I had every intention of taking the week off and not writing a column.

Then news broke tonight that UT wide receiver's coach Trooper Taylor has accepted the co-offensive coordinator's job at Oklahoma State.

This comes on the heels of news that UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe is also leaving the program. It is more than likely he will take at least two of UT's offensive position coaches along with him to Durham.

Upon Cutcliffe's announcement I was among the people who believed Taylor should be promoted to replace Coach Cut.

Taylor was an integral part of the program while in Knoxville. He was regarded as one of UT's best recruiters, if not the best.

He was also the Vols' Director of Player Development and had played a huge role in getting the most out of players such as Arian Foster and Robert Meachem.

For him to leave for a co-offensive coordinator job can only mean he was hardly considered a viable option for a similar job at UT, and for a coach as valuable as Taylor that is truly disappointing.

Prior to the loss of Taylor and Cutcliffe, UT's recruiting this season had already been below the program's usual standards. Now things figure to get even worse.

After Cutcliffe's exit, many quarterback prospects began pushing the Vols down their lists.

Those players included Terrelle Pryor, a dual-threat quarterback who is ranked the best player in the nation by most recruiting experts.

Pryor had been interested in the Vols because of Cutcliffe's history of developing quarterbacks such as the Manning brothers.

UT was one of the final schools on Pryor's list, but he has since stated Cutcliffe's departure will severely affect the Vols' chances of landing him.

While the team is already loaded with quarterback prospects, Pryor could have been a true difference-maker for UT.

Taylor's departure will surely mean the team takes a hit in its recruitment of other high school prospects as well.

Phil Fulmer has huge shoes to fill with the loss of these coaches, and with the wrong hires it could severely hamper his program.

No pressure, Coach.