Tennessee’s LaTroy Lewis (4) takes aim at North Texas quarterback DaMarcus Smith (10) in second half action at Neyland Stadium.KNOXVILLE – There are very few remnants in Tennessee’s football program from the days of failed former coach Derek Dooley, except for the four players still left from his final recruiting class.
The Volunteers have just 11 seniors on the roster this season, and only four of them are fifth-year players from the 2012 signing class once highlighted by Cordarrelle Patterson and Daniel McCullers.
Each of the four – tight end Jason Croom, linebacker Kenny Bynum, defensive tackle Danny O’Brien and defensive end LaTroy Lewis – will contribute to Tennessee’s success in 2016.
“I think our coaching staff has done a tremendous, incredible job – probably, in my eyes the best in the country – in recruiting,” Lewis said after Tuesday afternoon’s practice. “That’s a goal for a big-time Division I SEC program to build and build and build and keep bringing in more talent and more speed. We’re definitely heading in the right direction with that.”
Lewis laughed when asked if he’s told many stories of his first year with the program and said it’s “not often” he has to tell stories about the tumultuous final chapter of Dooley’s three-year tenure.