D.J. Swearinger is off Tennessee’s football commitment list in the wake of coach Phillip Fulmer’s departure after the season.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound safety from Greenwood (S.C.) High School said he’ll make an announcement this week to open his recruitment.
UT lost offensive lineman Antonio Foster from Valdosta, Ga., last week. The former UT commitment said he’ll attend Georgia Tech next season.
The Vols have 18 commitments from high school prospects for the 2009 class.
As for prospects on the fence, there is reason to be concerned about tailback Jarvis Giles from Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla., and running back Dominique Allen from Henry County High School in Paris, Tenn.
Giles has said he’ll likely follow UT recruiter Stan Drayton to his next job. Allen has been reconsidering his UT commitment for weeks and is taking a strong look at LSU.
Swearinger took an official visit to South Carolina this weekend, but the trip to Columbia didn’t seem to be a game-changer.
“It was all right,” said Swearinger, who added that he has opened up his recruitment to include South Carolina, along with UT.
Swearinger said he’s been to Columbia six or seven times in the past two years.
“Fans love you down there,” Swearinger said.
As for South Carolina recruiters, they’re taking the high road about the Vols.
“They really haven’t been talking about Tennessee,” Swearinger said. “They’re just recruiting me as a player.”
Swearinger knew what he wanted to see before reconsidering UT.
“I would want to see them win a game and I’d want to know who the next coach is going to be,” Swearinger said.
The losing is tough to handle. The coaching transition is even tougher.
Ask Swearinger who should be UT’s next football coach and you’ll get a quick answer: North Carolina’s Butch Davis.
“It would interest me a lot,” Swearinger said. “That’s who I really like. If they hired a coach like Butch Davis, I’d definitely want to come (to Knoxville).
“I’d love to play under a coach like Butch Davis.”
The News Sentinel has reported that Davis is UT’s leading candidate.
Swearinger is considering calling athletic director Mike Hamilton to discuss UT’s future.
Swearinger’s only correspondence with the Vols came shortly after Fulmer’s ouster when assistant coach Dan Brooks told Swearinger to “do whatever I need to do”.
That — and the past week in Knoxville — has Swearinger looking.
“I’m still open,” he said.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee Lady Vols 60, South…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 90
volunteer_cowboy writes:
Go Get Butch!!!!
budrhon writes:
That settles it. Bring on the Butch.
cobbwebb writes:
"do whatever you need to do" nuff said!
GerryOP writes:
Kind of tells you what we are dealing with these days. Kid's gonna call the AD to discuss UT's future!!!!! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!
utchris writes:
It is starting to really bother me that Hamilton said in an interview that he told the coaches to continue to work on keeping the commitments that we already have and now this is the second report that we have seen that implies a current Coach may be steering them else where.
With that said, I thought this story was interesting.
http://proxy.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruit...
MikeTheTiger writes:
"Swearinger’s only correspondence with the Vols came shortly after Phillip Fulmer’s ouster when assistant coach Dan Brooks told Swearinger to “do whatever I need to do”."
It is time for Dan Brooks and Drayton to shut up! Last week Drayton told Giles to look around and now the comment above by Brooks. Hey coaches, WE are still paying your salaries!!
junder13 writes:
We shouldn't be making a head coaching decision based on what one 18-year old high schooler wants. Now I'm not against the idea of Butch being the HC, but I haven't the tiniest fraction of more interest in him b/c of what D.J. Swearinger says he wants. I want a HC that can produce top recruiting classes year-in and year-out too but I also notice a lot of Top 25 teams are out there right now that don't score top rated classes.
First get a great coach who'll take UT back to the top and make it fun to watch UT football again. Then worry about the recruits. Besides, the best talent will always follow the most success. Swearinger's backing of Butch does nothing for making him a better candidate. If Butch is the man and he does well here, then D.J. will just be an added bonus.
budrhon writes:
Swearinger knew what he wanted to see before reconsidering UT.
“I would want to see them win a game and I’d want to know who the next coach is going to be,” Swearinger said.
The latter part may happen (who the next Coach is), but I doubt you'll see another win unless someone sends you tape of the Miss State or Illinois State games.
jobrando#216494 writes:
Need a big name coach hired this week.
MikeTheTiger writes:
thanks for the link. If they keep Scott and Drayton they need to tell the rest of the coaches to back off and not even talk with the recruits.
junder13 writes:
Damned good point! We're still paying their salaries! Man, I'll probably never be able to think positively about these current coaches again. I can't wait for UT football to put all this behind us soon!
invisiblekid writes:
Good points.
MikeTheTiger writes:
No, I agree with you, but I just don't want the UT coaches to tell them to "look around" and encourage them to "do what they need to do" when those coaches are still working for UT.
