Photo by AP Photo / Dino Vournas
New Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin tosses the football around during morning workouts at the team's training camp Saturday, July 28, 2007, in Napa, Calif.
Lane Kiffin has some work to do - and the clock is ticking.
Tennessee's next coach doesn't even need to start worrying about touchdowns or blitz packages just yet.
Think recruiting.
The Vols have already lost four commit-ments for the 2009 signing class and are on the verge of losing three more.
Kiffin and crew will be on the recruiting trail shortly after his hiring is announced. At least one commitment who was re-evaluating his options is already fired up.
"Lane Kiffin was my favorite candidate," said Toney Williams, the 6-foot-1, 229-pound running back from Alpharetta, Ga., who committed to UT in May. "I'm excited about that."
"He runs a pro-style offense. He was the offensive coordinator at USC when they had (Reggie) Bush and LenDale White. Having LenDale White in the backfield, I know he'll favor a big back."
"I'll go on a visit and talk to him and see what he's going to do. I would like to play for Lane Kiffin."
Just from a timetable standpoint, hiring Kiffin can quickly help recruiting. Not only can he visit prospects in their home next week, Kiffin can also set up an official visit weekend for Dec. 6, before the end of the fall semester.
Hosting official visitors that weekend will give visitors a more accurate representation of UT's campus life because students will still be present.
The Vols have as many as six current or former commitments that plan to enroll in college in January, meaning they have to make a decision soon.
Here are the prospects (publicly de-committed and just looking) that Kiffin will likely focus on first.
Publicly De-committed
Jarvis Giles: Not only is Giles the highest rated prospect to de-commit from UT; he was also the best recruiter within the class. The tailback from Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla., called several prospects extolling the virtues of UT until coach Phillip Fulmer was dismissed on Nov. 3.
Giles said he's not sure of what effect Kiffin's hiring will have on his recruitment. Giles has already taken his official visit to Knoxville meaning he can't come back on UT's expense.
A quick in-home visit from Kiffin may be at hand.
If he indeed goes elsewhere (such as South Carolina), Giles won't be easy to replace. He also plans to enroll in January.
It's worth noting that Gamecocks recruiting coordinator David Reaves is considered a candidate to join Kiffin's staff.
Antonio Foster: The Valdosta (Ga.) High offensive lineman plays a position of need for UT. All five of the Vols' starting offensive linemen are juniors or seniors.
A solid run blocker, Foster's decision to go to Georgia Tech over UT could end up haunting the Vols. Still, UT has three other offensive linemen committed.
He's worth a Kiffin call.
Dominique Allen: The prospect from Henry County High in Paris, Tenn., was UT's best early commitment. The Vols landed Allen early thanks to a keen evaluation in a summer camp.
Other schools quickly got on the bandwagon, especially LSU, which eventually swayed the athletic fullback to Baton Rouge.
UT needs to stop losing in-state players but keeping Allen may be impossible.
Allen was wavering even before Fulmer was let go, meaning he may be impossible to get back into the fold.
Still, expect Kiffin to try. As Williams said, Kiffin has experience with big running backs and Allen is 6-foot, 250 pounds.
D.J. Swearinger: The Greenwood (S.C.) High star is a solid prospect who is projected to play safety.
Swearinger has since committed to South Carolina which makes one wonder about that Reaves connection in Columbia.
Just Looking
David Oku: With Kiffin, the Vols are probably in good shape with this talented tailback from Carl Albert High in Midwest City, Okla.
In a text message to the News Sentinel, Oku said he's staying with UT in light of the Kiffin hire but will take two more official visits to be sure.
Along with Giles, Oku is one of two tailbacks UT had committed who was ranked among the top 100 prospects in the nation.
Oku said he would de-commit if the Vols went to a spread attack coach. Kiffin's pro-style approach should help UT secure Oku.
Edwin Herbert: A junior college defensive tackle could help the Vols immediately in a position of need. UT will lose two of its top three defensive tackles this season: Demonte' Bolden and Walter Fisher.
Losing Herbert, who is from City College of San Francisco, would be an immediate hurdle to overcome.
Josh Ward contributed to this report.
Dave Hooker can be reached at hookerd@knoxnews.com.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 61
blitzshoot writes:
You'll do it Kiff. Just install some discipline!
yeavols#228407 writes:
You can have all the good recruits in the world...or you can have lousy recruits..but it takes a good coach to make either win. So, do you still think we made the right decision?
volsmith writes:
I say let the three star recruits go and replace them with four and five star linemen, hopefully. Try to get Jarvis Giles to recommit since he is a four star athlete.
sgtvols writes:
the right man at the right time. never thought i would be saying this -(good job hamilton)
blitzshoot writes:
Go Get'em Kiff....Awesome!
