It looks like Tennessee is back to ground zero in their hunt for a quarterback in the 2009 signing class. According to several sources, new coach Lane Kiffin informed Texas product Bryce Petty that he won't fit properly with the new offense.

This comes on the heels of Virginia standout Tajh Boyd being told the same thing.

Petty (6-foot-2, 212 pounds) is ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 25 drop back QB in the country and is a three-star prospect. Boyd (6-0, 208) is No. 3 on the dual-threat list and has four stars by his name.

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. Quarterback is the most important position in all of team sports. If Kiffin doesn't think either one of those kids will get him to the promised land, then I have to tip my hat to him for telling them now instead of wasting their time in Knoxville.

Some people disagree and think they should take anybody that wants to come. The QB situation up on The Hill now is far from fine-and-dandy. As a team, the Volunteers hit on just eight touchdown passes while tossing nine interceptions. The way Kiffin is patrolling the country at a crazy pace (said to be trying to get to 13 high schools per day) I have to think he'll find at least one youngster that will want to come in and compete for a starting spot. No word yet as to who he'll concentrate all that energy on.

One QB who has allegedly at least heard from Tennessee is Georgia verbal commitment Aaron Murray. After watching tape on the Tampa, Fla., stud, he reminds me of a shorter version of the Brett Favre/Jay Cutler type that has a cannon for an arm but doesn't always do things as scripted.

Murray has the talent to come with Kiffin and start on Sept. 5, 2009 against Western Kentucky. Then again, assuming Matthew Stafford leaves early for the NFL, he may have the same opportunity in Athens.

The Bulldogs do have a verbal from Georgia product Zach Mettenberger (four stars) as well this class.

Only time will tell.

Kiffin continues to tell people to be patient when questions arise concerning how he fills out the rest of his coaching staff. But, the sooner he can get a coordinator on both sides of the ball in office, the better the recruiting is bound to be.

The NCAA dead periods are Dec. 22-Jan. 1 and Jan. 12-15. Kiffin may do interviews during that time while he is back home to check out his pregnant wife and family.