Tennessee improved its standing with unsure commitment D.T. Shackelford thanks to two all-important recent meetings.
“This is my first time meeting Coach (Lane) Kiffin and my first time meeting (defensive coordinator) Monte Kiffin was Thursday,” Shackelford said Sunday following his official visit to UT. “I got a chance to meet the coaches and got a real feel for the type of people they are.
“Tennessee wants to win and has an energetic staff, so my opinion of Tennessee has went up.”
Shackelford committed to UT in August but has since considered Auburn and Ole Miss following a volatile season for the Vols in 2008 which led to a coaching change.
Having taken all of his planned official visits, Shackelford said he is close to finalizing a decision — maybe.
“Probably in three or four days,” said the 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker from Austin High School in Decatur, Ala. “If not, just whenever I feel comfortable.”
Auburn has made a strong push for Shackelford, often recruiting him with first-year head coach Gene Chizik.
Shackelford said he still considers himself a commitment to UT, especially after a positive trip to Knoxville.
“I enjoyed it,” he said. “It was real nice. I had a good time. I always like hanging out with the players without the coaches and seeing how it is.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Comments » 31
utfpmd writes:
I still don't see the appeal of Auburn and Chizik.
chrisw2967 writes:
just get him signed
gohawks1 writes:
Sign him up.
StroVol writes:
What's to think about. Gee not sure about working so close with a defensive legend in Monte. Come on now. Find a number available and give somebody your helmet size.
JTinCharlotte writes:
I know this is an article about Shackelford, but here is an article about Marlon Brown. A little dated but I thought it interesting.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of people who watched me play football growing up who would like to see me play for Tennessee,” Brown told the AJC. “I hear about Tennessee all day, every day. There would be some unhappy people around here if I left the state to play ball.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sha...
Hope they keep the pressure on and he comes to where he belongs.
hotrodvol writes:
It's time to say yes, come on D.T. bring it!!!
TennesseeTodd writes:
He's all Vol!!!
JTinCharlotte writes:
According to Scout we are his last visit. Auburn was 01/09 and MS was 01/16
http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&...
mtnsvol44 writes:
It should come down to "do I want to be NFL ready when I graduate". If so, then UT is the program.
CHS52VOL writes:
Anyone have the latest news on Tana Patrick? I'm sure he is getting the "Don't visit UT!" bit from anal-retentive Coach Saban, but hope he disregards the veiled threat and visits (January 30?) us anyway. GO VOLS!! Saban's approach is going to backfire on him with some recruits. Hope Tana Patrick is the first.
MrBamSeydu writes:
Volquest.com is reporting someone committed today from this weekends visitors. They aren't talking about a re-commit either. Does anyone have a VQ login???
Someone check it out and see who it is.
MrBamSeydu writes:
I think it was Nyshier Oliver. He committed to us, then decommitted and said he was going to Notre Dame.
Apparently he has recommitted to UT again.
Not sure if that's who they were talking about, but I just read that somewhere too.
Saban_Palin writes:
'Tennessee has went up'
Yeah, he belongs in Knoxville.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
auburn and alabama always seems to have some perks that are not available to the VOLS recruits. It would be nice if we could find something that would 'drive' the recruits more in Tennessee's direction.
kingwoodtx_vol writes:
Well, I was shocked with Marlon and his UF recruiting posse showed up at church where I attend this morning. He had his grandmother with him on the visit. As I was explaining that I grew up in Franklin and was a die-hard UT fan stuck in Gator land, his grandmother held up her Bible with it UT orange cover. Does this mean anything? No, but it was great to get to meet them. I put in a word for UT and Kiffen. We will see.
JTinCharlotte writes:
My mistake, I didn't pay attention. I was posting about Shackelford. Now I see you were talking about Oku. Sorry, pardon my ignorance.
halloffamebowler writes:
His opinion of Tennessee has went up.Sound like he is well versed in the english language.
highVOLtage writes:
Well, D.T. also has offers from Stanford and Vanderbilt, so proper english grammar aside, I'm betting he's a rather intelligent individual.
JTinCharlotte writes:
Being one that was raised by my Grand-parents, I learned something a long time ago, Grandma knows best.
asleep#212036 writes:
If you lived in Alabama, as I do, you would get it. It's not Chizik, it's Auburn. This is the craziest college football state I know of and for a native kid to have the chance to play for Alabama or Auburn is hard to resist. I'm not saying Auburn has more to offer but the social pressures and subsequent rewards for playing in-state are immense. My son's high school in Athens, gets more excited over 2- and 3* kids getting scholarships from the Tide or Tigers than they were over Phillip Rivers (AHS alum) and his NC State career. And going to the hated Vols? It's really a tough thing for a kid down here. Hope he makes the right choice but it won't be easy for him. Go Vols!!!
asleep#212036 writes:
Mike Edwards from Glenville, Ohio.
2407westTN_VOLSfan writes:
Orange Swarm! Go VOLS!!
Yall remember there is no "e" in Kiffin! Get his name right, HE IS TENNESSEE!!!!
TxFatBoy writes:
I don't quite get this guy, he'll make up his mind in a few days...but he still considers himself a UT commitment? Has the definition of "commitment" changed since I was in school? I thought that a COMMITMENT was just that. When you say "I am giving my word that I'm coming to "ABC University" that should mean your mind is made up.
Personally, I think anyone who ISN'T SURE after commiting should have their scholarship offer pulled. If and when they decide they KNOW they want to come to UT then the staff should see if there is still a spot available for them. If so, then fine. If not, sorry kid...you should learn that your word is your bond.
jsm67vol writes:
Ouch!! Did that beeiiitch slap hurt as bad as it sounded saban_palin?? I heard it all the way in W.TN!! That"s called shutting them up with facts!! LMAO at that one highVOL
orangebloodgmc writes:
Saban/Palin quotes Shackelford then comments:
"Tennessee has went up ...
Yeah, he belongs in Knoxville."
Well, so far the young man has been schooled in Alabama; He'll get an actual education in Tennessee.
HotlantaVol writes:
Are you kidding? Who wouldn't want to go play for Gene Chizik and have the opportunity to turn a respected football program into a 2-10 team regarded as the equivalent of a bye week when on your opponent's schedule? Come on people. Think before you type.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
He's a local boy; may be family reasons he might want to stay closer to home.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I get what you're saying but it really doesn't work that way with a lot of young kids these day. They all want to have a big press conference, play with hats, and make a splash. Meanwhile, they say whatever comes to mind to keep everyone off their backs until they have the chance to do it "right". Besides, we outsiders have no way of knowing what they may have already told the coaches. We would lose a LOT of these guys if we took the stand you are advocating. They know this is their last chance to have this much of the public spotlight until they make All-American or something, so they milk the recruiting process for all it's worth.
orangebloodgmc writes:
I think I remember Saban_Palin ... didn't he used to visit here as Dubose_TonyaHarding?
TxFatBoy writes:
I know, I'm just tired of the back and forth garbage. I guess a better solution would be to implement an early signing day. That might at least lock down some of your commits.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I understand that there is a move afoot to have an early-signing day. That could cut down on some of the shenanigans, but the "drama-kings" will always try to hog the spotlight at every opportunity. This is the "Look-at-me" generation, and us ol' fogies will just have to put up with it(;-P)! If you AREN'T an "ol' fogey", I apologize(;-D)!
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