Mass Exodus from Tennessee
May 9, 2009 by Allison Boyer
Filed under Football
When Lane Kiffin was brought in to coach the Tennessee Volunteers after the resignation firing of beloved Phillip Fulmer after a dismal 2008 season. While many hope that Kiffin will bring the spark back to the Vols, others aren’t happy with the new coaching choice. To date, 11 players are leaving Tennessee to play at other schools.
Image: Newscom
That number isn’t HUGE, considering that there’s usually a mass exodus when a school brings in a new coach. What really hurts, though, is that Kiffin is losing some huge assets to the Tennessee team. He’s also gone on record as saying that he doesn’t want to coach anyone who doesn’t want to be a Volunteer, which to me sounds like a little disgruntled dig at the players choosing to leave. Those who’s announced their impending departures are:
- B.J. Coleman, quarterback
- Ahmad Paige, wide receiver
- E.J. Abrams-Ward, wide receiver
- Tyler Maples, wide receiver
- Demetrice Morley, safety
- Lennon Creer, tailback
- Donald Langley, lineman
- Darius Myers, lineman
- Ramone Johnson, lineman
- Preston Bailey, lineman
- Darris Sawtelle, lineman
Under NCAA rules, Tennessee can have up to 85 scholarship players on the team each season, so this does open up some wiggle room for Kiffin to recruit more freshmen or talk to players who intend to leave other schools.
An interesting note: a number of these players decided to leave only after spring practice with Kiffin. So, they’re giving him a chance at least – but to some, looks like he’s not really living up to standards…
