Fellow Tide fans, we all knew this day would come. The coaching carousel continues to roll unmercifully. People are being swept up left and right and it’s hard to keep up with all of the action. Mississippi State and Tennessee still have openings to fill, and it looks like our beloved defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt, has become a prime target of the other SEC programs.
University of Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has interviewed for the head football coaching vacancy at Mississippi State and emerged as a candidate for the Tennessee opening, The Tuscaloosa News has learned.
Pruitt, in his second season of running UA’s defense, is one of Mississippi State’s top candidates. He is also on a list of coaches being considered by Tennessee.
Pruitt’s defense at Alabama last season was rated No. 1 in national statistics. The Crimson Tide’s defense ranks No. 2 this season.
Prior to his coming back to Alabama in 2016, Pruitt served as Florida State’s defensive coordinator in 2013, helping the Seminoles to a national championship. He served in the same role at Georgia under Mark Richt from 2014-15.
I tell you what, man, these Saban disciples seem like they just grow on trees. Come in for a season or two, and suddenly you’re scooped up by another SEC program. I don’t get it, but I guess that’s just the Saban Effect in action.
Pruitt has only been Alabama’s defensive coordinator for two seasons. TWO SEASONS! And, he’s getting buzz as a possible head coach. Sure, those are elite defenses, but come on – he has no head coaching experience. This is the type of career trajectory similar to what Jim McElwain did, minus the naked shark humping. You come up through the Alabama family, go to a mid-level “Group of Five” program (Colorado State in McElwain’s case), and then you return triumphantly to the SEC.
That said, Pruitt has done some damn good work these past two years. I knew the other programs would eventually come calling, but was hoping we’d get a few more years out of him. We’ll see. Next thing you know, the Cleveland Browns are going to be calling Brian Daboll.
It just goes to show you that what they say about Alabama’s players applies to its assistant coaches, too. “They seem to just pull ’em off an assembly line down there.”
Quick fun fact: how many of you knew that Pruitt actually played at Middle Tennessee State University, aka The Harvard of the South?
The more you know.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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