According to Tennessee Head Football Coach Derek Dooley, UT is welcoming back one of its former lettermen, Jay Graham, to join the Volunteers football staff. Graham just completed his third season as USC’s running backs/tight ends coach. USC ranked third in the SEC with 198 rushing yards/game this season.
This is a lateral move for Graham, as he will be the new Running Backs Coach at Tennessee. Graham will replace former Volunteers WR Coach Charlie Baggett, who resigned from UT last week, as Derek Dooley is reshuffling his staff in Knoxville. Graham is the seventh all-time leading rusher (2,609 yards) in Tennessee football history.
While Spurrier will have dozens of qualified applicants for the vacant running backs coach position, the departure of Graham to UT is a big blow to South Carolina football recruiting. Coach Graham had really cultivated a lot of relationships with high school football prospects in the Charlotte, NC area. It was anticipated that the upcoming recruiting cycle of 2013 could have been very productive in North Carolina where Graham recruited for USC.
USC fans, this is part of the process when you enjoy successful seasons. Other college coaching staffs will poach your staff for coaching upgrades. I hate to lose Coach Graham, but I’ll accept it as part of the sacrifice to be successful in college football.
Good luck to Coach Graham (except the USC game) and his family as he returns to his alma mater.
Go Gamecocks!
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