Dooley Impresses With First Vols Recruiting Class

Nobody knew how new Vols coach Derek Dooley would do with his first recruiting class at the University of Tennessee. When former coach Lane Kiffin left for USC a month before National Signing Day, many people thought the Vols class would wither away. However, Dooley and his staff got to work immediately after being hired and made the most of the remaining three weeks.

Kiffin and his staff tried to recruit some of the Vol commitments, and they got a few including coveted receiver Markeith Ambles. But, Dooley then responded by stealing Georgia five-star receiver commitment Da'Rick Rogers. At this point its hard to tell who is better, but that will most likely be a comparison to expect throughout their college careers. The Vols locked down one of the best offensive lineman in the country in James Stone because of Dooley. Stone was headed to Alabama because of his dislike for Kiffin, but with the Dooley hiring, he became interested in the Vols.

You add those two in to the rest of the recruits the Vols were able to hold onto and they have a top 10 recruiting class. Not bad at all for having to rebuild a coaching staff less than a month before National Signing Day. Only time will tell how these recruits will turn out, but right now hats off to Dooley and his staff for doing a hell of a job on short notice.