Despite what seems to be an obvious need, Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin said Saturday the 2009 signing class might not include a quarterback.
Before Kiffin's arrival three weeks ago, UT had commitments from quarterbacks Tajh Boyd and Bryce Petty. Those two players both de-committed after conversations with UT coaches.
NCAA rules prohibit Kiffin from speaking about specific prospects, however Kiffin did say the Vols won't sign a quarterback unless he's a true fit for Kiffin's pro-style offense.
"We may not take a quarterback in this class, and I'm OK with that," he said. "I don't want to take a quarterback that's going to come here and not going to meet our expectation level for what we're looking for.
"We're looking for great players and we're looking for players that can take us to a championship level. We're not into settling for guys just because it's our first year and we can't go get certain guys. We're shooting at the top."
Kiffin said he's already looked at film of returning quarterbacks Jonathan Crompton, Nick Stephens and B.J. Coleman. All three played last year, but none was consistent or productive enough to lock down the starting job.
"We think that we have some good quarterbacks on the roster here," Kiffin said. "I have looked at some of the film just to get a feel for who they are athletically and the way they throw the ball. I'm not evaluating them as far as the system they were in.
"I think it's unfair to evaluate them on how they've played so far. I don't care what's happened before with them, just like all our players. All our players will get a shot. The quarterbacks will have a really, really big battle this spring."
Family Matters: Asked about UT's nepotism policy that prevents staff members from supervising family members, Kiffin said he wasn't concerned.
Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who is Lane Kiffin's father, will join the staff after the Buccaneers' season is over.
"That (Monte Kiffin) reports to someone else has nothing to do with our staff meetings or our dealings or our meetings on a weekly basis," Kiffin said.
To be in compliance with the university's policy, UT's assistants, including brother-in-law David Reaves, will report to the director of football operations, while Lane Kiffin reports directly to athletic director Mike Hamilton.
Lane Kiffin said he won't treat his father any differently than other assistants, either.
"I don't look at it any different because he's related to me at all," he said. "I'm not going to treat him any different. He's on our staff and we'll have very high expectations for him and we'll be very demanding of him.
"But in researching him, the thing is that he's self-motivated. He's a great competitor, one that for as long as I can remember goes to work on Monday and comes home on Friday. Sleeps on the players lounge couch for 12 years. So that's who you're dealing with."
No Quota: Lane Kiffin said he doesn't have a specific number of players in mind to sign this year.
"I'm not as concerned about making sure we have a certain number. I'm concerned about getting good players," he said. "It doesn't do any good to hit your numbers and then have a guy sit on your bench for four years. Let's get the best players we can get."
Q&A? Lane Kiffin hasn't spoken to former UT coach Phillip Fulmer yet, although he hopes to in the near future.
"The goal is to really sit down with him," Kiffin said. "I've got so many questions to ask him about how he did this from the beginning and how he was able to make this great run that he made. I just keep making a list of questions for him. I'm ready to wear him out."
Hamilton Impressed: Even though Lane Kiffin has spent most of his three weeks on the road recruiting, he has already impressed his new boss.
“I’ve gotten great feedback from what he’s been doing out on the recruiting trail and just the personal interaction and being able to view his energy level and his plan has made a significant impression on me,” Hamilton said. “And it’s clear, from listening to him in the (media) interview (Saturday), he’s got a direction he’s wanting to go. And I’ve seen that in every interaction with him. He’s executing that, not only saying it in there, but he’s executing it in the real world as well.”
Monte On the Trail: Monte Kiffin will be a full-fledged recruiter once he joins UT's staff, despite speculation that he might play a limited role in visiting prospects.
In fact, the younger Kiffin said he expects his father to be one of the Vols' best with prospects.
"I don't have any doubt he'll be one of the best recruiters on our staff, if not the best," Kiffin said.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 102
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Alright, Stephens, saddle up.
allvolinatlanta writes:
Go get 'em Monte. But, I hope you are right about the qb's already on the team. Maybe they can be coached up, but they sure didn't show anything last year.
VolHooch42 writes:
I'll throw this out there to all you guys just to be "curious"...
Lets say that Coach Kiffin actually starts Crompton at QB....
Is there ANY chance at all, that he'll be a surprise to all of us, & actually produce results & wins?
P.s... My money is on BJ Coleman.
GO VOLS!
