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New Tennessee AD Phillip Fulmer has had a busy couple of days. He has talked to or interviewed a number of candidates. One surprise has been Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.
According to Football Scoop, Tucker is set to get a second interview with Tennessee in New York. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports the same.
Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is interviewing for a second time with Tennessee officials in New York on Tuesday, sources told ESPN
— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) December 5, 2017
The report from Football Scoop maintains that Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele remains a candidate, along with SMU head coach and former Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris.
Source tells FootballScoop Fulmer is set to meet with Mel Tucker today in NYC. We understand this will be Tucker’s second talk with the Tennessee search. Kevin Steele remains a candidate and Chad Morris has visited with Fulmer as well
So after hearing Tucker’s name out of left field on Monday morning, he suddenly seems like a finalist for the job. Tucker’s quick turnaround of the Georgia defense was masterful and a huge reason why the Bulldogs are in the college football playoff this year.
Tucker is a longtime assistant, making three stops as an NFL defensive coordinator with the Browns, Jaguars and Bears. He held positions with Ohio State and LSU in the early 2000s. He made the jump back to college with Alabama in 2015, then followed Kirby Smart to Georgia in 2016.