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SEC football recruiting: new coaches create chaos in 2018

By Richard Gnann

SEC football head coach Matt Luke of the Mississippi Rebels looks on during the game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
SEC football head coach Matt Luke of the Mississippi Rebels looks on during the game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Fired Tennessee head coach Butch Jones
Fired Tennessee head coach Butch Jones /

Tennessee

Before and after firing head coach Butch Jones, Tennessee lost nearly 20 commitments. The Volunteer class is nationally number 46, and new Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt is on the move.

After Tennessee introduced Pruitt as the new head coach, Pruitt was forced to immediately defend the remaining Volunteer commitments. Tennessee commitment Adrian Martinez, a four-star dual-threat quarterback from Clovis West High School in California, revealed on Twitter that he received a scholarship offer from Nebraska’s new Head coach, Scott  Frost.

Martinez took an official visit to Lincoln over the next weekend. The visit went well for Martinez and badly for Tennessee. This week Martinez committed to play for the Cornhuskers.

There is some good news for the Volunteers. Pruitt successfully re-recruited Tennessee’s Coffee County Central School High four-star athlete Alontae Taylor. Taylor de-committed from the Volunteers last month after the Jones firing. Tennessee coaches Kevin Beard and Larry Scott visited Taylor two weeks ago, and Taylor recommitted this past week.

A new Volunteer defense

Since Pruitt will change the Tennessee defensive style and philosophy, Pruitt decided not to recruit committed defensive end Jamarcus Chatman. The Volunteers have also backed off from an offer to cornerback Tanner Ingle and quarterback Michael Penix. Ingle will sign with NC State and Penix appears to be headed to FSU.

Pruitt is on offense, also. Tennessee hopes to sign defensive lineman Jeavon Becton. Becton de-committed from Georgia after receiving a Tennessee offer.

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