Brent Vinson was officially kicked off the team Thursday by Tennessee, but the defensive back had already been removed from UT’s media guide for the Chick-fil-A Bowl that was distributed Friday. Also missing is any reference to Chris Donald, who has voluntarily left the program according to a UT spokesperson.
The sophomore linebacker wasn’t credited with any tackles this season for the Vols, and Donald only played in two games last year after redshirting following a prolific career at Huntingdon High School.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee 60, Connecticut 57 men's…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 66
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
tremendous disappointment of a player...I don't know how some of these guys fall off the face of the earth like they do...
bigtangerine writes:
The attrition continues. Now and future...
Vinson is gone. Donald is gone. A few key seniors move on.
Bruce Irvin is now going to West Virginia in the Class of '10. The Johnson kid from Louisiana for the Class of '11 is now going to LSU. Of course, both may change their minds again.
If we sign 28 and lose 25, that's not gaining much. The depth is not there.
On the positive side, Orgeron won't be moving on, though I would not think anybody wants him anyway.
Next year will be rough.
txvolsfan writes:
Great thoughts chicken little!!!
txsvol#372416 writes:
What was Donald's problem? A five star prospect who couldn't play with all the injuries we had at MLB! He's gotta be a head case, because he, at least in high school, had all the physical tools. SAVol
vol98champ writes:
Vinson and Donald are additions by deletions. How in the world did we get so many duds in the last 3 or 4 years? Both of these guys looked good on paper, but couldn't even lift the paper weight.
abnermc writes:
lots of schools were recruiting Donald. Just does not make sense.
colt writes:
It's not how many stars you've got it's how big of a heart you have. I believe our new coaches can find the players with the big hearts and some stars to go along .
hokies4ever writes:
What a waste he should have went to "NOTHING DAME" with Charlie boy
dburgvet writes:
Pat Ryan stated earlier in the year he was a "tweener". Too big for linebacker and two small for defensive end.
tennezz writes:
He is lazy and would not do what it takes to play football on the college level!
murrayvol writes:
When I saw his film 3 years ago, I thought "can't miss". That's how much I know.
I wish him well. Sometimes things don't work out.
chaos001 writes:
Probably didn't make his grades either...
vut56#231073 writes:
Let's not forget that players have come and gone from UT for a hundred years; it (UT) goes on. Let's also consider Cincinnati is # 3, and correct me if they have more than one ****, the rest being less.
Navy is in a bowl game and I bet they have nothing above a **.
Talent wins games, but that talent must be shown on the field. Weiss collected talent at ND but you know how that went. So, let's not get bent out of shape when some eighteen year old kid skips out on us or some recruit someone thought was hot stuff does not pan out. We may not win them all but I predict we are a better team next year.
eefor10c writes:
Maybe Donald wasn't enough of a thug. Remember over 20% of Kiffins signees have been in trouble.
Gchild writes:
I remember watching a highlight tape from Donald's senior year in high school, he looked out of this world. I remember talking to my dad about this stub LB we had coming in. What has happened with this kid since arriving in Knoxville is beyond explanation.
arkyvol writes:
its always mystified me, how phil could recruit players with more stars than the galaxy and get so little out of them.
lomas98 writes:
That is why high school film and star ranking means squat. Another player Fulmer was credited with a lofty recruiting class for who ends up doing nothing. This is why you should look at recruiting classes 3 years after the fact. Somebody rerank all those classes now.
FEARinSEC writes:
Were you on Jerry Springer?
westennvol writes:
Saw him play in HS, great running back. So So linebacker. never saw him as a great LB. Heard he is lazy. Living off that 5 star rating doesn't get it in the SEC.
Orangeblood13 writes:
nice try
which means more than 80% will be successful, I'll take it
Orangeblood13 writes:
to bad the signing period isn't in Dec for you dipsticks, we will see
jcherrie#219531 writes:
I'd be more upset if Donald Duck left Disney.
LiveFaith writes:
I wonder if Pat Ryan ever heard of Alabama or Florida's huge linebackers. Can't stand it, but that's about as good as LBs and defense gets in college. Magic Johnson was "too tall" to be a point guard and Charles Barkley was "too short" to be a NBA forward, but they managed just a bit.
Stupid comment. He just was not good enough to play any position it appears.
Ayres_Hall writes:
Too bad for him. I hope he finds his place. Seems like a good kid with some talent. Great to see his peers like Chris Walker do well.
57TexasVol writes:
it's two drops of rain, the sky's not falling
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Hokies.
Period.
great2batnvol writes:
Well let's see: I believe the sky is just about ready to fall in on us as well. Good greif!!! Go ahead and pull the plug there misery!!!
