesapeake, VA. 4 stars. top LB left on wish list, loves the Vols. 6 - David Oku, 5'10, 190, RB, Midwest City, OK. 4 stars. quick running back, many sources say that it's between FSU and UT, with UT leading. 7 - Akiem Hicks, 6'6 300, DT, Sacramanto JC. Likely a 3-4 star DT from juco ranks. He loved Oregon, but also likes UT and will visit UT. I think we can get him to commit after visit, especially if he visits during the FL game. There are higher ranked guys on UT's board playing other positions, but DT is a priority, I think we take this kid. 8 - Darius Winston, 6'0 180, DB, West Helena, AR. 5 stars. An DB prospect with legit sub 4.4 speed. Decommitted from Arkansas and really likes what he sees at UT with Berry and Morley, figures he can get into mix quickly. I like our chances. 9 - Marsalis Teague, 5'10, 170, DB, Paris, TN. 3 stars. I think we take him if he commits early enough. I do believe he wants to go to UT. I do wonder though if UT pulls his offer once we get someone like a Myles. Now for the re-signees..Well, I think we get only one, Cory Hall has academic issues and don't think we'll have room for Rufus Williams. That leaves: 10 - Rae Sykes, 6'4 255, DE, Alcoa TN. 4 stars as a HS DE out of Alcoa, it looks like he will not have any problems returning to UT. That's it. We may actually have to pull offers from guys we will not have room for. These are guys who I don't think we will get/take. 1 - Eric Gordon, DB, Nashville - 4 stars , I think he goes to Bama 2 - Branden Smith, DB, Atlanta - 4 star DB. Likes UT, but we may run out of room. May end up at UGA 3 - Logan Thomas, TE, Lynchburg, VA - 5 stars. I would LOVE to get this guy, and UT would love to have him, but I get the sense that we may be his #2, right behind UVA. I think he wants to stay close to home. 4 - Will Hill, DE, Williamsurg, VA - 3 stars. This kid really likes UT and I think we may take him if we don't get Akiem Hicks. 5 - Chris Bonds, DT, Columbia, SC. 4 stars. In the end I think he ends up in state
6 - Corey Gaines, DT, Tallahassee, FL. 4 stars. Can't get a read on him.
orangebloodgmc writes:
That was informative, 'cowboy. Thanks.
BigOrangeVol writes:
If all these other schools can count NC's by a dozen different sources then we can also. Most of the final Polls came at the end of the regular season - before the bowl games.
According to the UT Media Guide:
1938
11-0
Dunkel
Litenhous
Board
Haulgate
Poling
1940
10-1
Dunkel
Williamson
1950
11-1
Dunkel
1951
10-1
Consensus
1967
9-2
Litenhaus
1998
13-0
Consensus
budrhon writes:
Vol_Cowboy you have my vote for the KNS putting you on their payroll. Good stuff. What about the King kid out of Melrose?
volunteer_cowboy writes:
i think King goes to bama or miss st.
shoalcreekvol writes:
Now that's a good informative article from the KNS. Adams must be on vacation if he let that one get through.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Count some more national titles for the Vols...The AP poll first picked the champion of college football in 1936...yet years before that the New york Times would pick a champion...and several magazines would, also. In 1932 when the Volunteers played a great New York University at Yankee stadium, Vols won 13-0, and were tabbed the nation's best...what about Vols great winning streak in the late twenties when they produced several unbeaten teams in a row. Knute Rockne, the great Irish coach would acclaim Neyland as the top coach in the land. Back in 20's folks were not picking the top teams...at the same time, Neyland and Tennessee ruled their opponents with an iron fist for many years.
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