IN HIS OWN WORDS
I was excited about going to Tennessee because I had never been there before, Crouch said. It was a good environment and seemed like a football town. Its a place where you would want to be. Im going to pay attention to them and see what happens. This was my first time at Tennessee, he said. I got to hang with the players a little bit an I got to talk to the head coach. I really just got to know everybody because this is a new staff so I wanted to get comfortable with everybody and see if it felt like home.
I knew a lot of the coaches from Alabama because Ive been there a few times, said Crouch. They like big backs and thats what they want to use to run their offense. I got to see a lot of the campus, he said. I saw the dorms and want inside them. They have nice facilities and a big weight room. At this point, all the facilities are close to being the same so Im not really looking too hard at them. I just wanted to make sure it was a place for me.
Coaches have been trying to come by the school but weve had a lot of snow days so we havent been there, Crouch said. Im going to Clemson this weekend. Next weekend Im going to North Carolina for my birthday. I was thinking about going to Georgia but Ill be at North Carolina. I dont have any favorites or anything right now, he said. I think Im going to make a list soon though because this is becoming a lot to deal with all these people calling and trying to come see me.
RIVALS REACTION
The relationships Crouch developed with at Alabama clearly helped Tennessee with Jeremy Pruitt now at the helm. The Vols were unlikely to be a big-time player with Crouch under the previous staff but now the Vols have his attention.
The recruiting process is really getting to Crouch and he is thinking about announcing a short list to ease the burden. He maintains that he does not have any favorites but it would be surprising if schools like Alabama, Michigan, Clemson, South Carolina, North Carolina and a few others didnt make that list.