VOLFORLIFE writes:
Hey, SAVol, don't see you around much any more. I always enjoyed your posts and insight. You were a regular when this was a subscription site. I don't post as much any more either. Too many trolls and others who seem to delight in sowing discord.
Anyway, nice to hear from you.
GO VOLS!!!
JUGHEAD
great2batnvol writes:
I'm glad we have our on research dept. on here now!!! Get a life homeboy!!!
gatorslayer007 writes:
Like it's any better that "wyner" and his "gaturd" losers in g-ville are recruiting full fledged gang members, complete with photos. which side are you on? Vinson was a good corner,but there must be some reason for his dismissal.Donald never played so: no harm, no foul. You band wagon jumpers cool out, and have a little faith.
crimsonviper writes:
I give that one a standing O...thanks
crimsonviper writes:
Debbie Downer
volcycle writes:
20% only equals 4 players...not a good argument. Especially when one of those was just in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. I think that would take the number down to 3 which is 15% and then if you consider that 2 of those are no longer with the program, you are down to 1 which is 5%....Hmmm... try again!!
Mule_Days_King writes:
These guys never bought into program, whether it was Fulmer or Kiffin. Agree that the program is better without them.
And for all the "sky is falling" crowd, if you are in the corporate world, do you not want the best and most dedicated at your company? If you have employees that are not buying into the company's plan, do you not try to weed them out?
Kiffin is using a proven business model.
Mule_Days_King writes:
Bravo. Nice post.
volover writes:
I think it was AA when he was there. He was a great HS player and I had high hopes for him at UT. I wouldn't think it's grades, prob upset with playing time. He's a great kid from our home state and I wish him the best. Maybe he will head to UTM and be a star.
cloudodust writes:
CLK spelled it out in his very first team meeting earlier this year. He told the squad some would leave on their own, some would be asked to leave and some would eventually be dismissed. Can't get much simpler than that unless you're thick headed.
ckelly33 writes:
Would LOVE to see that happen, for him and UTM's program.
Ringside writes:
Good to know that there is a line established with CLK and if you cross it, you're gone.
In Kiffin I Trust
beachvol1 writes:
Guys, probably none of you ever had the chance to watch Chris Donald play high school football at Huntingdon High and haven't a clue what kind of young man he is..doesn' matter if he played single A or 6A football, he was great student grade wise and no where near being as referenced, the Thug!!! Sometimes as we all know, great high school players just never adjusted to the college game and this is simply the case...Chris just didn't have the work ethic and toughness to progress...he honestly started dropping off his senior yr at Huntingdon...Things happen, so let's don't degrade him because he didn't fit in...Class A football produces quite a few great football players...ever heard of a guy named Patrick Wills(just about 10 miles from Huntingdon) who is now all pro...
crimsonviper writes:
Absolute truth in that.
537081 writes:
some of these 1a kids just get lost when hit the big time. We just have to face it. Some of them end up like Eddie Moore or Eric Westmoreland. some of them don't make it. We have to keep the Tennessee boys home.
RollTideJoe writes:
Why don't you just worry about your own bowl game, bubba. The Tide will take care of their own business. Read all these stories and postings and look in the mirror, criminals.
braddawson writes:
Huntington was one of my high school's rivals we played every year. I went back and watched my boys play when Donald was at Huntington and he was a stout fullback from what I saw. Tall but kind of lanky. It was region 6-2A though so the competition isn't crazy and I never expected he would be a 5-Star recruit who went to UT! There was also a kid there at the same time that played tailback and was fast as lightening (I want to say his name was Boo or something) and I think that helped pad a lot of his stats playing fullback in that Wing T they run down in Huntington. I think they made it to state that year but I don't remember if they won or not. Huntington has always had a pretty dominant 2A team in West TN.
braddawson writes:
I love Patrick Willis man, he was a good friend to one of my best friends at Bruceton! He was a frickin' best in HS and is even more of one now!
dvols writes:
donald "voluntarily" left.....good luck to the young man!!!!
KINGKONG writes:
Chris Donald probably was overrated, never really played agaisnt no high level athletes until he came to UT.I beleive it was to easy for him in high school.He never knew how to step his gm up,because he never been challenged.Football isnt about size,speed or stats.It all about heart
coltvol33 writes:
Idiot.
GR82BAVOL writes:
Goodbye, good riddance, and don't let the big ole orange door hit you in the (_|_) on the way out boys. We only take young men who come to play like men (and for championships) here...if you wanna play and act like a little boy, then get outta here and go eat some cereal and watch some cartoons with Tiger.
Depth will come, just not next season...2011 and 2012 is when we'll really see the improvement from top to bottom...we'll have the "interchangable parts" to win it all by then.
coltvol33 writes:
"Hokie Hokie High we are the boys from VPI"??? Does your mother know it's past your bedtime?
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.