ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

The guy who recruited some of the key pieces to Tennessee's 1998 national championship team could be on his way back to Rocky Top.

Rodney Garner, Georgia's assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach, was in Knoxville on Saturday meeting with new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin about joining the Vols' staff.

Garner said Georgia coach Mark Richt was aware that he was interviewing with Tennessee and that Kiffin had gone through all the proper channels in requesting permission. But Garner declined to comment further until after he had a chance to sit down and talk with Kiffin in detail. Last month, Garner talked with Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs about the Tigers' head coaching job.

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton is also supposed to meet with Garner later on Saturday night, as Kiffin continues to plug away at putting together what's shaping up to be a star-studded staff.

He's already hired his father, Monte Kiffin, away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be his defensive coordinator, while former Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron will be the Vols' assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator.

The Vols are looking at spending more than $3 million on Kiffin's staff, and that doesn't count Kiffin's $2 million salary.

One of the best recruiters in the SEC, Garner has also coached four first-round draft selections at Georgia on the defensive line -- Marcus Stroud, Richard Seymour, Charles Grant and Johnathan Sullivan.

Garner was at Tennessee in 1996 and 1997 as the tight ends and offensive tackles coach and brought in, among others, Jamal Lewis, Deon Grant, Cosey Coleman and Fred Weary.