To me, Jones is an unknown, because his two jobs have both followed Brian Kelly who left both programs in great shape. He has spent three years at each of two schools. He's done fine, but if I'm Tennessee, I wouldn't hire him. I would want to see more. Not to mention that aside from Cincinnati, he has only coached for two years at a BCS School, even as an assistant - two years at West Virginia. For full disclosure, let me also say that I have never watched a Butch Jones team actually play a game.
Now, among those three, he still might be the best option, but I just wonder what is holding UT back.
They have talent. They have facilities. They have a strong fanbase. They are in the SEC, but they are also in the East, which would be the easier division to win. I don't know. I just think that there would be plenty of solid candidates interested in the UT job.
I know he won't go there, but I think Gary Patterson would do great at UT, and it would be a good fit.