Defensive tackle Edwin Herbert claims he’s still a Tennessee commitment despite taking an official visit to N.C. State last weekend.
Herbert reportedly pulled his commitment to UT but told the News Sentinel late Monday night he’s still planning to be a Vol.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder from City College of San Francisco said he hadn’t heard from UT in weeks during the transition from departed coach Phillip Fulmer to newly hired coach Lane Kiffin.
A call by UT offensive line coach Greg Adkins on Monday helped ease Herbert’s concerns.
“I talked to Coach Adkins today,” Herbert said. “He put me back in the loop again. I was kind of the dark. I went a couple of weeks without hearing anything.”
Herbert said he should still be considered a UT commitment but will consider other options before signing his letter of intent on Dec. 17.
Herbert is completing his final semester at City College and will enroll in his next school in January.
“I wouldn’t’ say I’m wide open but I’m giving other schools a shot,” Herbert said. “They’d have to do something pretty big to impress me.”
Herbert took what he described as a “cool” official visit to N.C. State this weekend. He’s also contemplating an official visit to Arkansas but said he likely won’t take an official to Florida as was previously considered.
“I want to take care of this right away,” Herbert said.
Adkins will be in California on Thursday to relay the latest developments at UT. However, it’s UT’s new coaches — Kiffin and the Vols’ yet-to-be announced defensive coordinator — that Herbert wants to meet.
“I want to talk to them before I make any decisions,” Herbert said.
Herbert likely will hear from Kiffin soon as Kiffin began calling recruits Sunday morning and is on the road this week.
UT’s defensive coordinator could take awhile. Multiple media reports have tabbed Kiffin’s father, Monte Kiffin, as UT’s next defensive coordinator.
Monte Kiffin is the defensive coordinator for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Bucs, who have four regular-season games and the playoffs left to play. It is unlikely that Monte Kiffin would leave the Bucs before their season is complete.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 47
GoVols133 writes:
4th oh i mean 1st.
GoVols133 writes:
Now on a real note, what defensive player wouldn't want to play for Monte.
MustangPackage101 writes:
Not one! That is the beautiful thing about all of this. The man will give all of our players the knowlege, and the skills to be successful at the next level.. If it does turn out to be Monte expect to see some big time defensive recruits coming our way.
VOLorado writes:
Oops-
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football...
vol1 writes:
Sorry to be ignorant of Monte Kiffin but all I hear are good things about him..why?...who is he other than Lane's dad?..I know he's the Buc's Def Cord..that's about it.
Volnbama writes:
HIS WIFE IS SMOKING HOT!!! MAYBE SHE CAN HELP RECRUIT?
orangesox writes:
This brings up a valid point. I don't know how old you are, Rodney, (and this isn't meant to slam you in any way), but how much do young high school aged kids know about Monte Kiffin really? When the Buccaneers won their Super Bowl, most of these kids were probably 10 or 12 years old. The man's a defensive whiz, and with a little research any kid would be crazy not to want to play in his defense. Especially if that kid had any inkling that they might want to play in the NFL in the future, because a good percentage of the league uses the Tampa 2 defense.
txvolsfan writes:
He said in the press conference that he had taken and found out he had passed the test. He also said that Sun. was the first day he could start calling recruits per the NCAA.
Spurrier is already scared because a 33 year old man took his recruiting coord. and looks better in a visor than him.
GreerVol22 writes:
Hang loose Ed, we lost some seniors on the D line and whats behind them ain't much so playing time could be immediate.
southernson writes:
WELCOME ONE WELCOME ALL ,IM PROUD TO A TENNESSEE VOL....
pdhuff#552644 writes:
GV, I'd say you are very right. Throw a fast LB in the mix and we could have a very good D nest fall.
Other than the Gators, the early part of the season should be a confidence booster.
Lots of new faces on O.
lomas98 writes:
As a bucs fan I am sad to see Monte go, but as a TN alum I am thrilled. Monte's defense is the only reason Gruden still has a job in Tampa. It was a crazy idea that Gruden would come to UT as his offense is terrible. Without Monte, the bucs are probably a 6-6 football team right now. The only concern I have about Monte going to the college game is can he handle only being able to work with the players a limited amount of time. He works all night long here and in college there are rules to how much time you can spend with the players. He will also have to go out and find young kids to play for him who have other options. In the NFL you get drafted or a team bids higher in free agency and players don't have other choices. I guess he will leave that part to Lane. I hope the players buy into his system but I think even defensively it may take a couple years. The college personnel is much different than what type of player Monte works with in the NFL. Ronde Barber is an all pro CB, in college he would be an outside LB for an SEC school or SS. The Tampa 2 relies on big, physical CB's and I don't think we have that at UT.
