A new name has emerged in the search for Tennessee’s new defensive coordinator.
It might be the last one that comes up based on reports from media outlets covering Boise State.
According to television station WBOI2, Broncos coordinator Justin Wilcox, 33, interviewed with the Vols and had “a done deal” to take over the defense for coach Derek Dooley.
A UT official said Tuesday there were no plans to announce a hiring, and there has also been no indication from the program that Dooley has made one.
The Vols were expected to wait until after today’s National Signing Day to complete their coaching staff, so word of a potential deal with Wilcox was surprising for multiple reasons.
Assistants are typically unlikely to move so close to the most important day on the recruiting calendar, and Wilcox also is a somewhat unknown candidate.
Since Clemson’s Kevin Steele elected to stay with the Tigers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebackers coach Joe Barry took the same position with Southern California, speculation focused on Alabama linebackers coach Sal Sunseri and North Carolina defensive coordinator Everett Withers.
Both of those options had obvious ties to the region, and in Sunseri’s case there’s also a relationship with Dooley’s mentor Nick Saban.
There’s not anything quite as clear with Wilcox, though he’s developed a strong reputation with the Broncos over the past four seasons.
Boise State shut down a pair of high-powered offenses against Oregon and then TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, and the Broncos are already considered a threat to win the national championship next season with every starter back on defense except one.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
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Comments » 91
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
GREATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
ChurchHillVol67 writes:
Yawn. Haven't we heard this all before. I will believe it when it actually happens. Not being negative just cautious. GBO
nocleats writes:
Sounds like KNJ either truly doubts this story, or they have been cut out of the info loop.
murrayvol writes:
If true, welcome aboard Coach Wilcox. Loved your work vs Oregon and TCU. I trust you understand that it's a different atmosphere in the SEC.
darbhoo writes:
Wednesday has the makings of a great day in Tennessee football. I am excited and, as usual, I support our coach and the team. GO VOLS.
chaos001 writes:
It'd be like Christmas morning...but BETTER!
JimHalpert writes:
if you can't beat em' have em' join you at your new post in the SEC
GBO
tnsportsman writes:
Lets sign up this great class tomorrow and then have Coach Wilcox introduced at the Tennessee Celebrations across the State Thursday!
I will be at the Nashville Celebration!
GBO VOLS!
RoadTrip writes:
Let's see - didn't Urbie come from a lesser known Utah program? Seems he did rather well. Based on his background I would say that Wilcox will do just fine. In Dooley I trust. May the naysayers' whines begin...
volnbig11land writes:
Come on marc, no fair....
JimHalpert writes:
sources have confirmed that you are a tool. it could be announced as early as tomorrow morning
tnsportsman writes:
WHAT?
orange123 writes:
i cant understand why either school could let this leak now. it could affect boise st recruits and tn recruits if our recruits expect a bigger name dc it might have a bad influence, but it might help tn. what ya think
newportvol writes:
Well cmon and tell us.. Break the story now..
Couchdummy writes:
I'll bite--Want to give us the scoop?
VolFanInTheBoro writes:
VolNation says its Peyton
paradisetaxi writes:
Thanks for coming Coach Wilcox ! AWESOME !
JohnnyVol writes:
Yeah, because news outlets always sit on a huge story until the next day. They want other news outlets to have a chance to catch up and scoop them.
CoverOrange writes:
If that's what it is let me be the first to say "I don't care and it's none of my business"
stayingorange writes:
The only UT legend with enough media appeal currently to surpass anything about Tiger must be Manning. So what's up?
Does this mean every time something good happens for UT something bad has to mess it all up?
96_Vols writes:
I'm with you on that...been burned a few times lately myself.
tallent91#1380671 writes:
So what's the news?
orange123 writes:
where you getting this
volnbig11land writes:
You always seem to be on to something. In this case; I hope you're kidding, you got some bad info or it's just not true.
I don't know the Man, but would be floored if something even remotely close to that happened.
Liberal_Vol writes:
Chuck Smith Defensive Line Coach.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Great hire, top ranked (top 25) defenses nationally since he took over, shut down Oregon, TCU, Oklahoma w/ Adrian Peterson (held him to under 100 yds and 1 TD) and will have better talent to work with, IMO, at Tennessee.
