The successful recruiter at UT will get who he wants instate. There are some loyalty issues with Memphis and some of the kids from Nashville who aren't from TN... but you still have to build those HS coach relationships and build a wall as much as possible. The state only has one top tier football program... UT should get almost everyone they want.
BUT... there isn't always enough talent in TN to support a top tier program and certainly not in the eastern 2/3's of the state. Until there is, a successful coach at UT has no choice but to develop a pipeline into other states. Atlanta and GA are vital. VA and NC are helpful. UT needs to routinely pick off a few players from FL.
Lastly and because of the above, UT always has to have a coach who finds 2* and 3* players that no one else recognizes that have 4/5* talent. Jones has shown that with numerous guys like Vereen, Dobbs, Sutton, et al. I personally think we'll see the same from Brandon Gaddy and Lewis... and possible others in the current class.
There are always things you can pick at.... and I'm apt to do it sometimes. But when you take a step back, overall it looks like a very good system in production.
