Losing recruiting battles to Clemson

[kkep48]

Never thought that Clemson University would be beating out UT for big-time recruits but, guess that's what it is. Wasn't all that long ago when Tennessee could go into South Carolina and pluck away whomever they wanted. Whatever Tommy Bowden is selling must be pretty popular.

[TennTradition]

Originally Posted by kkep48

Never thought that Clemson University would be beating out UT for big-time recruits but, guess that's what it is. Wasn't all that long ago when Tennessee could go into South Carolina and pluck away whomever they wanted. Whatever Tommy Bowden is selling must be pretty popular.

Maybe they're selling the fact that we couldn't recruit their OC?

[Jaytrain5]

Call me when we lose one of the top players from Tennessee to Clemson. That'll be the day we have a serious problem.

It would have been nice to land KP, but Clemson has been his favorite for a long time.

[smokeyman15]

I wouldnt worry about it...K Page was high on Clemson from the beginning...

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Jaytrain5

Call me when we lose one of the top players from Tennessee to Clemson. That'll be the day we have a serious problem.

It would have been nice to land KP, but Clemson has been his favorite for a long time.

What about Phillip Merling? Wasn't he a freshman All-American?

yep. projected 2nd rounder in NFL draft this year.

*Phillip*Merling, DE, Clemson - 2008 NFL Draft Scout Profile, Powered by The SportsXchange

[utvolpj]

a 2* recruit from Memphis is a sign we are losing ground to Clemson?

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Originally Posted by utvolpj

a 2* recruit from Memphis is a sign we are losing ground to Clemson?

I thought Phil could see through the star ranking and perform his own talent evaluations? Or was it just the Clemson coaches who could saw an All-American, future NFL starter when they looked at Merling?

Clemson coaches have vision.

Tennessee coaches have beer guts.

[justingroves]

Originally Posted by VolunteerHillbilly

I thought Phil could see through the star ranking and perform his own talent evaluations? Or was it just the Clemson coaches who could saw an All-American, future NFL starter when they looked at Merling?

Clemson coaches have vision.

Tennessee coaches have beer guts.

BS.

You would have been the first to ***** about CPF signing a 2 star guy from Memphis.

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Originally Posted by justingroves

BS.

You would have been the first to ***** about CPF signing a 2 star guy from Memphis.

I think you are wrong there pal. I haven't posted anything about the 2* guy who is now committed, although he is not from Memphis. I do my best not to criticize individual players or prospects because they are just kids trying to get an education, and complaining about a specific individual's rating is just that.

[justingroves]

Originally Posted by VolunteerHillbilly

I think you are wrong there pal. I haven't posted anything about the 2* guy who is now committed, although he is not from Memphis. I do my best not to criticize individual players or prospects because they are just kids trying to get an education, and complaining about a specific individual's rating is just that.

Yet you'll complain about where UT ranks among Rival's Top 25?

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Originally Posted by justingroves

Yet you'll complain about where UT ranks among Rival's Top 25?

discussing the class in general, in comparison to the classes that our divisional/conference rivals are amassing is not calling out individual people. Although I do not have access to recruiting service rankings going back to the mid-1990s, I have read that this class will be the worst, rankings wise, in Fulmer's entire tenure at UTK. In the meantime, UGA and UF continue to rack up their usual Top10 classes. Eventually, this is going to bite the Vols in the backside no matter who is coaching the team. I think it is worth discussing.

[justingroves]

Originally Posted by VolunteerHillbilly

discussing the class in general, in comparison to the classes that our divisional/conference rivals are amassing is not calling out individual people. Although I do not have access to recruiting service rankings going back to the mid-1990s, I have read that this class will be the worst, rankings wise, in Fulmer's entire tenure at UTK. In the meantime, UGA and UF continue to rack up their usual Top10 classes. Eventually, this is going to bite the Vols in the backside no matter who is coaching the team. I think it is worth discussing.

So instead of pointing out one guy, you'll just say they all suck before you see them play?

Makes sense.

[Jaytrain5]

Originally Posted by VolunteerHillbilly

What about Phillip Merling? Wasn't he a freshman All-American?

yep. projected 2nd rounder in NFL draft this year.

*Phillip*Merling, DE, Clemson - 2008 NFL Draft Scout Profile, Powered by The SportsXchange

Excellent. Your most recent example is a 2-star commitment from 2004 in the far west side of Tennessee, who committed to Clemson as a tight end.

I'm sold.

Fulmer can take down the border around the state. Tennessee is Tommy Bowden's playground now.

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Jaytrain5

Fulmer can take down the border around the state. Tennessee is Tommy Bowden's playground now.

Bowden just gets the crumbs that Saban, Tuberville and Daddy Bowden leave for him. There is no fence around the state. Not around Shelby County. Not around Nashville and it's donut counties. Not even around Knoxville/Alcoa apparently given the past couple of years happenings. This is an open state.

[Jaytrain5]

Originally Posted by VolunteerHillbilly

Bowden just gets the crumbs that Saban, Tuberville and Daddy Bowden leave for him. There is no fence around the state. Not around Shelby County. Not around Nashville and it's donut counties. Not even around Knoxville/Alcoa apparently given the past couple of years happenings. This is an open state.

Alabama, Auburn, FSU, and Clemson have really dominated with all that premium Tennessee talent they've acquired recently.