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Lane Kiffin and the rest of the Tennessee Volunteer staff have made a huge splash by pulling previously committed players and turning them into Tennessee Volunteers. The staff was able to do it with the now departed Nu’Keese Richardson just before signing day last year and they have already swayed 4-star quarterback Tyler Bray from San Diego State this year. These events have led to the Vol’s staff to have quite a reputation and depending on what side you fall on, you either love it or you absolutely hate it.
Baylor currently has two big time defensive backs that have been committed since the summer but both of them seem to be looking around a little bit. VolNation.com previously told you about Tyler Stephenson, who is a 4-star cornerback that is looking around and plans to set up a visit to Knoxville now that his season is winding down. Another player that is committed to the Bears and is perhaps an even bigger fish is Ahmad Dixon.
The 6-foot-1, 185 pound safety who currently sits at number 15 overall in the ESPNU 150 originally committed to the other UT, Texas, back in the spring. After a change of heart, Ahmad switched his pledge to the Baylor Bears and seemed solid for a long period of time. When you are so highly ranked, no matter where you are committed, programs will not stop trying to get you to take one last look at their program and Lane Kiffin and the UT staff are no different.
Ahmad recently took a visit to Knoxville over the weekend when the Vols took on in-state rival, Memphis. Dixon, widely considered to be one of, if not the top safety in the class of 2010, had a lot of good things to say in regards to his visit and he discussed his thoughts with VolNation.com
“It went really well actually. I have notified the coaches at Baylor that I will be looking around and I think they understand. Obviously it isn’t something that they are happy about but it is what is best for me. I still consider myself as being committed to Baylor but I need to make sure I am not missing out on a better situation.”
While in Knoxville, he got to see the Vols perform at a high level and he got to spend some valuable time with some of the Vols best.
“I hung out with Eric Berry quite a bit and he told me all about how great it is to play at the University of Tennessee. There have been many big time safeties at UT and he is about as good as it gets. I think he is the best player in the country, so it was real special to be able to spend some time with him. It definitely made me think about the possibilities of what could be if I decided on Tennessee.”
Dixon isn’t done looking either. As of now, he is scheduled to be in Tuscaloosa this weekend to watch the Tide take on Florida International. Although he is still to be considered a commit, it seems likely that Ahmad will wind up somewhere other than Waco. Baylor pulled a couple of huge coups by pulling in the two home state stars to anchor their defensive backfield back in the summer, but as it appears now, Art Briles and company look they may be on the other side of things once their decisions become final.
Vol Nation will be on top of the situation as it continues to develop and will keep you in the loop as things continue to change with the star safety.
{ 13 comments }
Is that really what you want on your football team, a roster full of players who were originally committed to another program?
Yes
that just means we have a much better staff than the other school does…duh
what are you tryin to prove? man alive.
Right; you’d have a bunch of guys like Montario Hardesty.
Yes. Especially those committed to Georgia. That way other positional recruits are driven away from UGA early leaving little time to recover top notch replacements. Not to mention the discouragement of the staff and the extra work and expense for them and the program. So yes. Absolutely.
I may change my attitude @ this after VD hires coach Fulmer at the end of the season. It’s hard to steal from a lifetime UT guy, even if he is @ Athens.
Do you really want a coach who underachieves every yr?
You are just pissed because it ain’t Georgia! we will probably get more of your commits as well…Go Vols
UGAPUPPY….Are you really that dumb??? Why would we not take top talent to our program regardless of where they have been previously committed….Kids make mistakes picking schools to early because they are affraid they wont get another chance. If a kids stock rises throughout his senior season or through camps why not take an opportunity to play for a bigger program then Baylor….
These kids today change their minds every other day. Yes I will take a roster of previously commited players if they happen to be all 5 star recruits.
UGADOG 4 Life –you trying to tell me that Georgia wouldn’t take any players that had been commited elsewhere?? Come over into the real world..
Yeah, if they win games it don’t matter to me.
UGADawg. Pretty sure you tried to recruit Juwaun James pretty hard and he was an Alabama recruit. But good call.
We also pulled Corey Miller this year who was committed to Florida State.
And FYI, Bama plays Chattanooga this weekend – Florida plays FIU.
This would be a big time pickup though if we could make it happen. Getting him or Elam would we big, especially considering our recent loss(es) in the defensive backfield.
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