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ORLANDO, Fla. - Corey Adams is a classic case of how a coaching change affects a school's recruiting.
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive tackle from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., just couldn't add Tennessee to his list of prospective schools when the Vols came calling in December.
Despite being a high priority under first-year UT coach Lane Kiffin, it was just too late.
Shortly after Kiffin hired James Cregg from the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 15, Cregg was on a plane to see Adams.
"He showed up at Tennessee, then the very next day he came to my school to talk to me," Adams said following practice for Sunday's Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando, Fla. "I just told him I've narrowed it down and I'm really trying to focus on those three."
UT wasn't the problem. Timing was.
"I think it was just too late," Adams said. "It was really just timing. I had already narrowed it down. I had the three (schools) for a while now and I still haven't had a decision. I think adding one more would just delay it."
There was nothing Cregg nor Kiffin could have done. Southern California, Arizona State and Ohio State already had too strong a foothold.
"They told me, 'If you ever want to take an extra (official visit), you can call us. If not, good luck,' " Adams said, referring to UT's final message.
UT's 2009 signing class has taken a beating one would expect from a coaching change. It has lost six commitments directly linked to the transition from Phillip Fulmer to Kiffin and has taken almost as significant a hit in perception.
Just ask Stavion Lowe. The 6-6, 300-pound offensive tackle from Brownwood (Texas) High visited Knoxville in June.
"It was a nice atmosphere to be in but ever since the start of the season, it's kind of been going downhill," said Lowe, who is committed to LSU. "You expected the coaching change to happen. Their recruiting is kind of shaky right now. They can comeback because they're still a good school."
Surging Smith: One of the most intriguing prospects in the Under Armour All-American Game is Petey Smith from Armwood High in Seffner, Fla. Smith suffered an injury as a junior causing him to miss most of the 2007 season and gain some weight.
The stocky 6-foot middle linebacker said this week that he is at 250 pounds, which is a bit suspect. Smith has great instincts at linebacker but could easily grow into an interior defensive lineman.
UT had an inside track with Smith with running backs coach Stan Drayton, who recruited Smith while coaching at Florida before coming to UT in January 2008. Drayton continued to recruit Smith from Knoxville.
"We had a pretty good relationship," Smith said.
Kiffin evaluated Smith last month but apparently came away unimpressed.
"They just kind of fell off me," Smith said. "I lost contact. Then I just really threw them out of the picture. I didn't worry about it. I just kept moving on."
Smith said that's been the case with several schools that have been scared away by his injury, his size or both.
Smith's stockiness, either at linebacker or nose guard, may make him a better fit in a 3-4 defense, such as Alabama's. UT is expected to run a 4-3 under defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
Smith is deciding between offers from Alabama and Auburn.
Matchups: Lowe said linebacker Manti Te'o and safety Craig Loston have been two standouts in practice this week.
Te'o, who is from Honolulu, was considering UT before suddenly eliminating the Vols in September. The 6-2, 230-pound linebacker is mulling offers from Southern Cal, UCLA, Stanford, Notre Dame and Brigham Young.
Loston is a 6-2, 190-pounder from Aldine, Texas, who is considering LSU and Texas A&M. He is scheduled to announce his decision Sunday.
The White team is playing the underdog role, saying that the Black team has more highly rated players.
"They've got a little upside but that doesn't matter to us because we're all here for the same reason," Lowe said. "They may have more (stars) but when it comes down to it, it just matters who plays hard."
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 69
ncvol writes:
That's ok!... It wasn't meant to be....Go Vols!
BillsBrother writes:
Yeah, they didn't mention U-FL either. What was the point?
Hey, you better better be logging off soon or you'll miss the early bird dinner special!
yeavols#228407 writes:
Great story for ZZ to munch on and reguritate. I am not totally sold on the article claiming it was all due to a coaching change. Sounds like some of the recruits changed their mind in June and September long before Fulmer's fate was determined. Sorry ZZZZZ...go back to bed and sleep it off. We'll be just fine...Hey..How am I doin?
givehim6 writes:
Well just remember Kiffin came in just a month ago, bringing in a #1 class he will do this year. Wait and see what 2010 will be like. GO VOLS!
yeavols#228407 writes:
We can make a long list of all the recruits that decided not to attend a school that recruited them. Hey, let's start with Florida..
