Florida State could still prove to a tough competitor for Tennessee as it tries to land two highly touted state of Florida defensive linemen.
Calvin Smith said UT, Illinois and now Florida State are the top three schools he’s considering.
That’s a bit of a change for the 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive end from Hialeah (Fla.) High School. Smith told a recruiting Web site earlier this month that UT and Illinois had pulled in the lead for his services.
Smith, who visited UT this past weekend, said playing time is the most important factor in his decision.
“At all three (schools), I’d say I could get early playing time from looking at their depth charts and talking to coaches,” he said.
The Vols will have to replace their top two defensive tackles next season: seniors Dan Williams and Wes Brown.
Smith said Florida State coach Bobby Bowden’s future could affect his decision because if Bowden doesn’t return next season then FSU’s entire coaching staff could be replaced. Florida State is 6-5 this season, which has led to rampant speculation about Bowden’s job security.
Smith was joined on his official visit to Knoxville by teammate Corey Lemonier, a 6-5, 225-pound defensive end.
Lemonier has taken official visits to Illinois and Florida State. He said he’ll take an official visit to Auburn this weekend and will take a fifth official visit, but hasn’t decided where he’ll go.
“I’m looking at everybody,” Lemonier said.
Lemonier said he’d like to choose the same school as Smith, but it’s not a foregone conclusion they’ll play together in college.
Smith said he might take an official visit to LSU and likely will re-visit UT, Florida State and Illinois.
Both said they enjoyed their visits to UT. Lemonier said the seniors’ address to the team before senior night was memorable.
“That was touching, listening to them,” he said.
Recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron, who coaches UT’s defensive line, also made an impression.
“He’s amazing,” Smith said. “I like him. From what I heard, he’s the best (defensive line coach). Not just one person told me that, a lot of people told me that.”
Lemonier agreed.
“Oh, man. He can coach,” he said. “He’s intense.”
Lemonier is the higher rated prospect of the two. He ranks as the fourth-best defensive end prospect by Scout and the sixth-best by Rivals.
Smith is rated as the 26th- and 39th-best defensive tackle prospect in the nation by Rivals and Scout, respectively.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 39
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
maybe this weeks spanking by florida on floida state will convice these two to come up north just a bit for their 4 year future (also the forcing out of bowden will drag the seminoles program down further even more)
Munsterlander writes:
Good grief. This is essentially content free. You could at least let people know who actually came and who didn't. Luc? Dixon with parents? One would generally expect more from the hometown paper for UTK.
smashmouth98 writes:
our D line will be LOADED!!!!!!
Pablopeepants writes:
We still continue to recruit D-linemen. You know that there will be a couple that drop UT for the simple fact that only so many D linemen can get in the game. Walls and Hughes will start next year. Plus, we have some juco help coming. DT is hard to impact as a freshman, but you have got to love the depth we are building. This will probably be the best DL in the country 2 years from now.
4cartervols writes:
We need these guys for more depth.....this year is proof of that.
LiveFaith writes:
I thot FSU settled on Jimbo Fisher as the heir apparent already. Did I not watch CBB walk 50 yards down field during a late timout last year to let the world know that he trusted CJB to do the job? Am I wrong?
mlsoft#228820 writes:
Yes, Jimbo Fisher is the heir apparent at FSU. Bobby Bowden wants to coach one more year, but many down there are ready for him to step down at the end of this year. Either way, Bowden is gone by the of next year at best.
More important for prospective defensive linemen, Mickey Andrews, the long time defensive coordinator for Bowden, has already turned down Bowden's request that he put off his retirement and stay one more year so this is his last year. Either way, a prospect would be be going into the unknown as far as coaching goes at FSU. I do not know what the appeal for a defensive player would be there.
mlsoft
pdhuff#552644 writes:
D-line is where it all begins.
