Deal or No Deal: Jeremy Pruitt to Tennessee [Audio]

Early Thursday evening, the University of Tennessee formally introduced Jeremy Pruitt as the new head coach of the Volunteers.

He leaves Alabama after spending the past two seasons as the program’s defensive coordinator. Prior to his stop in Tuscaloosa, Pruitt was the defensive coordinator at Florida State in 2013 and at Georgia during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

During Thursday’s “Deal or No Deal” segment of The Blitz, former Alabama fullback Martin Houston surveyed Pruitt’s journey up the coaching ladder from coaching in high school to leading an SEC program.

Prior to his arrival at Alabama as Director of Player Development in 2007, Pruitt was an assistant coach in the high school ranks for seven seasons including a three-year stint at Hoover High School.

When asked about Pruitt’s readiness to be a head coach in the SEC, Houston stated his belief that the new Tennessee head coach is ready to coach in the SEC but also relayed his surprise at Pruitt’s interest in becoming a head coach in the SEC.

“When I saw him, my mindset was that he was one of these lifers as a coordinator, but it appears that he wanted more than that and with the pedigree he has from his father all the way up to Coach (Saban) and Mark Richt and Jimbo Fisher at Florida State and the success he’s had and the size programs he’s had, I’d say yes.” Houston said.

The former Alabama fullback later tackled the possibility of seeing Alabama outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi take over as the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator, whether Pruitt should coordinate Alabama’s defense in the College Football Playoff and the futures of Jimbo Fisher and Chad Morris as coaches in the SEC.

The Blitz kicks off coverage of Alabama sports every weekday from 6-7 AM on Tide 102.9/100.9 and the Tide 102.9 app.