KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - After an NCAA investigation, a disappointing 2011 season and offseason that's been filled with assistant coaching turnover, Tennessee needed some good news on the recruiting front.
The Volunteers got that by signing a 2012 recruiting class on Wednesday highlighted by a last-minute commitment by wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, one of the most highly touted junior college prospects.
Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247sports.com each ranked Tennessee coach Derek Dooley's third signing class among the top 25 in the nation.
Dooley said the fact that his recruits stuck with the Vols in light of last year's NCAA investigation, a 5-7 finish to the 2011 season and the coaching turnover shows they have character.
Keith Niebuhr, southeast regional recruiting analyst for Rivals.com, says Dooley's recruiting achievements were "significant" for what Tennessee has gone through.