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Could they possibly use a better picture?? I mena, sticking your tongque out calling a timeout?? c'mon.
CoachNeyland writes:
Lane FiveAndFiffin
DennisVols writes:
Williams is a monster back. I paid close attention to him this year after he commited to UT. He is fast, can go up the middle or around the end. Has great hands. Rused for more yards in one game than our entire backfield did in 3 games combined..
http://www.wsbtv.com/video/17464440/i...
orangecountry21 writes:
if savage is around, who do you think kiff can secure?
JacksonvilleVol writes:
Is there any way he can look at Marcellus Teague from Henry County? He's no slouch.
JacksonvilleVol writes:
Agreed. Especially if he can get most if not all of his assistant coaches he's harping.
I personally believe there is no way that Kiffen could have gotten the job if it weren't for his pledge to have Monte coach here too.
hotrodvol writes:
Scott recruits Virginia, that's one area we need to keep recruiting.
CalPoly_Vol_Fan writes:
Awesome HIRE! I am so excited...we should be able to compete immediately for the National Championship now! He was awesome at USC and I am sure it will translate into immediate success here!
- Anonymous Ole Miss Fan responding to Ed Ogeron's hire back in 2004
threehundredbowler writes:
utfan4life.You must over look Butch.His elevator stops shy of the top floor.
junder13 writes:
ButchisBack, you're a whiny, ignorant moron. Kiffin is only the THIRD UT head coach since 1977!!
junder13 writes:
Kiffin is a great hire and just what UT needs to provide new life for our program that has fallen so far since the 90s. Get ready for exciting football once again, boys and girls!
wyomingvol writes:
Quaterback right away please!!
thesavageorange writes:
Lousy recruits w/ a good coach wins against Vandy, UK, Ole Miss, & MS ST not UF, Bama, LSU, SC, AU, UGA.
raoucubs writes:
Another big recruit CLK needs to visit is Marlon Brown from Harding Academy in Memphis. He is only the number 37 player in the nation over-all and like the 1st or 2nd wide receiver prospect in the country. Lane take a trip to Memphis and lock down this big time recruit.
blitzshoot writes:
Are you saying Kiffen cannot beat UF, BAMA, SC, AU, AND UGA?
thesavageorange writes:
orangecountry21 ,
there is a chance all!I have to agree w/ Hooker though, Allen will be the toughest.However, a lot of coaches would have made White a FB.That is a good selling point.White does lead the league in TD's.If Kiff gives Allen a chance at TB then I think he will re consider.LSU sold him on the fact that they use their FB.Any kid at that age would rather be in the spotlight.
newtonrail writes:
No way I can speak for the esteemed Butch, but I assume he's referring to all the Fired coaches on the Prospective assistants list.
thesavageorange writes:
blitzshoot,
no!Read the post I was responding to.
newtonrail writes:
He will have to beat his old boss to him. Lattrell Scott is a great recruiter, and does well in Virginia. One problem: he coached WR's who couldn't or wouldn't get separation or always catch the ball. I didn't want Kiffin, but if we get him, that's what I'll call him. Coach Kiffin, that is. The same people who have called Coach Fulmer many vile names are now taking the liberty of calling "Kiff". Wonder what they'll be calling him in Nov. 09?
1manningfan writes:
Welcome Coach K. to BIG ORANGE NATION!!!
hey guys i live in Tampa,FL and i have been watching BUC ball since i moved here in 2000 and let me tell you Monte Kiffin is the most respected coach on the Bucs, even over Jon Gruden. Monte and the Bucs defense are a top 10 D year in and year out, always consistent. Bucs defense runs the cover 2, and if you didnt know Monte's cover 2 has been so succesful in the NFL that they call it Tampa 2 now nation wide alot of times,because Monte has perfected it.
If we can snag him up than we will not only have a young and energetic coach but a father type figure in Monte. The players respect and love Monte like a Dad down here in Buc land.
As for recruiting were going to be in great shape nation wide. The thing that intrigues me is if we do get Monte than we will be able to go into Florida and get Defensive players bc all these kids know Monte and most people in Fl are Bucs fan so the recruits will be very aware of the coaching they will get out of Monte from a Defensive standpoint.