TommyJack writes:
gatorzz = KNS plant
yeavols#228407 writes:
Right! Ya..that's it...everytime you type something, your foot goes into your mouth. When will you ever learn to shut it? Stand up and take a load off your mind..move away from the keyboard, and take a walk. Get your mind off Tennessee football for a while..=) How am I doin?
BillsBrother writes:
Just trying to help a fella out...
http://eats.com/restaurants/florida/f...
dlobh writes:
Gator fans make it hard to root for FL in the nc game. Having visited most stadiums in the SEC in the last 30 years, you guys are far and away the rudest and most obnoxious and have no class at all. Congratulations.
txvolsfan writes:
I'll be glad when it's planted!!!
wesw33z#667083 writes:
someone wake me up when kns puts out a positive story that isn't 20-48 hours old
seattlevol writes:
Because of tool-bags like you
volball7222 writes:
Sometimes the truth can be very painful......sorry.
JMP_Vols writes:
Anyone on here still looking for a New Years resolution? How about this one, when one of our Florida fans posts something that may elicit an emotional response, back away from your keyboard, take a deep breath, and let it go. Move on without responding.
My guess is that one of the perks for the Gators coming on here is getting under peoples skin.
Some of the arguments just aren't very grown up.
Go Vols and Happy New Year!!!!!!
bricker865 writes:
No, we just have better things to do than hang out on opposing team's website. Shows how much free time you have. BTW you were the first post on this article. Congrats! You must be hanging out by the computer just screaming for new govols articles to come out. Get a life man.
pastorlee#372395 writes:
You're exactly right. I would love to cheer for an SEC team, but Florida makes it very difficult. I guess it's kind of hard for me to cheer for someone who hates my guts. But nevertheless, Jesus said to "love your enemies...do good to those who persecute you." I guess He's never met a Gator fan, lol.
Happy New Year to all and God Bless. Boomer Sooner!
bricker865 writes:
You're right! I probably shouldn't have posted and moved on. People like that have no lives or no friends. This is their only purpose in life. Have a good New Years also!
newtonrail writes:
You miss Classiest. That goes to Auburn fans both Home and on the Plains.
BillsBrother writes:
The Arkansas fans were terrific in Fayetteville and Little Rock.
Must agree that FL is 12th in the league.
FLAVOLS writes:
As big a Flamer as there comes. He most likely never attended, much less graduated, from any Florida school. Most likely a local inbred with an agenda. I have lived in Florida quite a while and even unfortunately have a brother that went to the dark side, but I can say from experience that most Florida fans are class acts. It the highly insecure ones that like to flame posts on another school's site.
sameolvolalum writes:
Amen. I'm a '73 Vol grad, played briefly on the UT jr. varsity and live and breathe orange. I live in SC and keep up with the Vols daily. However. Anybody who is so obsessed with an opposing team's site has to be literally psychotic. Here's the clue: DON'T RESPOND TO HER POSTS.
yeavols#228407 writes:
Auburn owns Gators...moving on...
andy112382#209793 writes:
I have yet to figure out why a gator fan spends so much time on a Tennessee Vol site.....
More atheletes want to play at Florida, huh? Well, keep your athletes (Leonard Scott first name that pops up when I hear that term) because Tennessee has the Kiffins and now Orgeron to bring in true football players to handle those athletes. They are picking out only the best to fit into their offensive and defensive systems, we'll be just fine thank you very much.
And don't get mixed up, we DID win the SEC east in 2004 and 2007, so it isn't like we haven't been close to taking the sec title, I don't think we are nearly as far off as some people try to make it appear.
GO VOLS!!!
mbradshaw1#655539 writes:
It's only just begun! we are here and the more people hate us the better. I have noticed everyone giving us support when we were not winning and now it's gone stone cold. I want to be hated!
JBruce writes:
If you are talking strictly SEC, Alabama's fans are the worst by a long shot.
I went to an Alabama v. LSU game in Tuscaloosa back in the mid 90's. Alabama fans were picking fights with the LSU fans before the game. Many of the LSU fans had their tires slashed.
I enjoy alot of the trash talking that goes on around rivalry games, but the lack of class that I saw there was shameful.
cainclifton23 writes:
Ok Fagg.
