Dominique Allen has switched his commitment from Tennessee to LSU, according to TigerBait.com.
The running back from Henry County High School in Paris, Tenn., had been committed to UT since April.
Allen took an official visit to LSU on Oct. 25 and switched his commitment to the Tigers after taking an unofficial visit this weekend.
“It just felt like home and I love it down there,” Allen told TigerBait.com.
UT has lost four commitments for the 2009 class since Phillip Fulmer announced his resignation as head coach on Nov. 3.
Offensive lineman Antonio Foster from Valdosta (Ga.) High School switched his commitment to Georgia Tech.
Athlete D.J. Swearinger from Greenwood (S.C.) High School and tailback Jarvis Giles from Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla., have both opened their recruitment.
Swearinger and Giles are both strongly considering South Carolina.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Comments » 102
scott_m99 writes:
fantastic! At this rate we won't be bringing in any new recruits...better get a good coach in here fast!
utvolz#637682 writes:
C Ya!
jsmithnga#207674 writes:
Yeah, I can understand him feeling at home there (ha ha); if we keep the other rb committments, he would be playing back up anyway.
DoubleD writes:
No worries....this is a weeding out party guys...a long time in coming
byobbio writes:
That's probably a good place for you. I have seen their offense and their scheming fits your style. Hate to lose such a great player and wonderful human being. Just go down there, make good grades and do well in life. I think getting out and seeing the world is more important than staying in state.
Good Luck!!
BYOBBIO
Sheepscape writes:
LSU is beginning to slip a bit based upon what I've seen this season and especially Saturday evening. Best wishes for the kid.
volsfan74 writes:
Exactly if the truth be told he is more concerned about Oku getting more snaps than him! Hey LSU is showing some declines this season, and may not be any better next year! Hey if UT did not feel like home he should of never committed when he did!!!
adamsck#591720 writes:
If he felt "home" in Red Stick then he should go. When I go I always feel like a need a bath.
ATLVOL1 writes:
HE WILL BE D-LINE WHEREVER HE GOES
yeavols#228407 writes:
that's quite ok..it's only 4..and when we get our coach..we'll have better recruits..no worries..obviously we haven't had any good recruits in 10 years other than Berry and a few notables.
invisiblekid writes:
This was coming well before the decision on Fulmer, no suprise here.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
Congratulations to the bloggers hereon.
You've cost the VOLS another in-state player.
BigOrangeVol29 writes:
Give me a break, this kid was re-thinking his "reservation", as Coach Clawson put it, well before Fulmer was ever in real trouble with Hamilton. Good luck young man, hope we beat you next time we play the Tigers.
DoubleD writes:
Are you kidding? Are you that naive to think that these kids are coming or going based on the bloggers? WAKE UP!
Sheepscape writes:
The Vols are about to have the worst season in history. Pipe down pal, bloggers and commenters didn't cause that.
orangeinbama writes:
Wait till we hire a coach that demands discipline and perfection on the field and off, and we will see who the cancers are. Cut & Troop took the discipline with them.
"You've cost the VOLS another in-state player." Dont think so. Oku is the reason he left. Oku confirms he is still a vol, and this kid goes. All about Playing Time & ego.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
We'll get them back, and more, if we hire the right coach. If we don't get them back, we will just do the best we can without them. All of these "verbal commitments" all across the country are only worth the paper they are written on. No one can sign until February anyway. By then we'll know FOR SURE who our coach will be and what players we will sign. For now, all these de-committals are just ways for the guys to keep their names in the paper and keep their options open in case they don't like our new coach--or vice-versa!
chuckfromwoodbury writes:
Idiotic, Bag of Leaves kool-aid drinker. As I was told in '92, get over it.
GoVol writes:
You must be related to Fulmer. Your comment is about as stupid as Phil's decision to start Crompton. No brains in the Fulmer family.
dvols writes:
come back, you really dont want to play for les miles do you?
volchiq writes:
I am sorry, but some of you guys are crazy if you thought that firing the coaching staff (for whatever college) would not result in the loss of commitments, and I don't really blame them. No matter what anyone says, these kids form relationships with the people that recruit them and there is no reason to come when the coach is gone that they had thought they would spend their college career with.
