no in terms of position it was always "available"; however we used different admin staff for other purposes ie -The move comes after head coach Brian Kelly lost one of his key behind-the-scenes staffers earlier this year when director of football personnel Tim McDonnell took a scouting position with the New York Giants.-,J.R. Sandlin enters his first year as the recruiting analyst for the Notre Dame football team. In this role, Sandlin will work with the program's recruiting efforts, handle special projects assigned by head coach Brian Kelly and assist in the social media strategies and execution of the football program.
He joined the Irish program after serving as the director of recruiting at Tenneessee in 2013. Prior to UT, Sandlin was part of the recruiting staff at the University of Alabama from 2010-12. The Crimson Tide captured back-to-back national championships in 2011 and 2012. Alabama secures the top-ranked recruiting classes in the nation in both '11 and '12. He was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the recruiting department for the Crimson Tide.
Sandlin spent the 2009 season as tight ends coach, chief football administrator and director of player personnel at Oxford High School in Alabama.
Sandlin served as recruiting specialist at UCF in 2008-09. He was offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach, director of player personnel and executive football administrator at American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa, Ala., from 2007-08.
Sandlin was a scholarship tight end at University of Central Florida from 2005-07. He was part of the Golden Knights' Conference USA championship team in '05. Sandlin graduated from UCF in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in sports and fitness. He earned a master's degree in sport management from the University of Alabama in '12.
--want to know his impact from other places: He handles a lot of the marketing. The "Rise to the Top" thing was his idea, the 102 letters to the recruit was his idea(he did it sort of at bama), as well as a lot of other stuff. Everything you see Tennessee doing right now is his plan. He's working close with Butch and advising on how to Tennessee more visible with recruits. Not saying he makes or breaks Tennessee recruiting, but he's done a VERY good job so far.
I would disagree -- I think he has done a Phenomenal job so far.