MANVOL writes:
Relax, everything will be fine. we can 't rush this just because 17,18 are unsure where they wan't to go to school. Obviously the tradition of Tennessee isn't enough for these kids. They should want to play for the T on the helmet not the guy on the side lines.
invisiblekid writes:
Personally, I wouldn't count on any type of decision until the regular season ends at the earliest. Schools won't give Hamilton permission to interview prospective candidates until the season is over.
If they try and hold out for an NFL guy, which I don't think will be the case, you can probably kiss this year's recruiting class goodbye.
Volsfanstuckintx writes:
Davis is a good coach, however he is not the answer to the problem no matter what a recruit says. Yes he has a good track record, but imagine Mike Leach coaching in the SEC with the opportunity to get big name recruits to come play in his offense where they will be able to have success. Texas Tech does not get the big recruits year in and year out and yet he still produces great offensive numbers. Texas, Texas A&M, and OU still dominate Tech in the recruiting department. I live in College Station and witness this every year. Leach gets results and just imagine him with top notch SEC products. And by the way there is no one more hated than Mike Leach in this town, and that is because he absolutely owns A&M and no one can stop him.
junder13 writes:
Another good post! Absolutely right. Besides, how much are UT fans gonna love the players and coach who's able to take us back to the top, or even lay the foundation (think Oklahoma players on the '99 team)!
shopsports#273141 writes:
Hasn't Scott done a lousy job with receivers? JUST SAY NO TO THE IDEA OF CUTCLIFF....
invisiblekid writes:
Back to Swearinger, I don't think we have seen any earth-shattering developments in recruiting to this point which is encouraging. After all, look what we have lost to this point. Going back to Nunes, a CA kid staying in CA, a GA kid staying in GA with Foster, and Swearinger considering staying in SC. All of these could have easily happened regardless of the coaching situation.
GerryOP writes:
Yup, let's all panic because a few 17-18 year old kids want to start looking around because good ol' Phil "stepped down." Of course, their word on their verbal commit is rock solid ... right?
None of this means diddly until signing day in February. Besides, this kid is going to discuss UT's future with the AD!!!! Think maybe he will share with us what Mikey tells him? Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!
Drayton and Brooks are exactly right. Tell the kids to do what they gotta' do. UT will do likewise.
khelton657 writes:
This is just a young kid talking, the odds are both coaches said a whole lot more to him than that about keeping his commitment to UT but that was the part he wanted to remember, sounds like an employee "he said she said" thing to me where the first story is far from the whole story.
invisiblekid writes:
Probably two of the most important guys in this class are the Juco guys Herbert and Hollins given the lack of depth at DT IMO. Also not likely to get Akiem Hicks at this point since LSU offered and he hasn't made a visit to UT.
The scary part is that all were recruited by Adkins and I see no way that he is retained.
junder13 writes:
I couldn't agree more! Leach is my #1 and Kiffin my #2. We need something exciting. Gruden's style is boring. I'm not sure how much better Butch Davis' style would be either. I think college football is transforming more and more to the open-style offenses (Florida, Oklahoma, Tx Tech, Hawaii now SMU, Tulsa, Utah, Boise St, West Virginia now Michigan--give it time, somewhat USC, etc, etc). The Tubervilles of the world will get more and more behind the 8-ball. Once some of these offensive-minded teams get good defenses (like Tx Tech finally has, and Florida again has after last yr's horrific D), than these teams will be unstoppable. I want that kinda offensive mindset!
TommyJack writes:
Exactly. We haven't "lost" anyone until they sign with someone else. It is amazing the size of the stones some of the kids have. I guess it comes with having your azz kissed for most of your life.
TommyJack writes:
Let's talk about TexasTech's D after they play Oklabygoshhoma.
invisiblekid writes:
Gerry,
Hamilton has been talking with prospective recruits about the future of the program. Not giving them much info, but he and several others within the AD are probably giving these commits information as it becomes available.
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/n...
khelton657 writes:
If he can talk to recruits to calm them down, I say do it.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
"Want to see them win a game"!!
What the h#ll kind of a requirement is that?
In 2008.
Gezeus...
Volsfanstuckintx writes:
Who cares about thier D after the OU game if they outscore them. I never said Leach was a mastermind on defense however if you keep the defense we have now and put in his offense it would be a scary thought. Dont forget that OU gave up 45 to a Texas team that Tech Beat.
pms151 writes:
I live in Houston and also see the same hatred from Texas and A&M. Leach could immediately become the hated Spurrier of the SEC of the 90's and that is exactly what we need. He will also command top DC's for a job in the SEC. Nothing but a win win situation. He is the Bruce Pearl of the football world. If you think Saban is the devil wait until you research Leach. He could intimidate all coaches in the SEC quickly. Also why in the world would any recruit want to believe anything Hamilton has to say. He is just a yes man for Jim Haslam and cronies.