Alabaster_Jones writes:
SHOCKER...This is like the GOP, the rich get richer and the poor continue to struggle
99gator writes:
Exactly.
in my opinion though, it is worth losing every single commitment in order to get a new football coach.
the big, wait BIG, problem is this though.....
how much is in the cupboard? can the new coach win with what is there before he can get his recruits to campus and attract the level of recruit tennessee needs because 2009 will be a wasted recruiting year (happens with every coaching change)
USNAVol writes:
We'll lose a few now, but ,many more will come once the new coach is announced. There's no shortage of good HS football players out there and lots of them would love to be one of the heros running through the T next year to bring respect back to UT football.
Volunatic writes:
I'm okay with it. Oku is coming in, we already have Hardesty, Creer and Poole-- Tennessee will be fine for running backs, just need a coach now.
blitzshoot writes:
This kid was leaning to LSU for a long time. UT was just a safety net.
whocares writes:
No surprise here. Allen was well out the door before the "coaching change" announcement.
If we keep Oku and Williams in the fold we'll be fine which would free us up to go after a few O & D linemen, which we are in dire need of.
knoxnewsuser writes:
If we have been losing with the recruits that Fulmer has been signing, then why would we be sad to see them go elsewhere? (Unless it is a player on the same level as Eric Berry) The new coach may not even want those players.
givehim6 writes:
My hats off to the REAL TOUGH GUYS how stay and play for the vols during the tough times. This is realy what the Vols have needed for a few years a weeding out. The Vols left will have heart! I think for a few years we have wanted a tough team but only gotten so-so players because Phil {bless his heart} was too easy on his team. What we will have in a few years will be some vols with true orange juice in there blood, not just orange kool-aid.
lonewolf writes:
This kid had changed his mind months ago. He has had a LSU sticker on the back of car for two months. We didn't need him anyway.
rockytopron writes:
"UT has lost four commitments for the 2009 class since Phillip Fulmer announced his resignation as head coach on Nov. 3."
First off, why does this forum continue to say that Fulmer resigned. He did not, he was forced out.
Second, I hope you fulmer haters are happy. These are the type of players we need and it will be years before we can compete again unless they hire someone who can build quickly.
vol2211insc writes:
....Well can't see I didn't see this coming. Just how many recruits are we going to lose? It would be very refreshing to see some guy actually commit post fulmer announcement. All I can say is this program needs to continue to assure our recruits that they are really fighting to bring in a good coach. For crying out loud, please leave Butch Davis, Lovie Smith, Mike Leach, Bill Cowher, David Cut, and Jim Grobe alone. You've actually got coaches on your short list other that would love to come after their seasons ie. Brian Kelly.
whocares writes:
Not so sure I'd say the cupboard is bare 99. You FL guys (and media) seem to hope/think it's the case which it isn't to a degree.
There's plenty to work with but I do think you will see an influx of younger players..(I.E Bama, UF, countless other teams across the country) playing next year.
Not going to slam the coaches but you really have to ask yourself ...why, in the world aren't the play makers getting into the game more and contributing to the program, while you look around the country and see underclassmen pulling their weight?
The old saying about being a fly on the wall, really applies here for me. Being a coach myself this is something I just can get a handle on.
Kinda reminds me of a saying our DC had when I played. " I'll take 50 hearts over 50 talents anyday, and win more games. I can coach those hearts more than I can those talents."
djstatik writes:
If he's anything like the group we have in there now LSU can have him! Maybe LSU needs an RB for Scout team?
Maverick1921 writes:
Hey, this is my first time posting on here, but I've been trying to keep up with everything on here for a long time. Anyone have any word on a time frame for our new coach or is it still kinda up in the air? End of conference championships maybe?
Volunatic writes:
Nope-- we're all just as "in the dark" about that. Based on who is being discussed as a replacement (Butch Davis, Brian Kelly, Mike Leach, Chris Petersen, Kyle Whittingham), it might have to wait until after the BCS Bowl games.
That will be bad for recruiting, and bad for next season, but if they get the right guy, I'll be happy with the long-term result. If they don't get the right guy, maybe Mike Hamilton will get the boot too, which would also be okay with me.
GreerVol22 writes:
another glory w-hore with agenda driven parents....there was a day when a mans word was his bond....guess he's not a man yet.
blitzshoot writes:
DId anyone hear the interview with Whittingham last night on ESPN? Sounds very solid, hard nosed , discipline type.
I know its Utah, but they are 7th in the BCS.
Maverick1921 writes:
I was kind of curious about the time frame. Mike Hamilton said he wants it done by Dec. 1, but if he is going to make a big splash, I don't see how that is going to be possible.
