Coming Home, Sweet Home: Vols add LSU GM Austin Thomas

New Tennessee Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt has added another key member to his football program. LSU General Manager Austin Thomas has agreed to join Pruitt’s initial staff.

Long thought to be an asset for a Tennessee staff due to his ties to his native Nashville and his alma mater on Rocky Top, Thomas will help oversee the day-to-day operations in the football program. He is responsible for 5-star athlete Jacoby Stevens and 5-star linebacker Jacob Phillips ending up in Baton Rouge in last year's 2017 class alone. LSU made every attempt on Monday to keep Thomas but their counteroffer was for naught.

Thomas initially planned on joining Pruitt and company last Friday, but had to get NCAA clearance due to a recent NCAA rule change that prohibits off the field coaches from being hired who have previous relationships with high school prospects.

That is a very limiting rule since there are only ten on-field coaching positions effective starting in January. In most instances it applies to high school coaches to prevent the hiring of a coach connected to a certain prospect. Hiring a high school coach means he can’t recruit a prospect from his former school for two years.

Thomas has not been a high school coach but technically his waters are muddied because he is a not an on the field coach yet has the ability to recruit on the road due to LSU staffing an on the field coach that doesn’t recruit off campus.

The NCAA approved the move for Thomas on Wednesday and he formally resigned his post at LSU.

Thomas was also under contract which is different from other similar roles hired at other institutions. His contract was set to end in May.

Thomas was in his second stint in Baton Rouge and also worked for a short stint at Southern California.