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volfan28 said...

I've seen several posts where people say that a coaching change would set us back further than we already are becasue it would cause us to lose some of our current recruits. Let me interrupt my thought process to say that I don't have an agenda with this post.. I'm just sharing my opinion and interested in hearing the opinion of others.. Anyway, I don't think we'd lose many recruits if the UT-Admin decides to bring in a new head coach.

Here's a look at who we have commited: Reeves-Maybin (ATH/LB): 4* Miles (S): 4* Patrick (WR): 4* Sanders (OT): 3* Carr (DE): 3* Bradley (DT): 3* Sutton (ATH/CB): 3* Ferguson (QB): 3* Harris (WR): 3* Skipper (OT): 3* Vereen (LB): 3* Zanca (LB): 3* Campbell (LB): 3* Jackson (DE/LB): 3* Goeas (LB): 3* Kendrick (OT): 3* Smith (WR): 3* Barnes (LB): 3*

JRM, Miles, Bradley, Sutton, Ferguson, Harris, and maybe Vereen are the only key recruits IMO who aren't from Tennessee. The rest of the guys don't have an impressive enough offer list to make me think they'd go elsewhere, assuming UT hired a competent replacement for Dooley.

If we hired Kirby Smart and kept the same defensive system, I think the defensive guys would be content and maybe even excited. The only players who I'd be really concerned about losing are Harris and Ferguson. Other than that, I think the class would stay together but of course there's no way to know.

There are various reasons for why each of our commitments are on board, but I question whether or not wanting to play for Dooley is one of them. I like CDD, don't get me wrong, but you just don't hear recruits say "I want to play for Dooley".. so I don't think letting him go would have a major negative impact on this class, assuming the incoming coach stayed with the 3-4 and retained valuable recruiters like Graham, Hinshaw, Ansley, and Sunseri.. Ansley and Sunseri both coached with Smart at Bama so you'd think they would be retained if UT goes that direction. Anyone would be stupid to not retain Graham. Hinshaw is a valuable asset but the OC may have someone else in mind and who knows.. maybe its Tee Martin.. or maybe Hinshaw coaches QBs and Martin coaches WRs?

I say all this because it seems like the fear of attrition is one of the main reasons for people wanting to hang onto Dooley, but would there really be a signifant amount of attrition? On the flip side, who's to say that a new head coach wouldn't UPGRADE our current class? If UT hired someone who's actively involved in the southeastern recruiting circles (ala Kirby Smart), I'd say that would be a strong possibility.

That being said, I hope the next two weeks go well and this is all a moot point.