Fans here are very worried already if Monte leaves bc they know he cannot be replaced for anything better!
gohawks1 writes:
You got that right.
Go get 'em, Coach. Let's take this recruiting class to the top.
FLVol writes:
This guy is not a disciplinarian so you better look elsewhere for that.
rubbervol writes:
Its football time in Tennesee, Maybe now i can put my orange back on down here in Bama.Welcome Mr Kiffin and bring on daddy.
thesavageorange writes:
UTfan4life,
that's tough.None of the QB's took well to Clawson's offense.In fact no one did.Everyone is baffled as to why.This sounds crazy, but Crompton is still the most talented.He looked so different under Clawson I have to whonder what happened.I know it's not crowd pleasing but I wouldn't be surprised if it's Crompton.I have watched a lot of scrimmages and practice and he is by far the most physically gifted.Hopefully we'll see what Boyd has.I really like him.He has looked wonderful in camps against the nations best.
dm4ut writes:
This is exciting. Coach Fulmer allowed a bad OC cost him
and a lot of other good coaches their job. I hope Kiffin
will look close at some of our current staff. Our DC is as
good as they get. We will miss Cheif would love to keep him...........
thesavageorange writes:
FLVol,
actually most of the Raiders veteran players said that he ran the most tempo heavy disiplined practices they had seen.Don't base your opinion on age.A lot of people think 33, can't disipline.That is just false.Most NFL guys love him.
thesavageorange writes:
UTfan4life ,
on Petty, I have to.They say he is really tough.When it comes to QB's I definitely trust CLK.Man, that was weird.
utkell65 writes:
Yeah with Fulmer at the top of the list as it should be.
chrisw2967 writes:
your still not over fulmer getting fired ? you must be really taking this harder than you thought you would. you need to call up welovetn and see if he will let you borrow some of his meds. and maybe he will let you ride to therapy with him.
globadoc writes:
If Monte Kiffin does not come over, I hope Chavis is retained. He will likely be the best available on the board for DC.
caskew#218608 writes:
Savage,
Any idea as to which coaches, if any, will be retained?
nola_vol writes:
Agreed!
Unless I'm wrong, we would be recruiting the same type players under Monte as with Chief--speed over size on the line and at linebacker, and smart DBs who can read plays (like, former QBs?).
pdhuff#552644 writes:
As volsmith said, the slippage from four stars and an occasional 5 star recuits back to 2 and 3s has put us exactly where we are today.
We must complete for the better players again. You won't have many father-Berry connections. You must man up with the Sabans and don't allow him to sign 7-8 good DTs every year.
Get 'em Kiffin.
hotrodvol writes:
Just a thought, but if Auburn doesn't win, and Tubber is fired we need to jump all over a couple of his coaches. Because AU always recruites Fla. Ga and southern bama very well. Last time we done that we got Rodney Garner!!!
VOLFORLIFE writes:
It just amazes me that we have people on this board who can't refer to Coach Fulmer without injecting one of their vitriolic diatribes with the pungent name calling, yet Lane Kiffin is now "Kiff", Kiffy", "CLK", or some other cute moniker!
Please don't misunderstand me, and read my entire post before you decide to feed me to the lions. I, too, want to become excited about Big Orange Football again, and I sincerely hope that Lane Kiffin is the man who will take us back to the mountain top. But folks, he ain't done nothing yet! Today is "Coach Phillip Fulmer Day", and, like it or not, he has one more game to coach. He is a Tennessee icon, and will go down in history as a true Vol legend. I'm not disappointed with the Kiffin hire...I just wish today, at least, could have been about Coach Fulmer and the team.
Now, having said all that, is it time to move on? Absolutely. Do we need a new direction? Positively. Was Coach Fulmer ever going to be able to right a ship that has been listing too dangerously for far too long? Probably not, but that has been and will continue to be debated ad nauseum. But one thing is certain--Phillip Fulmer is our coach TODAY.
I just wish everybody could put aside the hate and disdain for this day, and let the man who has given his all for the University of Tennessee go out a little more gracefully than has been allowed. And before any of you find it necessary to remind me how well he's been paid, I'm well aware of that. Just remember, though, that we'll be paying the new kid more than Coach Fulmer was making in all probability, and as I said before, he ain't done nothing yet!