SanFran1966 writes:
yeah; we need more Bo Hardegree and Jim Bob.
well, everyone needs cooter
jsmithnga#207674 writes:
I have been telling you for weeks now that our qbs may not be that bad, but the system (predictable offense) made them bad. Just reminding that JP Wilson looked as bad as Crompton until Saban arrived; he is still not great but adequate. I'll settle for adequate until we get better ones--obviously CLK sees something or he would have taken one of the recruits.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
I think Stephens or Coleman can be coached up. The jury has already returned the verdict on Crompton... he's great in practice but can't handle real game pressure.
"The goal is to really sit down with him," Kiffin said. "I've got so many questions to ask him about how he did this from the beginning and how he was able to make this great run that he made. I just keep making a list of questions for him. I'm ready to wear him out."
I hope Kiffin quizzes Fulmer about the traditions of TN football more than anything else. From the game Maxims to runing through the T to hating Alabama, no one bleeds orange deeper than Coach Fulmer. I know a lot of what people loved about Pearl in his first year is the way he embraced the TN traditions (what little there are in basketball). That's something Kiffin needs to do if he is going to be truly successful here.
FlaVol2 writes:
Sounds like the new head coach, Lane Kiffen, knows what he wants and how to go about getting what he needs. Good for him. Go Vols!!
VolinBama writes:
You should be used to "feeling sick". I've felt that way most of this decade, losing to the Alabama, Florida, and Georgia on consistent basis and saving face (or jobs and seasons)against Kentucky and Vanderbilt. I'm confident Tennessee will win more than 5 games next year. That should help your nausea.
mattlock writes:
Shouldn't you head back to your village before they start to notice their idiot is missing?
vol2211insc writes:
This whole QB situation is interesting. Was the system they were in limiting them...or are they really that inconsistant? I really don't know man. I mean Crompton got to be were he was border line terrible. Stephens showed promise over a course of like 3 games...then he started throwing Picks. I honestly think that B.J. Coleman needs alot more time to develop and also be evaluated. Crompton may full all of us...the Kentucky game he looked solid. I really wanna see this whole thing take shape. We need to land some more big names, and all the returning players (not just E.B.) need to step it up! Don't be surprised if certain returning starters are on the bench for lack of effort!
ravensearay writes:
I believe you have a point....
pms151 writes:
Of the three QB.s Nick Stephens has the least ties with the previous regime. He has a Tude that will fit well with the Kiffen Pro Style offense. Also he is a product of the elite Texas HS football structure and could open up recruiting with the top programs in North Texas.
Triton1 writes:
I'm afraid JC will impress in practice, then here we go again come game time.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
vol, in short:
Clawson's systems works for smart, agile players. UT has neither.
Crompton, Stephens, and Coleman may work out better in stragiht drops and simple handoffs. The key will be getting the O-line to be dominant. We have enough players to get quite a bit done.
invisiblekid writes:
Your money, my money, and from all outward appearances, Cutcliffe's money was on Coleman too.
pms151 writes:
With all due respect, I doubt that Kiffen gives a damn about Cutcliff's appraisal of anyone. He is going to do like he said, make them compete. I don't think we will ever hear the working like heck philosophy again.
trivol writes:
Has Kiffen defined his Offensive staff?? Until these positions are named, there probably will not be any new 4 or 5 star players on the O side of the ball.
doctorfingervol writes:
"Kiffin says he's OK if Vols don't sign QB for 2009 class"
Shoot me now if this is true. If so I hope they like kung-fu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxkr4w...
OrangePower11 writes:
Which is why you would never be in a position to lead others.
Couchdummy writes:
Off subject--watching the South Fla/Memphis football game: Does USF Coach Jim Leavitt sometimes play on the PGA Tour under the alias Woody Austin?
VolinCalif writes:
I have the feeling you are right on, as for JC, anyone with that great of a bounce pass only needs to learn to get it up a little. He has guts and showed plenty of talent in the past as for last year only the Def looked good. A lot of good O linemen looked like phooey. I for one can't believe all those polayers went south at the same time, something else ws wrong and the house is now clean so lets watch and see, there are some very good players on this Vol team.
murrayvol writes:
I thought the handoff to Foster in the endzone against Auburn was fairly simple. Guess I was worng.