C'mon lads, we need you.
hcjournals#206623 writes:
For the next 5 -10 years Tennessee will be the place to be in the country.....Come on in.....And although you think you've seen Neyland in action.....Wait until we aren't in transition and are playing Florida when it counts.....The crowd really affects the game...It's pretty cool.......
the10sevol writes:
calvin smith, as quoted on vq:
"It was a good trip," Smith said about his weekend official visit to Rocky Top. "The game atmosphere was unbelievable. They are up there. I would say I'm leaning towards Tennessee."
and as misoft says, mickey is leaving, and they haven't names his replacement yet, so that could be a (negative for fsu) factor. i say we end up with smith, even if we miss on lemonier.
GBO
huntined#565710 writes:
D.C. better watch out for those late hits on Tebow as FLA STATE does that a lot..You can't lose him now. Nothing would make them happier then to take him out as they know they can't beat FLA. CJF will not recruit anywhere as well as CBB but in the last few years they also have not had good recruiting years. Good luck in that game as it is against a ACC team.
JenB writes:
KNS is slackin... where is the story that voltv has on its website about the charges being dropped against Jackson and the girl for the robbery... girl still has possesion charges though
miamiVOL writes:
where the HECK is GoVolsXtra getting these out of date quotes.........let's look at some current comments from the pair after their visit...
"The game atmosphere was unbelievable. They are up there. I would say I'm leaning towards Tennessee."
"The coaches and players were so cool," Smith said. "They made me feel welcome and wanted. The stadium was just amazing too. The trip was great."
"100,000 people at the game was amazing," Smith said. "A lot of fans knew who we (Smith and Corey Lemonier) were. That lets me know how important we are for them and that they take their football very serious. That was sick. It was pretty amazing."
"My Decision It's going to be soon," Smith said. "Probably sometime in December. I've got a lot to think about."
WytheVol writes:
All the talk I hear is that they are starting with Meyer, then on to Stoops and then Kelly. Hell, if they get any of the three, they will wrap up a great recruiting class and should be a force to be reckoned with next year. They have offensive talent, just suck on defense. Any of those three guys will improve that D with coaching alone.
myfollower#555763 writes:
IF Notra Dame really is talking to Meyer or going after Meyer, then it could be bad news for the Gators, because regardless of hwta happens this season, Meyer will be gone. I seriously doubt that ND is going after him, but IF they are, then it is a done deal. If the Gators win the title, that would be 3 titles in 4 years, and there really isnt much more that Meyer would need to stick around for. And if they get beat by Bama in the SEC title game, then Meyer also knows that Kiffin is going to be a pain in his rear end for the next several years. Either way, the ND job would certainly be a great attraction.
I dont know why, but I have a hard time believing that ND is going after Meyer.
SmegVol78 writes:
Meyer has stated publicly numerous times that coaching Notre Dame would be his deream job.
Mr_Brownstone writes:
do you think he really wants to play for little softie??? i think the best selling point is that if he gets in trouble he only has to pay for it with a 1/2 game suspension.
BolivarBob writes:
Wake up people, Nobody wants Fulmer
micbrooks#212023 writes:
If Luc has half a brain, he knows that early playing time is a given at UT. Much as I love Reveiz, there is no way to know how his knee will respond to rehab. For Luc, I think this will come down to intangibles like willingness to be farther away from home, will his family get to see him play, etc.
jack_2222#231746 writes:
Unfortunately, don't count on those 2 early juco d-line commitments. It appears neither will make it to UT.
6MillionDollarPumpkin writes:
Phils next stop???? Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, I cant stop laughing!!!!! The next stop he makes will be to the toilet to flush out all of the doughnuts he has eaten!!!!!! Ha Ha ha ha ha..... lmao.
roloyo writes:
While bitting my lip into, I must say I tend to agree with you. WOW that was painful
UTfansRnuts writes:
Meyer continues to publicly deny any interest in the ND job. That pretty much ends the speculation. Unlike other coaches, Meyer wouldn't publicly make a statement if he was considering that gig. He'd just stay quiet and deflect away from answering questions regarding ND. Instead he's come out on the offensive.
roloyo writes:
You tryin' to convince us or yourself? How's the used car business???
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
As is, Mickey Andrews is retiring, and Jimbo Fisher is going to pick out a new defensive staff. Florida State is a program on it's way down.
