Dave Hooker

Now that conference realignment talk has slowed down (for now), let's look back at how some of the shifts could have affected Tennessee football recruiting.

Tennessee's 2010 football class had a significant head start. Eight mid-term enrollees are impossible to dismiss. Now, it's time for the next wave.

Derek Dooley should be jealous of Bruce Pearl.

Derek Dooley's recruiting plan is as clear as a bell. A bell curve that is.

Perhaps I jinxed the Tennessee Vols. I said well over a month ago that UT would pick up a handful of commitments during spring practice. They picked up one.

Call it the Eric Berry effect.While you may think that Berry's entrance into the NFL means he's far removed from Tennessee, take a second to ponder the following:

Tennessee free safety Janzen Jackson, front, is congratulated by Jacques Smith after Jackson stopped tailback David Oku during the Orange and White Game on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

Honesty has a price. Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley could have led former quarterback Nick Stephens down the primrose path and who would have blamed him?

Expect SEC commitments to come in flurries as spring football practice begins this month.

Tennessee and Florida State are hoping they've found something they long took for granted: stability.

Secrets were once all the rage in recruiting. Now, they're almost impossible to keep.

The visits are complete.Coaches are off the road. Now the wait begins to National Signing Day on Wednesday.

Tennessee's newest commitment could be one of its most athletic.

It was hard not to be struck with Derek's Dooley's intense, genuine nature during his introductory press conference Friday.

As was the case in Orlando, Fla., for the Under Armour All-American Game, plenty of Tennessee prospects have descended on San Antonio this week for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.