The CheckerBoard

The kid really seems level headed.

I can understand McNeil wanting to know what's going on at UT and who our DC will be -- but I hope he and our other defensive recruits don't jump the gun too quickly because of the coaching turnover. UT's had some very good DC's for the past 15-20 years:

- John Chavis won a National Title and at least one SEC title while at UT from the mid-90's to late '00's; he was assistant head coach for the last year's of Fulmer's tenure at UT. LSU picked him up as soon as Fulmer was fired at UT, and Chavis just helped them to an SEC title, undefeated regular season and is poised to win a national title -- and will be in position at LSU to repeat that next year.
- Monte Kiffin did well at Nebraska, then maybe better at Tampa Bay before coming to UT to be DC under his son.
- Wilcox made a name for himself at Boise State before coming to UT. His defense was #28 in the nation last year despite our 5-7 season.

You can't succeed in the SEC with a mediocre, much less a bad defense. (This isn't the PAC-12 or Mountain West.) Dooley grew up with his Dad coaching at Georgia and surely knows that.

It's pretty likely Tennessee will get a good DC.