Jeremy Pruitt spent a large portion of Tennessee’s bye week recruiting, but he still had enough time to hop on Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference.
Pruitt updated the status of a few players for the Volunteers (2-3, 0-2 SEC), who got a much-needed weekend off after pair of 26-point losses to division rivals Florida and Georgia. Tennessee returns to action at No. 8 Auburn on Oct. 13.
In the meantime, here’s what Pruitt had to say during the teleconference:
What makes Alabama coach Nick Saban so successful?
- I think he has a plan for everything, whether it’s offseason, spring ball, recruiting, nutrition, bye weeks, hiring coaches. … He never stops; he does a good job of being the leader of an organization.
How will Nick Saban go down in college football history?
- I know over the last 30 years, he’s done it as well as anyone. … What he’s been able to do at Alabama, he won at LSU, the last 10-11 years, week in and week out, guys graduating, I’d say it’s got to be as good as anyone all time.
On the status of OL Riley Locklear:
- We feared he tore his ACL, but he didn’t. Good news for him, slight meniscus tear; he’ll be out 10-15 days.
On why DB Shawn Shamberger did not make the trip to Georgia:
- When you travel in the SEC, you can only take 70 guys. You whittle it down to the guys that give you the best opportunity to win, and we took the guys that we thought would do that.
Follow-up on Shamberger and what he needs to do to improve his standing in the program:
- There’s been a lot of inconsistency on both sides of the ball, and we are looking for guys that can do it over and over again without that.
On father Dale Pruitt entering his 40th year coaching high school football, and what your father means to you:
- Well, he was a coach from the age of 23. He drug me around the team since I could walk. … I was able to see the positive impact he and my mother had in our community. … He has a positive impact on the players he’s worked with and others around his program.
How often do you speak with your dad?
- Yeah, we talk often. and that’s always been the case. He’s my go-to guy when I need some advice.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
