Why would the staff all of a sudden just let up on Kimbrows recruitment? It makes no sense after telling him he's a #1 priority. Regardless of the circumstances, you just don't stop or back off, which is essentially the same thing, the state’s top player, especially when he's in position of need. We need to increnase, playmaking ability and team speed. He has both or he wouldn't have the offer list that he has. Every top school has offered, but UT backs off or stops recruiting him. I'm not buying it. These unsubstantiated rumors have to stop.
I think you are not far from seeing what is happening -- at least you and a couple of others here understand that there are some big holes in the "official" story line here in this thread.
You say that "we need to need to increase playmaking ability and team speed" and you are correct. But we need it at just about every position except at "small special teams and special situations player, good for a handful of appearances per game". That need has already been filled by D Young. The folks screaming over Kimbrow are usually the same ones who made such a screaming fuss over D Young last year. One said earlier that "you take as many of those as you can get". Really?? What an novel idea -- why not make your whole team with 5'-6" 150 lb players.
I also do not remember Dooley talking about needing another speedy player to fill the role D Young plays. We need speed at other positions, yes, but not in that role.
You also (along with most of the board) say that "every top school has offered" -- really?? Who are the top schools in the south?? Alabama, Florida, Auburn (on rare occasions), LSU and Florida State, right?? Alabama and Auburn have offered Kimbrow -- Florida, Florida State, and LSU have not offered him. Neither have Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Oregon (who lives on team speed), Texas, Texas A&M, USC, or Ohio State, just to name a few.
Folks here point out that D Young has yet to play a down of college ball -- but neither has Kimbrow. Several have said that no "credible poster" has ever said that Kimbrow was not the top target, at least in Tennessee -- or something to that effect. Sorry, but that is ludicrous. Several who are
far more "credible" than the posters here who said that have mentioned at least to the effect that we would not be bothered if we did not land Kimbrow
The bottom line is that Kimbrow is a limited use player, and we already have one to fill that role. We have a number of positions of far greater need for which we have to upgrade our talent -- positions which have to be filled with quality and speed on every down.
mlsoft