I hope none of you construe this as sour grapes. I've been a follower and fan of the Vols since the mid 1960's, and I've always felt like a little bit of me died with every Vol loss. So I want to get really excited again about Tennessee football. I'm going to support Lane Kiffin (excuse me if I don't refer to him as "Coach Kiffin"--he ain't my coach yet), and continue to be a die-hard Vols fan. I hope this hire turns out to be as brilliant as the Bruce Pearl hire. But folks, that verdict won't be in for awhile. In the meantime, let's just prepare ourselves for some rocky rides the next couple or three years.
This is the longest post I've done since way back when this was a subscriber site. I haven't posted that much lately, mostly just read everybody else. But I am passionate about The Big Orange, and sometimes I just feel like making my feelings known.
So go ahead and start taking pot shots at me. These are just my humble opinions.
GO VOLS!!!! BEAT KY!
JUGHEAD
carters_dad writes:
I'm new here but i have figured out that i want on savage's email list. Mr. savage how do i subscribe?
blitzshoot writes:
Welcome Coach Kiffen! It feels great to write that!
blitzshoot writes:
Carters Dad, just click on the person's post name, i.e. Carter's Dad, and it will alow yo to email the person through this site. Good luck. Savage is very informative.
utkell65 writes:
VOLFORLIFE; I don't think it's so much that most people hate Fulmer the man, it's Fulmer the coach that so many dislike. He has done a great many things for the Universtiy and the Football program, but there is no denying the fact that UT football has been in a steady decline for the past seven years or so. I do wish him well in his pursuits after this and I hope that he again finds success in whatever it is that he chooses to do.
Having said that, it was most definitely time for him to leave. I was ready for him to leave after the 05 season, but so many wanted to give him time to right the ship. Well in comes coach Cut to save the day again. Say what you will, but Cut and Chief have made Fulmer look better than he actually was over the last six or seven years. Then we come to this year and Cut leaves again and Fulmer brings in Clawson. Ya'll can argue to the cows come home on whether or not Fulmer limited Clawson in his offense and I believe he did. I don't think Fulmer really trusted anyone other than coach Cut to totally run the offense. I don't know, to me it seems that Fulmer has to be life long friends in order to trust them enough to let them do the things they were hired to do. Clawson was pretty successful before he came here and even Sanders has done ok at Kentucky. If there is one person that I think is getting the raw end of the deal in all of this it's Chief. Year in and year out he puts together pretty solid defenses. If he is not retained, I do believe he will find another job in D1 as a DC and maybe even in the SEC.
Now we welcome in Coach Kiffin and I have said from the get go that he or Brian Kelly would be our next coach. I guess we'll find out for certain on Monday who he's bringing with him, but he has the potential to put together an all-star staff. Some of the names being thrown around are a who's who in football today. Will all these coaches be on the staff, I guess we'll find out Monday. Say what you want about him being young and a west coast guy, but IMO those work in our favor. I do think because he does come from the west coast, it will open that area up to us again and I think his name recognition is also a plus in other areas of the country. If Monte does come with him and I'm still not sold that he will, he will bring in a LOT of highly touted defensive prospects. I think a lot of kids, even the ones that don't live in Florida know this man. Even though Monte is 69, he is considered one of the most respected and best DC's in all of football. So, now we as a fan base have something to look forward to on Monday and throughout the off season, which is a lot more than we would have had if CPF hadn't been let go.
orangecountry21 writes:
Morgan Moses and Marlon Brown are top priority I am guessing for CLK. A five star would really help our class considering we have been taking hits
southernson writes:
LOL YOU DIP STICK Your name said it all hiresanders lol this is a New Generation For the Vol Nation , get on or move on. Go buy a Duke hat and live in the past.
tennesseeike writes:
A truly great post!!! Enough said.
Colliervol writes:
Still using the word "we" a bit liberally, aren't we? Hard for a KY fan to qualify as "we" around here.
asleep#212036 writes:
Even good coaches can't take poor talent and win to the level that we expect, ie...Vanderbilt. Using 2007 LSU as an example, you can have incredible talent and an idiot for a coach and win an NC. The next year, when the talent drops, you go 7-5. Nope, talent is the cornerstone. Without it, no coach in the world can get you to SEC CGs or certainly a NC. We know Kiffin can recruit. With better players, and the same coaching acumen we would win more than this year. If he, or his assistants are better coaches, then the sky is the limit. If not, then we are looking again in 3-5 years. Go Vols!!!
MANVOL writes:
sorry I stopped reading after "It just amazes me" I dont have that kind of time to read an essay.
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