It appears Ben Bradley appears and Tennessee have parted ways, according to Ryan Callahan of GoVols247.com.
Bradley, a three-star defensive tackle from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, had been committed to UT since June.
"But that ship has apparently sailed,'' Callahan wrote Wednesday.
The transition from fired coach Derek Dooley to successor Butch Jones was an obvious change in the relationship.
Bradley could have signed with UT last week but did not. Missouri and Nebraska are the only two schools still in the running that Bradley has visited.
Bradley is the No. 6 rated junior college defensive tackle in the 247Composite for the Class of 2013.
His defection leaves Jones with 13 commitments and one signee, that being juco defensive back Riyahd Jones.
Barring a new development there won't be a Hutchinson presence on the UT roster in 2013. Receiver Cordarrelle Patterson is leaving after one season for the NFL draft. Linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, another Hutchinson recruit, beat Bradley to the punch in decommitting from the Vols.
Finally, there has been no announcement on graduate assistant coach Brandon Staley returning. Staley, a former Hutchinson defensive coordinator, served as a defensive GA last season under Dooley.
Dan Proctor draws Tennessee Football…
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Cordarrelle Patterson drafted by the…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 100
Dalton writes:
When you sell your soul and hire recruiting pick-me-ups and STILL LOSE...on the next Geraldo
WhitePineVol77 writes:
Beautiful post! So we lose an "in" there. Not the end of times.
BluezVol writes:
To be expected. Recruits look for systems that highlight their strengths and limit their weaknesses in order to make it on the next level. It takes a while for your system to establish a relationship with recruits. IMHO, we're trying to build relationships starting in their 10th grade year for them to be "solid" in their senior year.
wigmeister writes:
Oh well! Can't cry over something we never really had!
iowavol writes:
Well, you have to start wondering if it is a lot more talk than action. BJ says recruiting is the same everywhere - it's a matter of selling. I agree. But so far, it seems the sales pitch just isn't working as well as it should. You would think that at least a couple of these guys who are on the fence would land our way.
bosscat writes:
Let's see now...Graduate Assistant that was the defensive coordinator at Hutchinson no longer a Graduate Assistant...two commitments from Hutchinson no longer commitments. Geez, I think I can connect the dots.
gbirchfiel writes:
So, we complain about Dooley getting commitments from 3-star recruits and then we complain when we don't sign them.
lomas98 writes:
Juco guys are expected to contribute immediately. He was being sold on being a dt in a 3-4 defense. Now he is being pitched a different angle and he doesn't think it will fit. No fault on jones. With what the defensive coaches were doing with the little talent we had, this guy probably wouldn't matter anyway. This class probably won't be that great, but the one we were working with wasn't great either.
Dalton writes:
Remember 4 stars last year before he committed IF I were paranoid I'd suggest he gets that star back if he signs elsewhere...IF I were...BTW not suggesting Coach Butch change anything..this is his show and he needs to do things his way
pcorange writes:
Well, we're down to 13 commitments. I can't help but be a little bit nervous about this recruiting class, but I'm trying to stay positive and keep my hopes up that these coaches know what they're doing when it comes to recruiting.
Dalton writes:
On the radio Erik Ainge reflecting on the get together between Coach Jones and former players referenced an exchange with a juco wavering on his commitment..."We'd like to win with you but we'll win without you...c'mon man we're Tennessee!"...I kinda like that attitude
pingkr62 writes:
Goodbye Mr. Bradley, you just opened another scholarship for some one else who WANTS to be at U.T. Maybe the player who gets that scholarship will have another star or two next to his name. G.B.O.!!!
pingkr62 writes:
Patience grasshopper! We are still a month away from N.S.D. G.B.O.!!!
pcshowtime writes:
We can not read to much into this year. but if next year he can not land a top 10 class then you might as well get used to .600 football. This is simply the nature of the SEC. I hope this works out for us.
Dalton writes:
YEAH!..what you just said!
Dalton writes:
So if you don't get a top 10 class by your second season...you're doomed?...I don't know if that's one of the Commandments...no flexibility?...what about a nice American 12 ranking?
