Maryland football is making headlines with the possible addition of a big-name—though definitely controversial—figure to its coaching staff. Head Coach Mike Locksley is reportedly considering bringing in former Alabama defensive coordinator and ex-Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt.
This move could shake things up for the team. Pruitt’s got a strong résumé, but he’s also tangled up in some ongoing legal battles with the NCAA.
Jeremy Pruitt’s Controversial Past
Jeremy Pruitt was fired by Tennessee in January 2021 after an internal investigation into recruiting violations. In July 2023, the NCAA slapped Tennessee football with five years of probation, citing more than 200 violations during Pruitt’s time from 2018 to 2021.
The infractions included impermissible cash payments and benefits to recruits, players, and their families. Pruitt has pushed back, insisting he was made a scapegoat for problems that started before he even got there.
NCAA Show-Cause Penalty
As part of the NCAA’s ruling, Pruitt received a six-year show-cause penalty. That’s about as severe as individual sanctions get in college sports.
This penalty basically barred him from coaching in college for that period. But in December 2023, an Alabama judge granted a temporary injunction, preventing the NCAA from enforcing the show-cause order and opening the door for Pruitt to look for college coaching gigs again.
The NCAA has appealed this decision to the Alabama Supreme Court. The legal wrangling is still ongoing.
Potential Impact on Maryland Football
Before Tennessee, Pruitt built a name for himself as a top defensive coach and recruiter. He was 247Sports’ National Recruiter of the Year in 2012 and helped stack rosters at Alabama, Georgia, and Florida State with elite talent.
Players like Roquan Smith, Derrick Henry, and Jalen Ramsey all came through programs he worked with. His recruiting wins came while working under big-time coaches like Nick Saban, Mark Richt, and Jimbo Fisher.
Pruitt was a key assistant on four Alabama national championship teams and Florida State’s 2013 title run. That’s not something you see every day.
Recruiting Expertise
When Tennessee hired Pruitt in December 2017, the hope was that his recruiting chops would steady and lift the program. He took over a late recruiting cycle and managed to salvage the 2018 class, bringing in several graduate transfers too.
He followed up with a 2019 class that landed inside the national top 20. If Maryland brings him on, his recruiting skills could give their efforts a real boost.
Legal Battles and Their Implications
In 2023, Pruitt filed a $100 million lawsuit against the NCAA, saying they’d damaged his career and reputation. That same December, an Alabama judge granted a temporary injunction stopping the NCAA from enforcing the show-cause order, so Pruitt could pursue college jobs again.
The NCAA has appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court. The case is still in limbo.
Temporary Injunction
The temporary injunction blocks the NCAA from enforcing its six-year show-cause order, which came down in 2023 after the recruiting scandal at Tennessee. Pruitt’s lawyers argued that the NCAA penalties were keeping top college football programs from hiring him.
Judge Andrew Hairston decided that halting the show-cause order would benefit Pruitt more than it would hurt the NCAA. It’s a rare move, honestly.
Maryland Football’s Current State
At 8-13 overall and 1-9 in Big Ten play, Maryland men’s basketball is honestly just playing for pride at this point. After another 30-point loss on Sunday, even that hasn’t been enough to keep them competitive.
The Terps have struggled all season and have been without their best player for over a month. They’re almost certain to finish near the bottom of the conference standings in Buzz Williams’ first season.
The games haven’t been close, either. The average loss margin is over 20 points this season—and more than 30 points in their last three games.
Upcoming Challenges
Maryland needs to win three of its final 10 games to avoid tying the program record of 21 losses in a season, which dates all the way back to 1949. That might sound doable, but for a team that’s dropped 12 of its last 13 against power conference opponents, it feels like a stretch.
“The results obviously are not what we want,” Williams said this week, “nor what the University of Maryland desires.”
Jeremy Pruitt joining Maryland football’s coaching staff? That could shake things up. He’s got a sharp football mind and a knack for recruiting, no question about it.
But then there’s the other side—his messy history and those legal battles with the NCAA. That’s not something you can just ignore. It’s a bit of a gamble, honestly.
Want to dig deeper into this story? Check out the full article on 247Sports.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
