Paul Finebaum discusses the potential hurdles to Jeremy Pruitt being hired at Alabama

Following a report on Monday that Alabama coach Nick Saban reached out to Jeremy Pruitt regarding the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator opening, many were left with questions.

Pruitt, the former head coach at Tennessee, is the subject of an ongoing investigation that resulted his firing from Tennessee two years ago. The NCAA levied 18 Level 1 violations — the most serious on the scale of infractions — against Pruitt and the Volunteers.

With that in mind, it begs the question how serious of a candidate Pruitt actually is for the job. ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum joined the McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning show on Monday to break down the two most important barriers to Pruitt becoming a realistic option for Alabama.

“I think it’s a couple of things,” he said. “One, overcoming the concerns. Which I think they have. Secondly, making sure of the circumstances, which are that there is an active case going on with the NCAA. At this point, I’m not exactly sure who to believe. But the case is nearing its conclusion. So it’s possible that Alabama was simply waiting for an answer. The answer would be from the NCAA to Tennessee.”

According to CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd, SEC bylaw 19.8.1.2 requires any SEC school that “considers hiring an individual … who has participated in activity that resulted, or may result, in a Level I, Level II, Level III or major infraction” to have its president or chancellor “consult directly with the Commissioner prior to offering employment to the individual.”

That means that if Alabama were to decide it wanted to hire Jeremy Pruitt, it would first need to speak with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey. However, Finebaum added that not all of the onus is on Sankey, again speculating that the Crimson Tide could simply be waiting for the result of the NCAA’s investigation.

“I think way too many people point at the commissioner as the hold up,” he said. “I’m pretty sure the commissioner has not held up any of these hires in the past. He’s been very explicit on the role of the conference, That is not to tell schools what they can or can’t do. They may offer counsel if asked or conversation, but that’s the extent. So I think with Pruitt, I think I’ve heard a different answer on him every day of the week from people who claim to know.”

A former Alabama defensive back, Pruitt previously worked under Nick Saban from 2007-12. He later returned as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2016-17 before taking the Tennessee job. In three years with the Volunteers, he compiled a 16-19 record.