Jacques Smith already has a summer job, one that allows him to put a little money in his pocket before turning his attention to his senior season with the Ooltewah High School football program. But Smith also has taken on the added chore of an unofficial recruiter for the University of Tennessee, hoping to help the Vols pocket a few more prep All-Americans.
The Volunteers' new coaching staff is loaded with recruiting specialists, but Smith lends a hand in selling the program to other prospects and their families as often as he can. The latest sales pitch was last weekend when Smith came up for the final day of UT's three-day skills camp and became fast friends with the Vols' top quarterback target, Jesse Scroggins.
Scroggins was touring the UT campus with his family but did not work out during the camp. With help from mammoth Louisiana defensive tackle commitment Anthony Johnson (6-foot-4, 300), the personable and well-spoken Smith used a defensive drill to illustrate to Scroggins and his family the benefits of joining the Vols.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 33
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
Love this guy already!
Jonboy writes:
Any word on Scroggins?
give_him_6 writes:
Great read!! Why is my hometown paper scooping KNS the last few weeks? Keep it up Free-Press and keep it up Mr. Smith.
Go Vols
volzcrushm writes:
Hey guys, CLK pulled in the two best running backs in the country in the mid-night hour this last recruiting season. Be patient and let the man work it. I bet when the dust settles, we have two of the best pro-style QBs in the country signing up to be playing for the big orange.
golfballs03 writes:
any scout subscriber on here?
http://tennessee.scout.com/2/875102.html
what does this say?
PepperGrinder (Inactive) writes:
I love this guy.
gbeejr#1354500 writes:
What a great kid. I know we've had recruits and players in the past try to persuade others to come to Tennessee, but I can't recall many recruits that we couldn't sign for another 8 months become such a profound ambassador for Tennessee football, especially during a critical point when we're changing the program with a entire new staff. It's kids like Jacques Smith that you wanna cheer your heart out for.
DaVols writes:
walkin' the walk & talkin' the talk. Go Vols
utlaw writes:
magicman: please do us all a favor and make yourself disappear from the comments section of this article
doctorfingervol writes:
Magicman= A HOLE
teampenny#658108 writes:
A lot of us would take that bet. I am sure we will sign some QB's but the last time i looked 2/3 of top 25 QB's have verbally committed. Why does so many Vol fans think this JC QB can get the job don? Go Vols
KiFFiNOMiCS writes:
This young man's character really reminds alot of Al Wilson....this kid is going to be a REAL VOCAL LEADER on the field for the VOLS!!!!!
gbeejr#1354500 writes:
You are not a very good reader, magicman. The ignorance is with you. It's a given that recruits and players try to persuade others to follow and I said that very thing in my post. Go ahead and read it again. All I was doing was making a point that our program is at a critical juncture and to have the #1 rated player in the state and highly ranked nationally become so visible almost a year(from when he first committed) before he can sign and doing this for a coaching staff that has never coached together, well I thought that was worthy for comment. Here's a tip, take your time when you read and that will help you connect the sentences and help you better understand what you are reading. With a little magic, magicman, maybe you will become a better reader.
AllVol1 writes:
Volzcrushm: I am with you on trusting CLK. He and his team of recruiters are the best in the business. Combine that with our situation--desperately needing quatlity players at every offensive position (except tailback)with the immediate opportunity of playing time--and UT's excellent coaching staff, and UT's pre-eminent football facilities and football environment, well my friends I think we have reason to feel confident in Scroggins coming here. My money would be on this in a heartbeat. It is the right move for him, plain and simple.
Join the SWARM Scroggins!!
tree_em_smokey writes:
I'm droppin the kids off in the pool and your a kid beeotch.
RockyTop10nessee writes:
I'm Really proud of this young man. You can never have too many of these players. He is proud to represent the Universtiy of Tennessee, and with him continuing to do this is only going to help.
Glad your a vol Mr. Smith
KiFFiNOMiCS writes:
If he wants a chance to "WIN" a S.E.C. title against the best competition in the country and "WIN" a National Championship he'll be a VOL.
If he wants to "WATCH" the Trojans win the PAC-10 title and "WATCH" the Trojans play in the Rose Bowl every year he stay in So.California and cheer on Matt Barkley for 3 years...then maybe he will play his Senior year.