Just because You are targeting doesnt mean they are planning on going to FL.
jimr07 writes:
My favorite team? whoever plays florida. go sooners
jimr07 writes:
you pay better.
mbradshaw1#655539 writes:
we have not felt the love either. I live in Florida and only when we become a threat is when we get negative feed back!
mbradshaw1#655539 writes:
I want to be the most hated team south of Canada!!!!!
username writes:
I have long admired the product that UF has put out on the field. It's their fan base that stinks. Florida Field is the only place where I have ever encountered assaults from drunk students, and it happened THREE times. Once, some guy tried to slug me outside the stadium on the way to my car. Another time, some drunk bimbo tossed a cup of urine at my friends. So... to lay it out as clearly as possible, being defeated by UF has nothing to do with how most of us feel about the nest of lunatics the school calls a fan base.
RJ_Vol writes:
TJ. I'm watching USC absolutely throttle Penn State right now, 31-7. I bet if USC was on our schedule there would be some guy on our board by the name of "Trojanzz".
Could there be a split National Champion as mentioned by Brent M.?
seattlevol writes:
Wow you have a bachelors degree!. Good for you. Get a PHD and then come talk to me.
The sad thing is that you are probably in your 50's and you spend your time trolling on a rival teams site.
I was born in 77 and by the looks of it have done a hell of a lot more than you in the last 31 years.
Keeping on flaming you loser.. It makes you and your beloved gatoz look like trash.
blitzshoot writes:
If this keeps up, no doubt that the AP will once again select USC as national champs. Big ten and ACC are taking it on the chin.
BillsBrother writes:
So you DO qualify for AARP!
alwaysorange81 writes:
just a few questions. What exactly was the point of this article?? Can Hooker wright an article and not mention how the coaching change has negatively effected the program?? Is there any way that kns can wright anything about recruits we actually have a chance at getting...without making it seem depressing and withholding any credit for Coach Kiffin?
tennrich1 writes:
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD ANYBODY RESPOND TO A NON-VOL POSTING ON THIS SITE WHO IS OBVIOUSLY DOING IT FOR KICKS...WHY?WHY?WHY?
mtnsvol44 writes:
If he is too dumb to change his mind and play for ex NFL coaches, and be ready for the NFL when he graduates, then he is too dumb to play for the Vols!!!
jimr07 writes:
I just love it when people keep making fools of themselves. and, you do the best job of all. most of us on here actually laugh at you.
mbradshaw1#655539 writes:
Gzz. We all have bad fans on both sides. But I tend to think FL fans are the most obnoxious. but I just want to be hated by all FL fans. That is my goal and I will Die Trying! I have a lot of FL fans around me and as long as they treat me with respect, I know we are not doing something right.
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
volpreacher writes:
Lists are lists but if you look at the commitments UF is only a mere 3 spots ahead of UT in the rankings according to rivals.com. And they are separated by a mere 85 points which can be made up quickly. Also, UF has more commitments which give them more points. So in analyzing this, the incoming classes are pretty even. So where do you get your logic?
easymoney writes:
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
volpreacher writes:
Also, we'll take and will have a top 15 class this year and next year probably in top 3. Especially after the swamp gets drained next year by the ORANGE SWARM.
seattlevol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
volpreacher writes:
Remedial class for you gatorzz. UT will probably do the same this year unless some good guys fall into our laps. But the coaching changes are extremely good for UT and will pay dividends in the long run. IN case you didn't notice a 5* was told his services weren't needed. (Boyd) LK is signing the best and UF and the rest of the SEC is being served. Enjoy this short dominance. Happy New Year.
seattlevol writes:
For once you are right. Every team has some obnoxious and in your face idiots that try to ruin the experience... the thing is, you are one of those idiots.
You say you don't go into opposing teams stadiums and talk trash, but why do you do it here? Is it because you can act smart and tough on a forum, but you know if you did it in real life you would get your ars beat?
That must be it. There really is no other explanation for such a small and pathetic old man like yourself.
JohnsonCity_George writes:
AARP is to Fla what VASF is to UT.
Who do you guys have lined up for a coach? Urbie is heading for his dream job. It will be a lot easier to recruit Flahaha players to SBend then to Flahaha because there are more dark headed women jogging around. Go Sooners or whomever is playing florida or alabama....GO VOLS
seattlevol writes:
I am surgeon at UW medical and I live on the puget sound. I doubt you are banking more than me. They dont pass out those degrees on the back of matchbooks grandpa.
I am glad your daddy got a PHD... what have YOU done?
yeavols#228407 writes:
Boy ZZZZ back again? Can't stay away?
RJ_Vol writes:
KNS...If you are going to put TDTN on ice, I think you better take a look at someone else today. Hint! Hint! Put the troll on a leash until they agree to behave.
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