HOOVER, Ala. - Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin and his staff already have made it clear how they stand on commitments. They ignore them.
So when high school quarterback Jesse Scroggins announced his intent Thursday to play college football at Southern California, do you really think the Vols bid him a fond farewell?
He committed in July. Signing day is in February.
UT didn't lose Scroggins. It's just trailing at halftime.
And if it's looking for someone to lead a comeback, I recommend quarterback Jevan Snead, but not just because he once agreed to play football for Ed Orgeron, who is now UT's assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator.
Snead is a future NFL first-round draft pick who currently plays for the Ole Miss Rebels, Orgeron's old team. His success story should be a must read for any highly recruited high school quarterback.
Snead first committed to the University of Florida. He had second thoughts when he heard about Tim Tebow. And he was smart enough to heed them.
His second choice was the University of Texas, his home-state school. But this wasn't all about proximity. Snead was a student of college depth charts.
Prior to the Tebow-Florida connection, Snead saw the potential for early playing time with the Gators. He saw the same thing at Texas, where Vince Young had just led his team to the national championship as a junior.
Snead, who attended SEC media days last week, said he envisioned himself learning from Young as a freshman, then competing for the starting position a year later. His vision changed when Young went pro early.
Suddenly, Snead was battling with redshirt freshman Colt McCoy to become Texas' No. 1 quarterback. McCoy edged him out and became an immediate star.
Meanwhile, Team Snead began studying depth charts again. Based on that, his high school coach and trainer recommended Ole Miss.
Snead never even considered Ole Miss in high school. But a depth chart with a future need at quarterback got his attention. He visited the campus, liked what he saw, became a Rebel and is now regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in the country.
"I got it right the second time," he said with a smile.
Snead's second-chance success story offers hope to every UT fan who might be discouraged by the Vols' failure to secure a commitment from a big-time quarterback in the current recruiting chase.
Ole Miss doesn't have UT's football tradition or facilities, but it still landed a quarterback of Snead's caliber. Now, UT is offering more than tradition and facilities. Its depth chart is a neon sign flashing "vacancy" to any quarterback who looks.
There's no quarterback on the roster capable of scaring off a recruit. There's a glaring lack of depth for next season. And 2011 is almost empty.
Perhaps Scroggins will stay true to his commitment to nearby USC. Or maybe, if USC's current young quarterbacks are as good as billed, UT will become more appealing with each passing Saturday.
But, if not Scroggins, some quarterback - either this recruiting season or next - will take a long, hard look at UT's depth chart, and likely find it irresistible.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 43
FWBVol writes:
Great column John. It is a long way to February, and I think the performance of the Southern Cal QBs this fall might sway Scroggins to look elsewhere.
I really like what I'm reading about Bray too. I know he is a verbal to San Diego State, but I would think that SDS can't hold the same staying power as USC.
If our current QBs blossom under Lane that will only help the recruiting situation too.
vol_chaz writes:
Perhaps there's another SoCal player that we end up with to play QB....
DennisVols writes:
It will all come down to this year's performance on offense.
Last year's 115th ranking in total offense and a QB rating not even that good has left a lot to be considered by young highly rated QB's.
Yes there is a new staff and a new HC and a whole different offensive scheme which is more likely to get a QB into the NFL than any Spread offense will.
What is still at question though is how good this staff will be a developing the players into NFL caliber players.
If UT shows major improvements at all positions on the offense, esp. at QB a lot can happen between now and Feb.
You can bet the other coaches are using the "look at last years offense", "he is a young coach who has never coached in the college or SEC", "No way can Kiffin be successful as a HC in the SEC", etc, etc.
That is all the players have to go on at this point. This year is pivitol in the recruitment of elite offensive players, namely QB's to right this program and get it back on the road to respectability.
I believe we will see those changes. Kiffin has a plan. With each week I feel more confident about that. The 0 arrests or even lack of on campus idoit stunts we have seen over and over the last decade are gone. GPA's the highest increase in a single semester. 100% of the players taken part in player only practices this summer.
