According to GolVolsExtra, Notre Dame will be getting a late visitor next on February 13. Damien Thigpen, a speedy running back/defensive back, looks to be visiting Notre Dame on the 13th after apparently being told he wouldn’t fit into Lane Kiffin’s system.
Tennessee commitment Damien Thigpen is pursuing other options after being told he would likely not fit into the Vols’ plans under new football coach Lane Kiffin.
The 5-foot-8, 170-pound athlete from Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas, Va., was told of the decision on Sunday during his official visit. Thigpen, who committed to UT in April, will now visit UCLA this weekend and Notre Dame on Feb. 13.
Recruiting is a pretty nasty business, but I just have to ask why Thigpen would only be told now that he wasn’t a good fit for what Kiffin plans on doing at Tennessee? Kiffin was hired the first week of December, but is just now telling a recruit he doesn’t think he’d fit in? If that’s true, that doesn’t say much about Kiffin since Thigpen has just under a week until Signing Day especially considering the following quote from the same GoVolsExtra report.
Thigpen was one of UT’s most committed prospects through Fulmer’s dismissal and Kiffin’s hiring. He never took an official visit to another school and never publicly questioned UT’s decision to make a coaching change.
If the report is indeed accurate, it makes Kiffin look pretty ruthless and cold hearted. Hopefully this ends up good for Notre Dame since we have the room in this class and I’m sure the staff could find some use for a running back/defensive back with 4.3-4.4 speed. I’ll see if I can dig up some background info on Thigpen tonight.
He is a CB recruit/ath. He won’t be coming as an RB. Three would be a bit much for one class.
We Are ND