It has been a minute, but there is a chance former Tennessee Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt could be returning to college football in short order. According to John Brice of Football Scoop, "Maryland and [Mike] Locksley are targeting ex-University of Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt to join the Terps defensive staff in 'a key defensive assistant position.'" How is this move even possible?
Pruitt was infamously ousted in 2021 at Tennessee with cause for improper recruiting. Things were not going well for Pruitt in Rocky Top, so Vol Nation fed him to the wolves that was the NCAA. Pruitt was given a multi-year show cause. He went on to work for the laughably bad 2021 New York Giants. With Mike Locksley and Maryland in need of a big year, they are leaving no stone unturned in all this.
Given that the NCAA has less bite than it ever has before, confidence is growing Maryland will be able to provide proof in why it needs Pruitt to be part of Locksley's next Maryland Terrapins staff. While Pruitt's successor in Josh Heupel has had all kinds of good fortune since taking over in Knoxville, it is astounding that Locksley still has a job in College Park, given how bad the Terrapins have been of late.
Pruitt went a combined 16-19 (10-18) over three seasons at Tennessee before 11 wins were vacated.
Maryland Terrapins close to hiring Jeremy Pruitt as defensive assistant
Look. This is a touchy subject. While Vol Nation may not ever want to see Pruitt succeed again, his reputation has taken a huge hit in recent years. Although the show cause is still in effect, if he is deemed to be a must-need coaching-candidate for Maryland, then it probably serves the Terrapins to bring him in. After all, Locksley is up against it. Plus, he and Pruitt share some strong ties to Alabama.
Overall, we have seen far more seedy individuals be allowed to coach and be around the college game before. It will continue to happen because any bite the NCAA has left is utterly toothless. Pruitt was one of the last notable figures it made an example out of. He bided his time and wants to get back into coaching college football. If he really wants to go to Maryland to win six games, best of luck.
Ultimately, we are talking about a coach who was under the gun by the NCAA shortly after COVID. Furthermore, all of his misdoings were conducted before the Michigan sign-stealing scandal, burger suspensions, and the Sherrone Moore fiasco. Again, if he really wants to go to Maryland and Locksley wants to roll out the red carpet for him, so what? They will not be good, as that staff might whacked...
In the end, it is better to see Pruitt coaching in the Big Ten than to see him roaming any SEC sideline.