This in itself is a major improvement.
The attitude has changed, the confidence level has changed and it will show up on the field this year. Better conditioning + Better attitude= Competitive
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
TommyJack writes:
Who knows? Maybe we will stumble upon a QB from east of the Mississippi. Tired of hearing about all the west coasties.
NoogaVol55 writes:
I don't expect Scroggins to go against his decision...but I think we will find the right fit..possibly with Bray. Adams hit the nail on the head...somebody will find our depth chart irresistible & hopefully soon!
golfballs03 writes:
John Adams for President!
OrangePride writes:
Exactly! Exactly, exactly, JA. Tennessee is way too superior a school and this opportunity will not go unnoticed by a truly outstanding quarterback somewhere in the months to come. If you come here and do not recognize the tradition and coaching excellence, then maybe you just need to take a second look. We will see who emerges from the pile; it may be Scroggins, it will be somebody! Go Vols!
beachvol1 writes:
Why does Kif not look in this area, the south for a qb...the west coast is not the only place there are good qb's...appears that his darn set on a west coast qb...
10volunteers98 writes:
I was dissapointed when Scrogg commited to USC.But I think maybe UT would be better off to go after Tyler Bray.This kid is big,6`6'and 190 pounds.They say he will only get better.Maybe UT should forget Jesse and let him ride the pine at USC.
micbrooks#212023 writes:
Can anyone tell me some stats on Garret Grayson..how tall is the guy, how much arm strenght does he have, how mobile is he ..???I read that he loves Tenn and would come here in a minute if we offered, but nothing else has been written. People throw up these names of prospects w/o telling us anything about them. Driving me crazy. I'm looking for an Al Wilson *** who will come on the scene and jsut be a monster a Qback,...Hell, the kid at OU was a *** when he was recruited...NOW, if Lane can come up with one of these,....I will be ready to crown him KING of all...It's funny , just Ole Miss, fla, and LSU are the only SEC teams with their Q-back postion already pretty much settled...It makes one wonder why there hasn't been much talk about Georgia..They apparently have some good second teamers but still not lock for the postion .. This bodes well for us with our undecided situation at Q-back... I remember PF saying after the 1998 year that we were very lucky to have a minimum of injures that year . If We can be so lucky again it will bode well for the season's success, since we are so thin at D-line, and linebacker. I notced too that M. Kiffin said "We want to play FAST" and I believe we have the defensive backfield to do so...I cannot wait to see what MK comes up with to counter the Spread offense at Fla...It may be the only thing that keeps us in the game. If we can get a couple of turnovers in that game like Ole Miss did then we can be in it....Frankly, I think J Snead IS the best Q-Back in college ball and that he will prove it this year. He won't be on the best team, and this will hurt him, if you just watch him I know you will be impressed. Last year, LSU had a poor Q-back situation but their defense was suppose to be VERY good and Snead took them apart. this guy will be playing on Sunday. With 5 seniors on the O lne this year we CAN be outstanding, and I think we will be, with even mediocre Q-back play, early, and then late in the year with some self confidence, I think we will all be impressed.
I think with the help of the running game we will steamroll some teams than didn't see it coming. It worries me that Les Miles has continued to recruit so well... I thought after Sabin left this would drop off , but it does not seem to have. Also, I thought when Sabin came to ALA he would have more trouble recruiting than he has ...the guy is stockpilling talent and don't let anyone tell you otherwise .. Their problem is like many others. they are breaking in a new Q-back...Meyer, , well, He is like a kid in a candy store, with the talent he has to choose from in Fla....They will win w/o Teblow, but it won't be the same, and the mystique will be gone. If he EVER leaves Fla to coach ANYWHERE else, he needs his head examined. But you know, some coaches have the big head and think "I can win anywhere I go", and so, they leave , only to find out different. See Steve spurrier.
vols4ever93 writes:
Man, Jessee Scroggins will get mad if they red shirt Matt Barkley.
