Cade Mays’ decision to decommit from Tennessee lays at the feet of one man.

John Currie.

Currie’s decision to not fire coach Butch Jones has given UT’s top former commitment – nor any other – any reason to be optimistic about the Vols’ football future.

Jones has lost plenty of commitments as his team has floundered on the football field. However, Mays is by far the biggest. Mays was the highest rated prospect the Vols had committed, was a legacy since his father played at UT and currently plays high school football in Knoxville, just a short drive from Neyland Stadium. Ouch.

So while Currie stood by Jones, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame and Ohio State kept the heat on Mays. Clemson and Georgia are thought to be the main players to land Mays.

Currie could have handled things far differently. Assuming Jones will be fired – and most believe that will be the case – he could have been relieved of his duties earlier this season. Then, assistant coaches and maybe even Currie could have reached out to Mays and other commitments and assured them that the future of the program would have been in better hands whoever the next coach might be. That didn’t happen.

Now, before it’s time to start searching for Currie’s replacement, remember this. His job is to build the best athletic program possible, not salvage a football recruiting class nor one elite commitment.

However, the Mays’ decommitment carries some serious weight and sends a strong message. Why would another out-of-state prospect with no ties to UT consider the Vols when Mays has de-committed despite all of his ties to the school.

If/when the Vols replace Jones, the next coach will have very little time to try to re-convince Mays that UT is the place for him. Mays has said he wants to sign with his chosen school on Dec. 20, which will be the NCAA’s first early signing period for football. If Currie replaces Jones, the Vols’ new coach won’t be in place until early December. The clock will be ticking woefully fast.

Mays’ final decision won’t determine Currie’s fate nor even if his decision to be patient is the right one. No one player is worth determining the direction of a football program. However, if the Vols do indeed lose Mays, one man carries most of the blame – and he’s not even a football coach.