Jeremy Pruitt nearly pulled off a wild move before he was fired by Tennessee that would’ve resulted in Ty Simpson playing for the Vols
Former Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt nearly pulled off a smooth move before he was fired.
Next month will mark five years since news broke of the recruiting scandal that ultimately cost Jeremy Pruitt his job as head coach of the Tennessee Vols.
Pruitt, who is reportedly set to join the coaching staff at Jacksonville State as an analyst, was fired by Tennessee after allegedly handing out $60,000 in impermissible benefits.
Before Pruitt was fired, he nearly pulled off one of the biggest recruiting/coaching moves of the decade.
Jeremy Pruitt was set to hire Ty Simpson’s dad as Tennessee’s quarterbacks coach
It’s no secret that current Alabama Crimson Tide starting quarterback Ty Simpson was heavily interested in Tennessee as a five-star recruit.
In fact, it looked like Simpson to Tennessee was close to being a done deal before Pruitt was fired.
According to 247Sports, Pruitt was set to hire Ty Simpson’s dad Jason as the Volunteers’ new quarterbacks coach ahead of the 2021 season.
Pruitt, however, was fired several weeks after the 2020 season ended.
“What people didn’t know was the other offer in play. The one Pruitt made to Jason to join his staff,” wrote 247Sports’ Alex Scarborough. “Not buried in the personnel department or stuck off the field working as an analyst. Jason wasn’t going to be some throw-in. He would coach the quarterbacks.”
According to Scarborough’s story, Jason “mulled the decision for weeks.”
Jason eventually decided he was going to take the job — mostly because Ty, at the time, was “100 percent going to Knoxville” — and he called Pruitt to inform him. Pruitt, though, told Jason that he’d have to get back with him. According to Scarborough, Pruitt was fired nine days later.
Josh Heupel, who was hired to replace Pruitt, recruited Simpson hard for a month. But there just wasn’t enough time for Heupel and his staff to convince Simpson to play for them.
Simpson committed to Alabama and he now looks like he may be the best quarterback in college football.
Vols fans can add Simpson to the list of recruits with Tennessee connections who got away, which includes names like Trevor Lawrence, Tee Higgins, Amari Rodgers, Randall Cobb, and Travis Etienne.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports Tennessee Vols as Former Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt nearly pulled off a very smooth coaching staff move before he was fired by Tennessee.
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