I know he has family in Memphis....but it is roughly 2200 miles from L.A. to Knoxville....I would think he would want his family to "WATCH" him playing for Tennessee on their T.V. rather than goto the Collesium and "SEE" him sit the bench for U.S.C.....just seems obvious but kids do really crazy things anymore.
OrangeMandM writes:
Getting the opportunity to be reunited with a cousin after 12 years is something that one Memphis Tennessee High School prospect would love to do. For Germantown Houston High School wide out Jerry Anderson he got the chance to visit and hangout with his cousin four star quarterback Jesse Scroggins last week. Go inside to see what Anderson had to say about his trip to Rocky Top.
Getting the opportunity to be reunited with a cousin after 12 years is something that one Memphis Tennessee High School prospect would love to do.
For Germantown Houston High School wide out Jerry Anderson he got the chance to visit and hangout with his cousin four star quarterback Jesse Scroggins last week.
Anderson has flown underneath the radar, but with his size and appearance at 6-foot-5 and 200-pouinds, that may not be the case for long.
The standout Memphis athlete got a chance to play catch with his cousin in front of the Volunteer coaching staff last week at the Tennessee camp.
“It was great, I liked it a lot,” Anderson told InsideTennessee.com. “It was great seeing Jesse again. I moved out of California about 12 years ago, we see each other every three or four years. It would be great to get the opportunity to play on the same college team with him, we have great chemistry. It felt natural playing catch with him.”
Tennessee Head Coach Lane Kiffin understands the importance of great chemistry between a wide receiver and quarterback and Anderson feels that the Vols showed a lot of interest in him.
“It wasn’t just because I was Jesse’s cousin,” Anderson said. “I grew up being a Tennessee fan, I have been telling Jesse a lot about the program for several years.”
According to Anderson, an offer could be on the way from several schools.
“Tennessee seems like they are close, Memphis and Ole Miss is showing a lot of interest as well,” Anderson said. “The Tennessee coaches said they love my size and my hands, I have pretty good speed also.”
According to Anderson he recently ran the 40 yard dash in the high 4.5’s and low 4.6s.
“It would be a dream come true to play for Tennessee,” Anderson said. “If they offer me I want it to be for my talents and what I can do on the football field. Don’t get me wrong it would be awesome to be reunited with Jesse.”
p>Anderson really liked the UT coaches he met last week.
“Coach Kiffin is really laid back, easy to talk to,” Anderson said. “He relates well to his players. Tennessee was everything I thought it would be and more, we really enjoyed
appalachianvol writes:
Do you think we can get this kid?
blitzshoot writes:
Looks like UT football is doing some upgrading. Nice story.
belayvol writes:
How Jacques helped recruit Jesse.
"Scroggins was touring the UT campus with his family but did not work out during the camp. With help from mammoth Louisiana defensive tackle commitment Anthony Johnson (6-foot-4, 300), the personable and well-spoken Smith used a defensive drill to illustrate to Scroggins and his family the benefits of joining the Vols.
"We were doing some stunting drills, and me and Anthony were showing him how fast we can get to the quarterback," said the 6-3, 240-pound Smith, who is the state's top-rated prospect and is projected to play defensive end. "I told him, 'Trust me, you don't want to be on the wrong side of that."
HallowedHill writes:
Great kid, great catch!!
DRAGtheWATERS writes:
because half of knoxville sports writers still kiss fulmers axx and the other half are stuck kissing the pearl ring while they act like some summer pickup games are the nba playoffs just hope we get scroggins he looks like a good qb
Volfan4everandaday writes:
College football coaches have highlighted Lakewood California on their maps this recruiting season and for good reason.
Lane Kiffin is no exception, he is relying on an area he is very familiar with in his efforts of rebuilding the football fortunes at the University of Tennessee.
Lakewood High School is the home of two of the top players in the Golden State, four star quarterback Jesse Scroggins and three star defensive back Dion Bailey.
Both Bailey and Scroggins has offers from the Volunteers and it appears both will take unofficial visits to Rocky Top.
“Yes sir I’m going down there the first week in August,” Bailey told InsideTennessee.com Friday. “Jesse took a trip there last week and really loved it a lot there, we are great friends and it would be great for us to play at the same college.”
