Report: Tennessee Pauses CFB Contract Talks Amid Recruiting Investigation

The University of Tennessee has reportedly halted all contract discussions with current personnel and paused hires for the Volunteers football program while awaiting the results of an investigation into possible recruiting violations, including the alleged use of improper benefits.

ESPN's Mark Schlabach reported Thursday members of the investigative team have conducted interviews with UT players throughout the week.

"We take seriously our institutional commitment to NCAA compliance, and are reviewing regulatory issues that have been brought to our attention," university spokeswoman Tyra Haag said in a statement. "As part of that process, we are currently working with attorneys Kyle Skillman and Michael Glazier with Bond, Schoeneck & King. We will provide additional information when it's appropriate."

Issues being focused on during the investigation included the recruitment of 2021 prospect Amarius Mims, who ultimately signed with Georgia, and a compliance inquiry into sophomore running back Eric Gray, who was held out of the Vols' season finale against Texas A&M, per Schlabach.

"I hadn't seen no article or anything like that," head coach Jeremy Pruitt said after the loss to the Aggies when asked whether he was aware of an investigation. "Anytime in college football or college athletics, you have typical compliance stuff. That is all I know."

The Volunteers' coaching staff has two vacancies to fill (defensive and offensive line coaches) and at least two more coaches are set to see their contracts expire at the end of January: running backs coach Tee Martin and inside linebackers coach Brian Niedermeyer, according to Schlabach.

Tennessee signed Pruitt to a two-year contract extension in September that runs through the 2025 season. He ranked 30th among college football head coaches with $3.85 million in total pay for the 2020 campaign, per USA Today.

The Vols opened 2020 with victories over South Carolina and Missouri, but they won just one of their final eight games to finish with a 3-7 record.

Pruitt has posted a 16-19 mark across three years at UT with one bowl appearance, a Gator Bowl triumph over Indiana to finish the 2019 season. The Volunteers were scheduled to play in this season's Liberty Bowl, but it was canceled because of COVID-19 concerns.

Schlabach noted at least five players have left the program either to enter the NFL draft or via the transfer portal in recent weeks amid the investigation.