Illinois is as stale as ever... I think we ought to stick out to these guys... I mean, come on... you could play for Monte Kiffin and Ed Orgeron, two people who are going to make NFL-men out of you. Do you want to go somewhere for four years, and then hope your GPA is good enough to get a job with your degree, or you could get not only a degree, but the training to be picked in the NFL draft.
Not a tough call, boys.
huntined#565710 writes:
Why would he want to leave?? the east will be easy for him now as all the other east teams are way down.. Just look at this year..TENN,GA,SC,KY and VANDY are all middle of the SEC PACK.. West has BAMA,LSU and MISS all near the top..so he can stay and play for the secc for a long time.. I don't see him going anywhere for now.But I have been wrong at other times...
SavTnVol writes:
I'm not gonna set here and say, "we didn't need them," or "good ridence" if they decide to comment elsewhere... the way I see it, it will be their loss more than ours...And thats the way I feel with ALL recruits...no hard feelings.. wish you'd came here, but we'll still be the wearing the rings with or without you!!!!
murrayvol writes:
If Jimbo's not the guy, FSU will owe him a boatload of cash.
murrayvol writes:
It'll be all over for FU when Pope Urban plants a wet one on Luc and whispers "I think you'd like South Bend".
Mr_Brownstone writes:
My best friend's sister's husband's brother's wife heard from this guy who knows this guy who's tight with oscar meyer and heard he wants the ND job this go around. I guess it's pretty serious.
Ringside writes:
He ain't saying no to Orgeron. sick'em
VolMike writes:
"When asked by a young boy if he was going to be the coach next year, Urban replied very directly, 'I plan on being the coach at the University of Utah next year.'"
Source: Urban Meyer Coach's Show, November 18, 2004
mytrifecta writes:
If you haven't seen it yet...you've got to see Meyer's interview where he's crying over losing Tebow like a high school girl who's losing her boyfriend to college. I'm now convinced the Tebow/Meyer relationship goes far beyond player/coach. I wouldn't be surprised if Meyer leaves Florida and follows Tebow to the NFL as his "roommate" and "mentor". This interview definitely strengthened our recruiting position against fl.
PlaidinOrangeandWhite writes:
Just like they put half a hundred on the powerful Troy, Charleston Southern & Fla. International...yawn....
dvols writes:
can they shoot?
The1 writes:
I really like Bobby Bowden. He has done a great deed at FSU. Before Bowden was there nobody ever heard of FSU - and that's the rub if you are thinking about where to go play football. UT has a 100+ year tradition and will be pretty good and competitive no matter who is coach. FSU, on the other hand, has never succeeded without Bobby Bowden. Bowden might be back next year, but he, like Joe Paterno, will be leaving soon. This should leave a huge question mark for recruits - what will happen when Bowden leaves? Without Bowden FSU has only shown themselves to be div 1AA caliber. Will they revert back to that once he is gone? TN will be great with the current staff, and, if the current staff all left tomorrow, the program will at least be respectable just based on its tradition an fan base support. Something to think about fellas.
mytrifecta writes:
So, like Urban, you have a Tebow man-crush too huh? I get it, he's a great football player and an even better individual (regardless of his sexuality). But bottom line, as a coach with a profile like Meyer's you just don't break down like he did in a national news conference. His tears will appeal to the more sensitive types like you...but fortunately for UT Football...we're not recruiting kids with your personality type. Again, Meyers emotional news conference will do nothing but help our recruiting cause and I'm sure Kiffin and crew got a chuckle out of it.
rudy123 writes:
Wait until Tebow plays for Jacksonville and his lack of qb skills are exposed. It will be known to all, that Urban Crier did nothing to help develope Tebow while in college. Have you seen his un-orthodox throwing form? Jacksonville may be stupid enough to choose him as a first rounder based on the ticket sales value but others aren't.
We can always point out to recruits that at Florida, you won't be groomed for the NFL. Tebow isn't ready for the NFL, as a qb. Maybe as a tight-end or maybe as a qb that holds the clipboard, though.
Come to U.T. where you will be groomed for the NFL, will play b4 100,000, get a degree and beat Florida every year, and get a NC or SECC trophy.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
I agree;with Orgeron and monte as your coach why would you consider the 2nd rate coaches at auburn or FSU
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