FanNotSheep writes:
Just a thought: A post mentioned the fact that players who are recruited by one coach and then another must decide whether the new guy's system fits his game. This is the first time I've seriously considered how extensive the offensive system changes could be. Have we seen the last of the pro style quarterbacks? Will UT no longer be a step toward and NFL career for offensive skill position players? At least we have been able to watch gifted athletes with pro potential, even when the teams were losing.
Not saying this is the case, but I find the thought fascinating: If we were to have to choose, which would you opt for -- a mediocre team with stars who go to the NFL when they leave, or better teams with no future NFL guys on offense?
UTKin1992 writes:
Bye bye Ben. Coach Jones has got this mutha under control. We be seein' some high star sheeut fo long....
Pistolpete13579 writes:
Totally irrational , to many BCS teams in the past that never break the top 10. Player development is the key
thevoice writes:
I recall Jones turning a handful of 2-3 star recruits into NFL draftees in his previous employment stint. When's the last time that's happened around these parts?
bigdisbig writes:
With the greatest coaching staff in the land one would think the 4 and 5 star guys would be coming to Knoxville 2 on a mule to play for them???
I guess they are all waiting until Feb. to saddle up the mule?
utjunkie writes:
We are 5 weeks or more away from signing day and people are nervous.
I remember those nebraska & penn state teams from the 90s (as do a many of vol fans) that were pretty good and none of them ever cracked the top 10 in recruiting.
We've got a whole month to go these are 17 & 18 year old kids, who knows how many will change their mind.
traderjoe writes:
Forget about him...only a 3 star. 4 should be the minimum. CJ can get the 5's by promising them starting positions and only 1 year of play and then on to the pros. UTK should be the football equivalent of the KY bb program...we go after the best, get everything they got for 1 year and then send them on to the pros.
10seVol85_Part_Deux writes:
Relax everybody. With a coaching change, you always lose prior commits before you start gaining new ones. Nothing to see here. Also, remember that the coaches are very limited right now in what contact they can have with potential recruits.
Pullingguard writes:
question..Why was Brandon Staley not retained. He seemed to be a great recruiter and knowledgeable GA..Did Jones just want to clean house with one exception and that was probably dictated in his hiring process..Retaiming RB coach...Amd bringing in the WR coach from Wisconsin who thinks its wrong yo recruit committed players..
keepitreal4vols writes:
Any kid that loved Dooley and Sunseri more than Orange and White nust have a screw loose.
Pullingguard writes:
I have a donkey pulling that cart until I see otherwise..not gonna project either way...jJust want to see what happens...
DennisVols writes:
When you have 4 different coaches in a 5 year span, 3 constitutive losing seasons, beginning the 3rd different defense in 3 years (4-3, 3-4, 4-3) there are going to be a certain amount of de-commitment and changes of minds when you are talking about talented kids making a lifetime commitment to a university. I would love to see a bunch of top rated recruits jump on board but the facts say the smoke has to clear and the dust settle before UT can expect to sway a lot of these kids. There is a lot to be said for stability of a program and in case you haven’t noticed this program has not had that in quite some time.
Give Jones a chance, it will take time. We did not get into this position overnight and we will not get out of it overnight either.
Keeping it Real
GoVols!!!
kayb writes:
Well said. Keep in mind these kids are considering their future. Put yourself in their shoes. I think half of you would do the same. Recruits commit to coaches and the relationships that are established are with people not institutions. This is a life altering decision and he needs to make the best decision for himself. Commitment works both ways.
atnvol#283282 writes:
Amen Dennis....the legions of the miserable whine whenever the winds of change blow...OUR new coach will need some time for his staff to form relationships with recruits....very little spilled milk in a 3 star juco who was recruited for a 3-4 going elsewhere....I suppose we will have to endure this "sky is falling" mentality until Butch & Co. get settled and established.
9willbesofine writes:
What a mess.