JeffBleedsOrange writes:
You're an idiot.
murrayvol writes:
It's not a crime to be ignorant. It is a crime not to fix it.
Google Monte Kiffin and read his rap sheet. That'll tell you all you need to know about his defensive credentials.
Like many others it's hard for me to imagine a defensive player with the urge and ability to play at the next level not wanting to sign on with this guy. He's about as good as it gets.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
You think maybe he could maybe coach up TDTN, KingsportV, Tj, Dupree and me?
Or is that asking too much?
knoxlawvol writes:
What were Phil n' Friends doing for the last few weeks? I mean besides cutting contact with a ready to play commitment at our greatest position of need? Workin' like heck!
Volunatic writes:
What were Phil and Friends doing?
Hmmm...
http://www.phillesh.net/philzonepages...
Seriously, though-- it's good that we are recruiting some good DT's. With the secondary we have, a strong defensive line can completely disrupt an opposing offense.
GO VOLS!!!
Volunatic writes:
He is a great defensive coordinator, but I wonder if his age (68, I believe) might affect his recruiting abilities. I sure hope not!
blitzshoot writes:
Quarterback will remain a concern though.
blitzshoot writes:
Good post ... and you're right. It will take 2-3 years to recruit the athletes to run the system. I would like to be a fly on the wall the first time this staff watches the offense. I believe a few heads will drop.
DennisVols writes:
In todays Sporting News, Oku confirmed he is still a Vol commitment. He has spoken with Kiffin and is very excited about comming to UT and helping turning thigs around.
crappieking writes:
Hopefully we can re-claim some of those recruits that decommited.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Agreed. Ainge dinking and dunking as Cut ordered produced a few more yards I would say.
Maybe they'll coach 'em up and get a few WRs with speed to seperate.
Much needed new day dawning.
GoTennessee writes:
Our defense is really good right now (6th in the country). Having Monte on board will only make it better. We better do something about our offense. Our O line did not have a very good year and our Q-back situation needs immediate attention! If we get Giles with what we have coming back @ running back, our running game will be good if we get the needed O-lineman!!!
I'm sure offensive recruiting @ all positions is a top priority!!! Go Vols!!!
pms151 writes:
I really like what he said about on the job training in a dysfunctional organization. He is going to need it around here.
vickynphil writes:
The most disturbing thing of the article is that Herbert said he had not heard from UT in several weeks?? I know Fulmer had to go through mourning but,?? not contacting the commits that you have?? I do not get that, was Fulmer pissed & didn't care?, so distraught he didn't know what to do?, or are the assistant coaches that lazy? or did Fulmer order them not to contact recruits? Not a good answer either way in my book. As for Atkins why would you keep the offensive line coach?? The worst & most underperforming unit on the team last year , all returning starters. Boy, Clawson's offensive scheme must really be stupid & pathetic in the eyes of real coaches.
cainclifton23 writes:
Chris Donald was the #18 player coming out in Eric Berrys class
cainclifton23 writes:
Yea he is the real deal, far better then a certain LB we started.. NR.
I Can't eait till we run the Dual Split back formation.
WIth 2 rb in the back field...
Maybe Creer and Oku
Or Hardesty and Poole
and i pray we get dangerous on special teams and get better defending special teams
cainclifton23 writes:
That guy is far over rated,
Not to the fact why he was getting recruited by ECU and Duke...
He is Athletic but has a week arm and throws an ugly ball
BigOrangeVol writes:
Monte Kiffin has a college resume too. He was at Nebraska ten years under Devaney and Osborne (last three as DC & two National Championships), DC/Asst. Head Coach for three years at Arkansas for Holtz (led the nation in scoring D in ‘77) and Head Coach at NC State for three years so after 16 years I’m pretty sure he understand the NCAA.
He also worked for the Packers (LB’s), Bills (LB’s), Jets (LB’s), Vikings (LB’s & DC),Saints (DC) and Tampa Bay (DC).
The Tampa 2 is nothing more than a tweaked version of Dungy’s Cover 2. He prefers speed over size and strength, bend but don’t break defense, multiple schemes from the same formation, QB pressure and causing turnovers at all costs.