VolsRoadRash98 writes:
Even a mediocre coach could have beaten Wyoming. An average coach may have still lost to Alabama and Florida, but should have won UCLA and Auburn.
Regardless of the remaining players, my point is that there's not much room between TN football and rock bottom at the moment. There's astronomical room for improvement. Right?
whocares writes:
Pathetic post. Pure and Simple.
You can't blame any kid for his choice of schools or his parents. There are a ton of elements in play for the consideration of were to sign for any kid. Playing time, does he start quick, system, Coach, mileage from home, can his family see him play in person more times than not.
In my recruitment it was simple, I stayed close to home because I was in love and wanted to be closer to home ( Turned down Miss State, Memphis State (now Memphis), Southern Miss, Arkansas,Pitt to name a few) to be able to visit my GF (now my wife of 25 years). Nothing has changed, kids all reserve the right to go with WHAT SUITS THEM BEST. Not you, not me, not anyone but themselves and their parents. Alot of kids who get the chance to play at the next level want their loved ones to be able to attend games and not everyone can or is a Clausen that can buy a CONDO in town and fly to every game, or a Manning who's parents have more money to throw around than others.
So BEFORE you slam a kid for his decommitting from a school for whatever reason, put yourself in THEIR SHOES. Oh wait, that might not be possible for some pea brains out there. As I said Yours Sir (and I use the term lightly) was a Pathetic post!
whocares writes:
*where* Least the grammar police strike.
Pullingguard writes:
Committed recruits are in a tough situation.. Question.. If a player commits to UT does that make UT responsible in signing and giving him a scholarship... If not, sorta puts the player in tough situation..New staff just might be interested.. I cannot see what purpose the present coaching staff can have on recruiting any players, for they cannot make any committments, and all are in transit for another job someplace.,. So, why shouldn't committed players to Fulmer and staff look elsewhere.
Go4Two writes:
And then there were none....
invisiblekid writes:
No doubt, we are going to and will lose some recruits due to the coaching change, it comes with the territory.
However, it has almost been one for one that every guy who has left(Foster, Gile, Allen, Swearinger), that another guy has remained firm in his commitment to the school(Boyd, Hollins, Walls, Oku). No reason to think a new coach might actually be able to recruit a few players himself as well.
And I'll say it again regarding Allen, this was going to happen regardless of the coaching change. He has been looking at LSU since September.
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/s...
invisiblekid writes:
I think they can get by if they hold onto the JUCO DT's and get some production out of the the young LB's like Donald and G.Williams.
We talked last night about Paige. Throw in some guys like Warren, Abrams-Ward and others who are being wasted on the bench, and I think they'll be all right offensively. It would also help to employ an offensive line coach. They don't appear to have one this season.
Go4Two writes:
Guys with heart sounds good on paper but rarely wins championships. If we can't match Florida and Georiga in recruiting we will not be able to match them on the field. Spurrier proved that on Saturday night all the X's and O's can't match pure talent.
Go4Two writes:
21 of 22 starter on the NC team were recruiting by the Zooker
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
I'm sorry, but I can't help but LMAO at the posts which suggest that it's because of Fulmer's firing, or "forced resignation", or whatever, that recruits are switching to other schools.
If I'm a recruit, my priority is going somewhere where I have the best chance to make an impact, and be seen doing it. I don't care who's calling the plays. Blaming this on the bloggers is just childish, and shows know logic whatsoever.
whocares writes:
Heart is what makes you dig deeper in yourself for that will to win. If you have talent with heart it's a moot point.
21 points off of 4 plays did Steve in. Talent played a big role but you take away those dead give aways and you still have a close ball game and Steve doesn't have to resort to playing catch up.
Would UF have won the game without the debacle that ensued to start the game? YEP....But then you say talent over rides heart... which.... in TT's win over texas I beg the differ. in Boise States win over Ok last year, I beg the differ... in Wy's win over UT this year, I beg the differ.... in Troy hanging 31 on LSU until the 4th.... I beg the differ...
Heart plays a HUGE role in ANY SPORTS.... ANY.... Troy ran out of gas and yes talent won in the end.. but look at what that HEART did for 3 1/2 quarters? Say what you want, but I have been there as a player, I've been there as a coach (we lost Friday night to a team with both and never could get into the game, but their heart propelled them into the position to play for a 3rd round chance at state and they fell short.) As my DC said and I've always tried to incorporate into my coaching philosophy, "I can do more with hearts than I can with talent," and the ego that accompany them.
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