The Tennesee Volunteers snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over Southern Miss on Saturday, but beating a lesser opponent did nothing to quell the rumors surrounding head coach Butch Jones' future with the program. Florida's Jim McElwain was already the first coach fired in the conference, and many think that Jones isn't far behind. Here are all the latest rumors surrounding Butch Jones' future that you need to know:
Butch Jones could keep job at Tennessee
It has been a foregone conclusion that Tennessee would fire Butch Jones at the end of the season, but that may not be the case. According to SB Nation's Steven Godfrey, Jones may be able to keep his job if he meets certain criteria.
With Week 10’s win over Southern Miss, Butch Jones’ job security is technically alive, albeit on life support. The message inside the program is that UT needs to win out and keep its recruiting class intact through December’s early signing period.
The Vols close their season with games against Missouri, LSU, and Vanderbilt. Winning all of them would push Tennessee to 7-5 on the season and 3-5 in conference play.
Latest on Tennessee's pursuit of Jon Gruden
However, if the Volts do fire Jones, it appears that Tennessee already has their preferred replacement in mind. Former Tennessee and NFL defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth tweets that he has been told the Vols are pursuing former NFL head coach and current ESPN analyst Jon Gruden.
I wouldn’t bet my bottom dollar on this but this is what I’m hearing! #VFLthruthick pic.twitter.com/UGjBzMrFEz
— Albert Haynesworth (@haynesworthiii) October 30, 2017
For what it's worth, Haynesworth isn't just spitting smoke. Gruden is also the favorite in Vegas for the job.
Jon Gruden still the favorite to be the next Tennessee HC according to BetOnline.ag pic.twitter.com/k4UHhUejkN
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) October 30, 2017
Gruden, who started his career as a grad assistant for the Vols, was wooed by Tennessee after their head coaching job opened up following the 2012 season, and it seems like he has a tinge of regret over not accepting the position. He called coaching the Vols his "dream job." If he does return to the college game, this seems to be the position he would do it for.
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Tennessee commits seem set on Vols, even if Jones gets fired
Jones has brought in a number of top recruiting classes during his time in Knoxville, and the 2018 class currently ranks 11th, according to 247sports. However, firing Jones wouldn't mean the recruiting class would fall apart.
Ryan Green of Gridiron Now caught up with a number of Tennessee commits, and most said that they would remain committed to Tennessee if Jones was fired. You can see what the recruits had to say here.
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