Stone spurns Saban, stays in-state with Vols

Three weeks ago tomorrow, Derek Dooley interviewed for the position of head coach at the University of Tennessee. Today, he continues to add to a 2010 recruiting class that is knocking on the door of being ranked in the top ten.

James Stone, the 6-4, 280-pound OT who was one of the most highly recruited players in the state of Tennessee, stayed home and chose the Volunteers over Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide.

According to his high school coach Ralph Thompson, Stone gave up a sack in his first career game as a sophomore — and never gave up another.

Rivals.com lists Stone as a four-star prospect and the No. 7 offensive tackle in the nation. He will be joined on a potentially strong Vols offensive line by mammoth Under Armour All-American OT Ja'Waun James, who had switched his commitment from Alabama.

Two tackles snagged away from Saban's grasp? It seems that Dooley’s transition to Knoxville is running more smoothly than most had anticipated.

Follow me on Twitter at Miller_Dave