Ironcity writes:
The only coach we get early is Kiffin. he is also the only coach that could salvage the recruiting class. If its college coach we might get one in December (It would probably be nasty because he would leave during bowl prep)or January for a pro coach. Personally I would like to see Kiffin, the fact that he was not mentioned in the previous article doesn't surprise me. I would be shocked if UT was as public with there search as the previous article suggested.
GerryOP writes:
Yaaa, i-kid, I'm sure he is and rightly so. But, after seeing how maturely our current crop of pun...errrr...players are handling the Fulmer situation and then reading about kids "demanding" an explanation of UT's future, this ol' geezer tends to be a bit short fused. I'm sure Mikey can handle it.
Of course, I'll be more than happy to hold the exit door open for any kid who reneges simply because Fulmer is gone ... and give him my best wishes for having a nice day!!!
TommyJack writes:
That's good thinking.
Doobz15 writes:
He can follow Drayton and Clawson to a Division 3 school. That's as good as they can do.
GerryOP writes:
Arrogant, demanding punk! Sheesh, expecting UT to win a game.....
99gator writes:
why would anyone expect a current tenn asst coach to try to steer a kid to tenn when they know darn well they are out of a job?
i am sure they are working as hard as they can......worrying about their own families and applying for jobs wherever they can.
those asst coaches could give a you know what about tenn or tenn's future since they know they are not in it.
to expect different.....is foolish.
Bufforange00 writes:
BUTCH DAVIS IS THE OBVIOUS CHOICE BECAUSE OF HIS FLORIDA RECRUITING CONNECTIONS. Hamilton wants to compete with Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, so Davis is the no-brainer. Its just a matter of how much money it will take. Bring in Larry Coker as offensive coordinator ala Miami.
Volsfanstuckintx writes:
Agreed. We all love to hate Spurrier, and why is that? Because he beat our tail so many times, so why not go after a guy with the same mentality. After all its not his job to slow himself down, its your job to stop them from scoring.
Volsfanstuckintx writes:
Who cares about his Florida recruiting connections, last time I checked it was the Texas schools and surrounding states(OU, OSU, MIZZOU,) that are dominating the polls. Other than Florida what FL school is within the top 10, or even top 15? Texas recruits are where its at.
hotrodvol writes:
On the radio, they thought UT would hire a coach around Dec. 10-15. Thats after the season, and before the bowls.
scott_m99 writes:
I completely agree
Triton1 writes:
I don't blame him, he's trying to decide on his future.
MrBamSeydu writes:
If we get Butch Davis, all will be right in Vol country. I guarantee we win a national championship with him within 5 years. Great recruiter, solid scheme coach, and has about 10-12 good years in him.
On another note, this is an interesting thought:
When Hargrave Military Academy comes to play our "JV" squad, will we just play our starters instead and just leave our Eric Berry? And of course, the follow up question is.... would we win or lose? ha ha
pms151 writes:
Butch Davis will only be a bandaid. This program needs surgery. Hire Dr. Mike Leach.
sandman8323 writes:
R u freaking fulmer fans happy now? Have u seen enough to actually believe that hamilton did the right thing. I also don't care if we lose half of the recruits fulmer has picked up so far, look at where his last 4 classes of recruiting has got us.
tnbigg writes:
Wow...our "family" of coaches are really showing their loyalty and love for "The Tennessee family"..."Go ahead guys...look around..." they tell the recruirs... That with Vicky and Phil chuckling and chortling as they left the field of disgrace yesterday...we may need to fire all coaches tomorrow...get the cancer out now...it is going to kill us...Phulmer destroyed the program and now they collectively want to drive as many nails in the Tennessee football coffin as possible..how honorable...what a good man...how extremely loyal...Tennessee through and through...yeah...and I have a deed for the Brooklyn Bridge...and buyers here?
indianacurly writes:
why would spurrier be in knoxvegas today? anyone? getting help on florida? giving phil his best wishes? having lunch with haslam?
sandman8323 writes:
how do u know spurrier was in knoxville. He is from TN.
sandman8323 writes:
He was probably there t o take a pic of fat phil slumped over in a alcohol induced coma in a ditch on university drive
indianacurly writes:
he's from j.c. ... maybe he was meeting family here for a little lunch, although asheville would probably be closer for them. i don't know what he was doing here, but a pretty solid report that he was.
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