Kiffin has worked for Bob Devaney; Tom Osborne; Lou Holtz; Bart Starr; Bruce Coslet; Pete Carroll; Dennis Green; Tony Dungy; Jerry Burns; Jon Gruden… in his 23 years in the NFL.
BTW, I posted this last night from the Tampa Trib…
Jarvis Giles said in a text message to The Tampa Tribune that Lane Kiffin told him during a Sunday morning telephone conversation he was bringing his father with him to UT.
GreerVol22 writes:
PD,
I'll bet Coach K will evaluate our current line up of Qbs in about 10 minutes and then decide to hit the road and recruit someone that can read a play book.
TommyJack writes:
A tall order, PD.
Here's what I believe (hope).
I think CLK will put the best players on the field. Not sure that's been done in recent memory.
SomeGuy writes:
Spurrier calling someone else a cheater? I am LMAO at that one. I'm surprised that ole Steve could break away from looking at stolen opponents' playbooks to take the time to hold that press conference. In any case it's always good to see Spurrier remind everyone of the fact that he's one of the all-time cheaters and even worse, a guy who had to cheat to win at Florida of all places with all that talent that just falls into a coach's lap down there.
Ha-ha - Steve, you are a fraud! Thanks for reminding everyone of that fact.
chrisw2967 writes:
we really dont know whats behind the D line or how good these players are , you have to remember all of these kids on the team right now have not been developed yet.like i have said before these kids were no better when they left than they were when they arrived and it wasnt their fault.the coaches got lazy after 98
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Some kids who are not NFL nuts may not know Monte Kiffin's name, but most of their fathers and the kids' high school coaches will know who he is! Other posters have remarked on how little Chavis traveled to recruit, yet his defenses were always pretty good. Monte may not travel much, either, but when he does, prospects will listen. Also, let's not underestimate his impact on guys who come to UT on their recruiting visits.
lomas98 writes:
Agreed that statistically our defense is ranked really well. Our offense was so bad that once teams got a lead of 2 possessions on us, they got really conservative. The only way other teams knew we would beat them was if Berry made a play defensively. FL called off the dogs at halftime once turnovers and special teams got them the lead. Most of the teams we played this year had just horrible offenses. I am not taking anything away from the defense, I just don't want people to expect Monte to come in here and work miracles. We still have no proven DT's and are losing 2 starting LB's. If our defense is ranked lower next year, just give it time. I think Berry will be even a better player now if he learns this system. I am a bucs fan, but I know more TN fans will now watch the bucs D more carefully now. Please don't get bent out of shape if the NFL's best receiver makes plays against the bucs D next Monday night.
diamond_dave35#235769 writes:
Smoking hot wives dont win football games
1volgal writes:
What are the odds of Drayton staying and Giles coming back on board?
volboy81 writes:
we need to concentrate on getting Jarvis Giles from Tampa and Dominique Allen from Henry Co. back. I hope Kiffin's visit with Marlon Brown from Memphis Harding went good!
OdessaVol writes:
lomas,
I live in Tampa and follow the Bucs as well. I agree that without the Kiffin led D that the Bucs would be a perenial .500 club. Even though Monte will have limited access to the players vs the NFL, he will be putting in similar hrs in preparation/strategizing. Even if he has to dumb down his schemes the Vols will perform well in his system. Monte, even at 68, has a boatload of energy and his players will run through walls for him. I also believe kids will flock to this guy. This is a coup. I have to disagree regarding Ronde. At 5'10" and 185 lbs he would stay at CB Relatively speaking, our CB's are not small. Rogan is similar to Ronde and Vincent and Evans are bigger.
crappieking writes:
Agreed.I went and saw Marlon Brown play one time this year. Awesome athlete that would be a great addition.
utmdm writes:
Maybe the other three. Talked to Ma and she said she ain't toting around no ice bags for the old man after he runs into Berry.
utmdm writes:
Really, what could they do or say to matter all that much? These young guys want info from someone who is going to be around the next 2-4 years.
utmdm writes:
unless we put them on the sidelines to distract the opposing team.
utmdm writes:
While we should close the borders, dont think Allen is in a priority position right now. Time might be better spent elsewhere as OL DL.
cybervol writes:
I can't add too much about Monte Kiffen that you guys haven't already covered, but I will say this. You can bet that every stud defensive player in south Fla. knows who he is. And there's alot of them.
britt writes:
This guy could end up starting next to Big Dan. Any others thinking about spring enrollment?
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