And then...
micbrooks#212023 writes:
This is what I mean...WHO is Tyler Bray...Tell us about him
bluetick writes:
That is what it is all about from the beginning that put a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Not complaining, nope but Tennessee is Tennessee and will always be Tennessee and I personally don't care for being known as the USC of the East like I've heard us called before. It's ROCKY TOP baby! We don't need to mimic anybody. Find us a good ole southern boy to be our QB.
BasketVols writes:
Read this whole article. It really paints Bray in a positive light, in comparison even to the top prospects in the 2010 QB Class.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/calhisport...
More of the same in this fine article.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recrui...
gohawks1 writes:
Yep. Kinda tired of hearing about the left coast myself.
utmdm writes:
Starting to wonder how HS FB gets played east of the Mississippi without any quarterbacks here.
belayvol writes:
2010 was the worst year for elite QB prospects in many years. Most of the good ones for this class were in the West. However, 2011 is stacked with top prospects at QB from the right side of the country. So the question is, do you recruit the Blake Bells or the Reese Brownings?
TommyJack writes:
Exactly
CrankE writes:
All Adams columns lead to/through Tebow.
10cvolnga writes:
Not every high school QB blossums before their senior year. There still may be a few that surprise the recruiters this fall. Don't give up on the rest of the 2010 class out there. JA, great article! There will be de-commits, no doubt. There always are. Good reason to not burn bridges when someone signs elsewhere. Hang on Vols, we will get our MAN!!!
belayvol writes:
B.S. That is almost as uninformed as what Naffy posts.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
To expand a bit on a few points others have made, 1) talent moves in cycles; this year, more of the better QBs are in the west; next year, the east may have more top prospects.
2) Lots of high schools in the east play spread/option offenses with running QBs; there just may not be as many pro-style, drop-back passers being developed in the east these days.
3) Many of the elite QBs in every part of the country have had interest from college recruiters since they were in junior high; CLK and staff have to overcome a lot of love shown earlier by other programs.
4) CLK and staff ARE unproven AS a staff in the ultra-competitive SEC; a successful season for the Vols will go a LONG way toward getting the elite recruits in the next couple of years.
5) As I posted on another thread, any new QB would have to be concerned that the Vols will be very thin and inexperienced on the O-line and probably at receiver in 2010; meanwhile, the other elite offensive players are waiting to see what kind of QB we get--a chicken-and-egg dilemma that will only be solved by much improved UT on-field performance this upcoming season.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
Belay -
what are your thoughts on Bray vs. Grayson
VolFanNC writes:
For the record I did want Scroggins from the beginning, but before we offerred Heaps, Bell, Simms or Scroggins, this staff was pursuing Lamaison. He had great stats last year in JC and he only played in the 1st half on a good portion of the games due to the leads. He is supposed to be very accurate in the deep ball, so between him and NS we should be fine next year.
The only concern for me in not landing a top QB in this class is the recruiting of the WR's.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
with Lamaison and Bray, we would be set at qb and not need nor should we pursue Scroggins or Brunetti. I think Lamaison will surprise some folks next yr.
TruthDetecter writes:
Much depends on how UT's offense looks this year. If you see struggling and slop, you'll have more kids unwilling to commit to UT. If UT's offense shows life and looks like something that has promise, all these verbals to other schools are worthless and a kid could easily switch to UT.
belayvol writes:
I like Grayson over Bray based on his numbers as a junior, his foot speed, and he seems to be just now coming into his own. I still cannot get a confirmation on the 40 speed posted for Bray 5.45 secs. which is slower than some O linemen. Not a big deal as he may speed up some. But Grayson seems the more athletic of the two.
hueypilot writes:
While QB is important, and maybe even the most important position on the field, Daryl Dickey, Tee Martin, Casey Clausen, Rick Clausen and Erik Ainge all led Tennessee to the outright title, or to Atlanta. Hardly winners of the Davey O'Brien award. I am much more interested in seeing how a retreaded offensive line blocks for some running backs, and if Monte can coach those green linebackers up and get some depth at defensive line.