GO VOLS!!! Let's throw in Chuck Smith as DL coach!
tnsportsman writes:
NOT Peyton!
516milesfromUT writes:
this coach can stop the spread, just sayin.
also does more with less.
wait til he sees some of the talent around here.
99gator writes:
i have heard the same thing as marc_ash, but was not going to say anything.
i hope it's not true either.
VolAlum2003 (Inactive) writes:
Hell...Steele was a "done deal" too. So was the guy from Tampa Bay...won't believe it until it actually happens.
VolAlum2003 (Inactive) writes:
I agree. Boise State's defense was stout last year. It's almost impossible to go undefeated in ANY conference and Boise State does it year after year. If this story is true...and who the hell knows...we might be getting a Will Muschamp style DC...young, aggressive, etc.
VolAlum2003 (Inactive) writes:
Let me be the second to say "I don't care and it's none of my business." IF Manning did anything to harm his marriage..then that is Manning's issue. There are only two groups of people that should be concerned: 1) Manning's relatives and football family and 2) the Las Vegas odds setters who are trying to predict the over/under for the Superbowl. Since, I am neither...I don't care.
DaddyVol writes:
PEYTON MANNING will become the highest paid quarterback in NFL history tomorrow. Bet on it!
CoverOrange writes:
At least he didn't walk into a bar and shoot his own foot or grow biceps so big he couldn't comb the back of his head and claim it was all from vitamins.
Hrockytop writes:
If any of this is true then why come out right before the superbowl and on NSD?
Maybe this is just a story concocked by Kiffin and Oregeron to sway recruits and bring UT down.
DaddyVol writes:
Could be Bruce or Pat. Now that will stir your minds won;t it.
macgaz writes:
I heard tonight on the radio that Peyton is going to become the highest paid NFL player, is that what you're talking about???
If it was about a "tiger woods" type incident, my money would be on TMZ breaking the story, not some sports outlet.
Hrockytop writes:
I concur
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
So,are Manning's numbers in the neighborhood of Wilt Chamberlain or Tim Tebow? I would have always thought the latter.
FWBVol writes:
I seriously doubt your sources. I'm not saying Peyton is perfect or that it's not possible for such a rumor to have some merit to it. But in today's media there's no way a reporter worth their weight in press box food would hold a story of that magnitude for fear that another reporter would break it first.
Just look at how many rumors floated around for the three days Hamilton was looking for a head coach before he got Derek Dooley. And how many probable defensive coordinators have we seen mentioned. Last week Chuck Smith was our defensive line coach. And he still might be, but so far, that was just a rumor.
The thing that bothers me is if the rumor about Peyton is a lie then people are harming his good name and reputation on this site.
orange123 writes:
dont usually watch recruiting info that much, but i havent stopped for last few weeks so i nead help where is the best place to keap track of nsd coverage. here?
scvols writes:
LMAO!!!! This is college football fans Christmas.
lincolncovol writes:
just started commenting this week guys(&gals) if this story is true CDD has found us a gem of a DC i may not comment much but have been a sports nut for many decades this man can flat out coach put that with the assiantant. coaches we have(plus c. smith coming) our defense will be fun to watch. the talent they will have conpared to boise st. should only make them better. to all the people who doubted the hiring of CDD i hope with the staff, the recruits he has saved ,plus the ones he has brought in,finally calms y'alls concerns & worries. we did get it right this time. thanks CDD& crew tomorrow should be the second step back on the path back (the first was your hiring)
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
Here for the Vols, but if you have ESPNU, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, they'll start their coverage of signing day until 6:30. Craziness.
DuckRiverVol writes:
A bit off the subject but does anyone happen to know how to get texts on your phone when each recruit commits tomorrow... Thanks!
GO VOLS!
Volz4life writes:
Great hire I think.. The guy seems to know how to stop spread and new age offenses (unlike methusela last year). And we already have a leg up on the Oregon's game plan. Is it September yet?
huntined#565710 writes:
See where ole KIF is going after the o.c at b.s.
guess he likes to go where CDD goes. I think he would get a real prize with that O.C.
MilehighVol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Volz4life writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
VolsMan4Life writes:
Damn, you know this means Kiffin will steal him before the week is up!
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