Tennessee lands highly touted running back Brown

By David Moorman  |   Tuesday, March 17, 2009  |  Comments( 1 )

Tennessee Volunteers
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If Lane Kiffin coaches as well as he attracts big-name recruits, Tennessee might just be onto something.

Kiffin has yet to coach a game for the Volunteers, but he continued to add signees to his roster when he landed top-rated running back Bryce Brown.

Brown originally committed to the University of Miami 13 months ago when Kiffin still was the Oakland Raiders’ head coach. Oakland fired Kiffin last October, and Brown apparently had a change of heart when Miami switched offensive coordinators and Brown didn’t sign with the Hurricanes on National Signing Day on Feb. 4.

Miami gave Brown until Feb. 18 to sign, and when Brown missed the deadline, the Hurricanes apparently didn’t reissue their scholarship offer.

Brown, from Wichita, Kan., also considered Kansas, Kansas State, Oregon, LSU and Clemson before choosing Tennessee. He became the third out-of-state recruit (and the second running back) to cast his lot with the Volunteers.

The 6-foot, 215-pound Brown announced his decision at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in Wichita on March 16. Brown’s announcement was carried live on local television. Brown’s brother, Arthur, a linebacker at Miami, was among those in attendance.

David Oku, of Lincoln, Neb., signed with Tennessee on March 5. Shortly after National Signing Day, Kiffin lured highly touted cornerback Janzen Jackson away from Lake Charles, La. Jackson had indicated he might sign with LSU before going elsewhere.

Tennessee recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron worked with Kiffin on getting Bryce Brown. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and running backs coach Eddie Gran were instrumental, too. Rivals.com rated Brown as the nation’s top prospect. Scout.com had him second, and ESPN ranked him eighth.

Orgeron hails from south Louisiana and had considered taking a position at LSU before joining Kiffin’s staff. Shortly after Brown sent Tennessee his national letter of intent, LSU fans on sports talk radio filled the airwaves with derisive comments directed at both Brown and Orgeron. Their reaction may not have been all that different from others', who still don’t know what to make of Kiffin. Kiffin’s words and actions have gotten him into trouble before and drew a reprimand from the Southeastern Conference.

There is no suggestion of any impropriety in Brown’s recruitment, but the New York Times has reported that Brian Butler, Brown’s trainer and mentor, is the subject of an NCAA investigation. Butler acted as master of ceremonies at Brown’s press conference.

Brown is expected to make an immediate impact. Over the last two seasons, he rushed for more than 3,500 yards and 60 touchdowns at Wichita East High School.
He is believed to be the highest-rated recruit ever signed by Tennessee.
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About David Moorman

Dave Moormann is an award-winning journalist, who has covered LSU athletics since 1980. He began his coverage with the Baton Rouge Advocate, where he was a writer and editor from 1980-98. In 1996, he authored a book on the history of LSU football entitled, "Fighting Tigers Handbook: Stories, Stats...
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