Tee Martin
Track Record:
Morehouse (Passing Game Coordinator) — 2006
North Cobb HS (QBs/Passing Game Coordinator) — 2007
North Atlanta HS (OC/QBs) — 2008
New Mexico (QBs) — 2009
Kentucky (WRs) — 2010
Kentucky (WRs/Passing Game Coordinator) — 2011
USC (WRs) — 2012-13
USC (WRs/Passing Game Coordinator) — 2014-15
USC (OC/WRs) — 2016-18
Pros: It’s been said before that Pruitt might be looking for a high level recruiter for his next OC, and Tee Martin fits that bill better than anyone else on this list. Martin, who was Tennessee’s quarterback when they went undefeated and won the national championship in 1998, was named the Pac-12 Recruiter of the Year in 2014 and earned the Recruiter of the Year award from 247Sports in 2016. He not only recruited at an elite level at USC, but he brought in some high level talent to Kentucky when he was on staff there as well. He has experience calling plays at USC, though there’s more on that in a moment.
Cons: Martin was billed as the co-offensive coordinator for USC the last couple years until Pruitt hired away Tyson Helton prior to last year. Then, Martin was given the reigns to call plays, and USC’s offense wasn’t exactly dynamic under Martin. He was canned along with every other assistant on USC’s staff this offseason. That has to be a huge concern for any program, not just Tennessee, looking to hire him as a full-time OC rather than a position coach.
Analysis: While it’s true that Pruitt spoke with Martin at some point over the last month, it’s unclear in what capacity the two have spoken. Was it to discuss Martin coming on as a position coach? Or was it to discuss the possibility of him joining the program as a co-OC? Ultimately, no offer has been made, but Martin’s recruiting prowess will land him a job somewhere this offseason even if it’s not Knoxville.