StroVol writes:
At least by default, you play qb at Tennessee you probably get access to Peyton Manning. Wealth of knowledge there.
blitzshoot writes:
Bray could be the needle in the haystack
Voluvr writes:
JESSIE, As your coaches plug you in first with relationships with other players to seal you in and perhaps you find a little honey, remember, you're there for two things, degree and football.
Degree for future, football to shoot for the dream of the NFL.
KNOW THIS, look past all the lock in tactics there on you. Fact, you will be on the bench for two to three years there. The honeymoon will soon wear off as this becomes evident to you. Unlike High School, you're not the best on the field anymore. Everyone's good.
You would start next year for the Vols and be playing for titles immediately. Peyton drove past 6 schools to get to UT. You won't regret it.
Voluvr writes:
IN 3 YEARS:
At UT, Scroggins would be turning PRO.
At USC, Scroggins would be getting his first start.
gohawks1 writes:
Good point, except I'd replace "would be" with "may be" in your last sentence.
WYLOVER writes:
Exactly. He is not even the best player in SoCal and people are acting like he is the next Manning.
Get real. I would rather have a 3 star from the SE than this guy. I am sure he is good but he doesn't get it.
utvolz#637682 writes:
What does it take to get rid of all these numbers behind my sig? And what did I do to deserve them as they weren't always there?
stroker writes:
Good read good analogy. Hope you are right on
VOLFAN5307 writes:
I dont care if he could reel them in, he lost his knack for developing his players. Fulmer was a great coach during "his time". His time had passed him over 2 yrs before he had gotten fired. One year he was bailed out by a good QB and a great defensive/offensiv coordinator. What happened when he lost his coordinator who shouldve been head coach? DOWN HILL! Can Kiffin develop his players, we do not know that yet but at the Orange&White game it sure looked a lot better than in previous years as far as players flying around and making plays. Peyton Manning was 12 yrs ago and we cant keep riding those coattails, not from the 98' season or from the other successful seasons we had. This is a new era in UT football, we have went outside the box and it seems to paying off in some fields and not others, but mark my words IF this all comes together at once and i pray it does then UT football will no longer have UT fans wishing it was basketball season like those guys from the state to the north of us do every year.
The point i was trying to make and i kind of got sidetracked is, Developing a player is much more important than recruiting a 5 star prospect and just letting him gun it everywhere. I would much rather have a coach who can only get 3 or 4 star prospects, and then develop them to their full potential than i would having a coach that could get 5 star all americans and all they do is put a ball in their hands and say do what you can.
hueypilot writes:
Rick Clausen was the quarterback in Tennessee's loss to Auburn in the 2004 SEC Championship game who led us back from down 21-7 to tie at 21 and trail 31-28 late. I said outright title or to Atlanta. Tell me, would you settle for a trip to Atlanta in December right now?
Volgrad777 writes:
Man some of you amaze me , try following recruiting for a while. There are no solid QBs in the south. Chesapeake Va is about it and hes a Bama lock for now. There are very few pro style QBs that come out of the SE each year. Mainly because of these kids being dual threat guys and running the spread or zone read in high school. Kiffin has said repeadedly he wants a pro style guy that fits his system. If he didnt we would have kept Boyd. Where do you look for the best pro style guys??? Simple, California. Thats all there is to it, doesnt have his heart set on one , thats just where the players are. Hes offered guys from Ohio, Va, Cali, Washington, Oklahoma. Pay attention and do some research before you start that good ole southern boy garb.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
I like the attitude but that's some intense wishful thinking.
byobbio writes:
This column was a waste of 3 minutes to read.
hueypilot writes:
Your points are all well taken Rich and I'm not suggesting Rick Clausen was anything other than a very average to below average college qb, but qb isn't the only thing that matters. Look at what Georgia didn't do with Stafford and Moreno last year behind an o line that started two freshman. I'm only saying that while qb is important, it's not even necessarily the main ingredient.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
It may have something to do with global warming.
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