Kiffin must hit ground running for recruits

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.

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.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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