Tennessee Lands 4-Star Football Recruit Five Months After Butch Jones Hired His Sister
By Jason McIntyre
Trey Smith, a hulking 6-foot-5, 305-pound offensive tackle, is one of the best lineman in the country. Rivals has him as the 97th best player in the Class of 2017; 247 sports lists him as the 25th best player.
It’s not super interesting that Smith – from Jackson, Tennessee – choose the Vols. But it’s this that is mildly interesting, from the Tennessean:
"Smith’s sister, Ashley, was hired by Tennessee over the summer. She’s 27 years old and was hired to work directly with head coach Butch Jones on a day-to-day basis."
Other schools will cry foul. But … I say it’s only mildly interesting for a few reasons:
- Ashley Smith went to Tennessee and graduated from Tennessee
- Ashley Smith worked on the compliance staff of the Tennessee women’s basketball team.
- Ashley Smith previously worked for the NCAA.
So clearly not the shadiest thing in the world, but the timing of her hire as Butch’s executive assistant, plus Smith’s decision, will of course raise some eyebrows.