Currently ranked 47th by Rivals.
kyvol98 writes:
47th? I would rank your posts much lower than that.
ut4life05 writes:
Maybe it's just me, but I think that Dooley had a sence of, 'Let's bring these high powered Juco stars, tell em they'll get on ESPN, and we'll get you drafted... Oh and don't worry about that whole class thing'... Then, Coach Butch Jones, comes in with all this 'Win in life, you'll win on the field'....(what a loser... Gah we shoulda gotten Gruden), and the players from Hutchinson Community College just want to win a high draft pick. I may very well be completely incorrect, and I hope that wouldn't be the way Fooley would recruit, but, in my defense, I only have one other player from Fooley's recruiting to go off of... And just so you know, I am just referring to the Hutchinson C.C. Just sayin'
ut4life05 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
SouthPaVol writes:
right. I'd rather have a coach that turned 3-star players into NFL prospects, than have a coach that turned 4 and 5-star players into observers. 5-star players don't help win championships if they go sit on the bleachers to watch until such time as they can declare for the draft-aka Bryce Brown.
GerryOP writes:
The sky is not falling.
tnvol4ever writes:
The Vol 3 star recruits of 2004 turned out pretty well.
DeltaCharlie3 writes:
No, but 47th in Rivals? Gerry, that deserves a "yikes" if nothing else.
In the SEC, it takes 2 years to recover from a bad recruiting year, on top of all the other things that are already plaquing UT (previous bad recruiting years, coaching changes, new offensive and defensive systems), etc.
Trouble.
asmith writes:
good one. i could do without the vfl bullsh**.
SevenT writes:
That is what you used to say when Dookey was coaching.... Is there a pattern?
gogovols2002#222335 writes:
Texas and USC have had top 5 recruiting classes...but look how they have done the past 3 or 4 years. More to it than stars alone
VOL1972 writes:
A top 10 class? We've only had 3 top 10 classes in the last 10 years. We'll be fortunate to have a top 25 class and with our schedule, we'll also be fortunate to win 7 games (there's your .600) in 2013 & 14.
This is gong to be a long hard climb to get back in the top half of the conference. Might as well prepare yourself.
GerryOP writes:
Just checked outside. Yup, the sky is still up there.
And I stand by my support of Coach Dooley. Some of our resident geniuses are predicting another 5-7 record, or worse, in '13. Could have got the same thing with Dooley and saved the UTAD $17 mil. Plus, it would have given some of our players the chance to do what hasn't been done for several years at UT ... play 4 years under the same head coach!
GerryOP writes:
Lil' DCGataBoy, we go through this every year. It's still 41 days until LOI NSD and we have a new coaching staff. Although some of our erstwhile fans have already declared Coach Jones a failure at recruiting, let's wait until LOI NSD and see? Whatever will be will be...
volfan1202 writes:
The sunshine pumpers are out in force today I see.
Ranked 47th on Rivals... there is no way to spin this. No way Jones is going to have a decent recruiting class, let alone a good one. And the mediocrity continues. Thanks Dave Hart!!
underthehill writes:
Have to agree ..it is going to be a hard climb..from everything I can see about Jones..he could well be the guy who can get the job done..the big question I see is simply ..how long can the product on the field put fans in the stands..
Vol43 writes:
Hey homo, what does it matter to you? Jus checking
manning_berry_special_player1614 writes:
and we rank you kyvol98...A CRYBABY..do you want the truth...YOU CANT HANDLE....................
therightstuff writes:
Let's just go ahead and fire Butch Jones right now!
Dang, he lost a recruit, fire him now.... why waste time, get it over with. Butch Jones is already flushing the whole program down the drain.... it's so clear, one JUCO recruit decides on a different direction it means Jones is all talk and zero action! Fire him, I say! What a pathetic loser Butch Jones is! Some 19 or 20 year old nose tackle not wanting to play in a 4-3! Dangit, that Butch Jones can't sell water to a thirsty man in a desert....fire him!
(humor, afraid some would not see it as such)
GerryOP writes:
And the naysaying negaVols are out in force today. As of today, we have signed excatly the same number of kids to the class of '13 as all of the top 10 ranked teams put together. Zero ... none ... zilch ... nada! Rather than being on here just dumping trash all over my Vols, you should be celebrating! You wanted Dooley gone ... he's gone! Be happy!
Oh crapola, I forgot. All of the junior high schools are on Cristmas break! So ... we get all of the teeny boppers on here playing keyboard/playground bully! Y'all have a good day. I'm outta here...
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.