Bailey currently holds 19 official offers, including one from Southern California. Both Bailey and Scroggins attended the Trojans camp this week.
“I thought I did well,” Bailey explained. “Jesse had a great camp, he got an offer from USC.”
Did either of the two make a commitment to USC?
“No sir, neither of us have made a decision yet,” Bailey said. “I know Jesse really loved his trip to Tennessee, all the great things he has told me about it, makes me want to see it that much more.”
Bailey also is impressed by how hard he is being recruiting by the Tennessee coaching staff.
“They are really recruiting me harder than most schools,” Bailey said. “I have really been impressed with their coaching staff.”
Bailey has heard a lot about how crazy the football atmosphere can be in the SEC.
“Jesse said that the stadium was incredible and that everyone really gets into their football at Tennessee,” Bailey said. “I can’t wait to check things out for myself. I’m really looking forward to my visit.”
pdb73216#339474 writes:
Thanks for the info. Sounds encouraging. I saw on rivals that Scroggins is high on USC and medium for everyone else. Anyone know if that is new or has it been that way?
keepitreal4vols writes:
priceless
TSNSD4UT writes:
Take them both and beef up Anderson turn him into lineman or tightend been done before im sure.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
That may be true, but taller guys typically do not have as much top end speed as a shorter player due to their foot speed. However, they are able to cover ground quickly due to long strides so it is a give and take. It is also possible that his highschool does not have extremely knowledgeable staff and that he is not being trained to know how to improve speed. His potential may be there. Who knows?
coalvol writes:
This kid is the real deal. He was on Sport Talk in Chattanooga a few weeks ago and is very well spoken, humble, and has a great attitude. If he keeps this type of attitude and continues to work hard the sky is the limit.
kevin151 writes:
This Smith is the kind of people we need. I gaurantee he sees playing time early on.
givehim6 writes:
Thank you man UT needs all the help with getting a QB we can get.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Yesterday, after USC’s Rising Stars Camp, Scroggins received a verbal scholarship offer from USC.
SCPlaybook spoke to Scroggins after the camp about the offer, the schools he’s interested in and more.
“I learned about it during the lunch break,” said Scroggins when asked when he learned of the offer from the Trojans. “They basically told me they were looking at me for the past couple of weeks and they said whoever did the best at The Rising Stars Camp, would get the offer. “My interest in USC is very high, especially because it’s close to home and only 20 minutes up the road. Also USC has a great tradition and everything about USC is awesome ”
Scroggins said he wasn’t surprised about the offer from USC, but it still meant a lot to him.
“Basically, everything was surreal just because it was USC,” said Scroggins about his reaction to the USC scholarship offer. “They seemed confident in me and seemed like they really wanted me.”
USC is a school loaded with talent at quarterback and one of the most highly touted quarterbacks in recent years, Matt Barkley, enrolled in the spring and will battle two more extremely talented quarterbacks for the 2009 starting job, in Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain. Scroggins was asked if the future quarterback depth at USC was an issue he was concerned about?
“The depth chart doesn’t mean anything to me,” said Scroggins. “I would just come in and compete, if you compete and you’re the best, you’ll be No. 1. That’s basically what you want to do.”
Last week Scroggins visited Florida and said he has had a great time in Gainesville.
“It was excellent, it went very excellent,” said Scroggins about his visit to Gainesville. “Basically they told me they have built their offense around the quarterback. Chris Leak couldn’t run, so the offense was about passing. Tim Tebow is a dual-threat quarterback and he can do both. I’m a pass-first-run-second quarterback, so basically they would build around that.”
He also visited Tennessee last week and the visit vaulted the Vols into Scroggins’s top three.
“Everything went well,” Scroggins said. “It was real cool and I liked it very much. Right now my top three schools are Tennessee, Florida and USC”
Scroggins said he definitely take official visits to USC, Florida and Tennessee, but he will also more than likely visit two more schools.
“I’ll probably make it to an LSU game and to the Oregon versus Boise State game, Said Scroggins.
Ringleader writes:
That is correct,
He refused to work out for Tennessee, but went through all of the drills at USC, making every effort to obtain an offer. That says enough for me. He is not going to be a UT commitment.
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