Is Tennessee Vols' 2018 recruiting class threatened by Butch Jones' uncertain status?

Tennessee commitment Brendon Harris, a four-star safety, reopened his recruitment last week. UT commitment Jatavious Harris, no relation to Brendon, also has reopened his recruiting.

You have to wonder how many other of UT's 23 commitments for the 2018 class are wavering in light of Tennessee coach Butch Jones' uncertain status.

More:Up next for Tennessee Vols: South Carolina Gamecocks

As Tennessee prepares to play South Carolina on Saturday afternoon, some fans might be more concerned about the 2018 recruiting class than the 2017 season, which currently stands at 3-2 with the most recent outing a demoralizing 41-0 loss to Georgia.

Some observers don't think Jones can bounce back from that – not after the last-second loss to Florida, or the dreadful showing in a four-point victory over lowly UMass, or the certainty that another season will go by without so much as an SEC East title.

If Jones’ days as coach are numbered, it’s reasonable to imagine the collateral damage. And I’m not referring to the millions of dollars it will cost Tennessee to buy out Jones and his staff.

Jones is assembling a top-10 recruiting class, which currently is listed No. 6 in 247Sports composite team rankings. It consists of 23 commitments, though that includes the two players who plan to look elsewhere.

Both still could wind up at Tennessee, as could all other members of the class.

More:With Butch Jones uncertainty, Vols football coaches work to save recruiting class

The Vols can only hope that recruits are willing to wait. That might mean forgoing the newly instituted early signing period in December and holding out until February.

By then, the coaching situation will be resolved.

Some recruits fall in love with Tennessee no matter who the coach is. They’re swayed by the size of the stadium, the facilities and the passion of the fan base.

In the case of a coaching change, the recruits would have to weigh their affinity for UT against the uncertainty a new staff would bring. But don’t assume all of them will agonize over the decision.  

More:Up next for Tennessee Vols: South Carolina Gamecocks

Many recruits don’t do their homework. They don’t study depth charts enough. They don’t pay enough attention to how their skillset would match up with a program’s offensive or defensive system. They are swayed more by what a coach says than by what he has done.

You would think the lack of development of high-profile recruits during Jones’ tenure would set off alarms with prospective recruits. But it hasn’t.

That’s a tribute, in part, to Jones’ salesmanship. And he has been especially good at selling his program to quarterbacks.

Jones repeatedly has succeeded in recruiting four-star quarterbacks. Adrian Martinez, another four-star recruit, already has committed to Tennessee for 2018. Maybe, he still would sign with the Vols even if there were a coaching change.

But as important as a recruiting class is, it can’t be the No. 1 priority for Tennessee first-year athletic director John Currie. He has to do what’s best for the program.    

Reach John Adams at john.adams@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6284 and on Twitter @johnadamskns.