BlackSilverVol writes:
I am a huge Raider fan and I cannot tell you guys how excited I am that we have Kiffin. If Al Davis had left him alone and let him have total input into the draft and coaching hires, he WOULD have succeeded at Oakland. I am optimistic about a HUGE turnaround next year, but I can almost guarantee that all games will be close. Even with what Kiffin had to work with in Oakland, there were very few games that the Raider's got totally beat down. Most of the games that they lost under Kiffin were 4th quarter come backs by the opposing teams. Kiffin knew he had to run the ball in Oakland because that is where his strength lied. He will evaluate the Vol's this spring and use their stengths this year until he starts getting his players in place. Be prepared for EXCITING times in K-town.
volpreacher writes:
I don't think you guys are reading this right. He's saying, why sign someone just to be a body? He is basically saying that he's not going to sign people just because we have X number of scholarships and then they come in and not be able to help us. He can use them next year to get a big class. I see #1 class written all over this for next year.
allvol9 writes:
coach cut say alot of promise in bj coleman and he was never, ever given a chance except in one game. threw a terrible interception and was yanked....when crompton did it we repeatedly went back to him. the whole team took on a different more positive demeaner when coleman was in there. it would not surprise me at all if he wins it.
volcycle writes:
As bad as Crompton was this year, it may have been the complexity of the system that he was in. He had been running a pro style offense until this year. I'm willing to give him another chance (not that my opinion is worth anything). The spring will tell.
southernson writes:
Coach Kiffin is a winner,
Wherethe____isBrandonWarren writes:
A month ago I posted on here saying there was a 3-2 chance that Crompton, Stephens, or Coleman started the opener next year.
DennisVols writes:
The QB's were a direct reflection of the coaching staff coaching them.
I saw JC playing against LSU a couple years ago, under coach Cut, and he looked nothing like that this year.
I like this "We're looking for great players and we're looking for players that can take us to a championship level. We're not into settling for guys just because it's our first year and we can't go get certain guys. We're shooting at the top."
2nd place is just 1st Losser. Kiffin's attitude will rub off on the players as well. Competition will be strong this spring and fall to obtain a position.
cainclifton23 writes:
Coleman will never be more than a back up. It will be Crompton next year, (maybe Stephans) then we will get a great prospect
1vol writes:
I hope tampa loses out and misses theplay-offs.As for QB a running game will do wonders for the passing,I feel CLK scheme will have a run first attitude to open the passing lanes up to make it easier for the QB.
jsmithnga#207674 writes:
You can speculate all you want about who you think (or who you want) to start, but CLK will evaluate and we must wait for his choice. If he is as good as we think, he will do the right thing. Remember he said everybody is equal in the spring and he will make the best choice.
SuperVolfan writes:
Thanks Doc. That's three minutes and sixteen seconds of my life I'll never get back!!!!
givehim6 writes:
I kind of like his saying we will go with what we got. Stevens has a good arm if he can be calmed down. I think BJ. given time to but coached will be good. Jon Boy, well will see. Did coach Kiffin say he would watch the film?
doctorfingervol writes:
Yeah but it is so cheesy which makes it that much better huh?
RJ_Vol writes:
I'll feel a little less uneasy after a couple of years, and we finally get to see the direction the program is headed...but I like his comments in today's article. Go Vols!
miamiVOL writes:
Chumpton will be a FB/HBACK next year, pls do not ever post him about being a viable QB, ever again.
txvolsfan writes:
IDIOT
CalPoly_Vol_Fan writes:
I like the fact he wants quality and not quantity. That is how USC recruits every year...USC might only get 15 recruits, but each one is a five-star blue-chipper.
CalPoly_Vol_Fan writes:
...I'd also be willing to give JC a fair shot. Who knows, maybe he is a diamond in the rough (a low-end diamond). My money is on Stephens.
RECRUIT TEXAS!!!
TEXAS HAS THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS, BAR NONE!!!
TkelynN writes:
Does anyone remember what Jujuan Smith and Dane Bradshaw looked like in Buzz's last year before Pearl turned them into legends? Hmm, maybe Crompton and the other QB's may have a similar fate with Kiffin, lets hope so! GO VOLS!
chestnutglade writes:
O line 1st. Then any QB but Crompton. He looks lost ,dose not see the field ,and locks on the person he is going to throw to.He is not playing for us just himself.He has told us that already.
pms151 writes:
You have it right, The Alums here in Houston agree. All 3000 of us I bet.
tenncorncob writes:
where do you get this baloney? you must have a sad, pathetic life to be soooooo negative.
Slystone writes:
Crompton may have been more productive had he been under Cutcliffe's watch. At this point we will never know.
vol4good#206163 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
FWBVol writes:
There are a lot of people here in the Sunshine State, where I live, that would argue high school football in Florida is equal to, or better than Texas. Recruit Florida and rub Urban's nose in it.
knucklehead_vol writes:
ha ha ha...so i finally tracked you down. what the he[[ are talking about me calling you a racist? again, i don't know what you are talking about...til you explain, i will call you an idiot.
senracjr writes:
We aren't getting Fulmer back,so stop whinnin.
senracjr writes:
Good one Matt
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.