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College Football: Grading every new Power Five head coach in 2018

By John Mitchell

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach Scott Frost of the Nebraska Cornhuskers watches late game action against the Troy Trojans at Memorial Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach Scott Frost of the Nebraska Cornhuskers watches late game action against the Troy Trojans at Memorial Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

5. Jeremy Pruitt – Tennessee 

  • Record: 3-3 (1-2) 
  • Grade: B

Jeremy Pruitt got a tangible sign of progress last weekend by defeating Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium, snapping an 11 game SEC winning streak. One game isn’t going to change things in Knoxville, but Pruitt spoke after the loss to Georgia about his team heading in the right direction, and he gave physical proof to a thirsty fanbase with the win over the Tigers.

Pruitt is a first-time head coach, and is tasked with changing a losing culture at Tennessee. Butch Jones recruited well enough, and Pruitt is likely to continue that. With all the instability around the coaching, and AD, searches, Pruitt scrapping together the 14th-ranked recruiting class in the 247 composites was impressive.

It will take a few years for Pruitt to get Tennessee back to SEC East contention, but the Volunteers are trending up this season after last week’s win, and now have a real shot at getting to a bowl game, which seemed like a ridiculous proposition just two short weeks ago.

The big question will be whether former coach and new AD Phillip Fulmer will allow Pruitt to run the program his way, or if Fulmer will continue thrusting himself into the limelight.

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