If YOU were a 2026 football recruit?????

#26
#26
Sports fan bases are notoriously toxic. I know it's cliché to mention at this point but fan is short for fanatic. Look up the definition. These segments of fan bases are never the majority, but they are LOUDER than the majority. Their entitlement forces them to search for something to complain about. Someone besides themselves to blame their misery on.
 
#28
#28
rocketskates said:
Recruits don’t care what people on a message board say. They care about the talent around them, tv time for nfl scouts, how much the school and coach can develop them so they can be drafted, and now, money. Not in that order.
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Exactly. I think it’s more about the money and the coach now. Little else matters. If they get all torn up about what’s said on a message board, we probably don’t want their sensitive little butt anyway.
 
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#29
#29
I wouldn’t care about the “current temperature” because with the portal i can bounce whenever i want.

I’d be looking for the best combination of NIL, relationships with coaches and other recruits, and girls. nothing else would matter too much.
 
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#30
#30
The Original Fade said:
If I was a recruit I’d go where I had the most lucrative NIL offer. There’s no loyalty to school or program anymore. Might as well set myself up to walk away from college with a few 100Ks or more in case my NFL prospects don’t look good.
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Honesty is the best policy
 
#31
#31
McDad said:
Recruits motivation for decision (in not particular order)

Money
Playing time
Getting drafted

Fans on social media wouldn't even be on my radar.
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Yep. Other stuff rolls up to matter like atmosphere, coaches, culture, etc as tie breakers…but fan forums are nowhere on the list.
 
#32
#32
Who remembers (that time) we had all of those big time recruits in for a visit and Volnation had a meltdown because there were so many boo’s during the game?
 
#33
#33
The noise is just among the lunatic fringe - I doubt recruits pay any attention. We’re 5-2 having lost the two games we were picked to lose. If we finish 10-2 (which is very doable) we have a shot at making the playoffs…

For the kids who have already committed to UT, there is nothing football wise that would cause them concern other than them second guessing their ability to earn playing time…
 
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#34
#34
Volador said:
With us being half way through the season and currently 5-2, you can read/see that there are some rumblings on Vol Nation. That is normal.

However, if you were a 2026 football recruit that has committed to Tennessee, would you be doing any research on what the temperature is around the football program in Knoxville? That's kind of rhetorical because OF COURSE YOU WOULD BE SCOURING THE INTERNET probably daily/hourly for information on perhaps the biggest decision of your life.

So, it probably makes sense that most if not all UT recruits find VolNation.com, as it is the premiere UT sports blog on the internet. And if this assumption holds true, what are these young men ages 17 and 18 thinking when the read the threads on this fine website?

Vicious Cycle: If we were to put on our collective caps and think of the #1 (and or top) reason/s that kids decommit from a school, my UTK educated guess would say that kids don't want to go to a school where there is friction between players, coaches and fans. Hell, I know I wouldn't, would you? So here is the conundrum we at UT continue to find ourselves in. The more games we lose, the more the fan base is agitated. The more the fanbase is agitated, the more likely elite players will opt to go to a school where there is a more positive vibe on campus and online. Let's face it, this happens every day now with student athletes as NIL and changes to the portal make it so easy to change your mind on a dime and go elsewhere.

What Vol Nation Fans Can Do: Think about everything you post from a 2026 recruits perspective, Of course we are free to write what we want and express our happiness and or displeasure however, could we, the fanbase, be part of the problem, not solution?

Go Vols!!
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In today's environment (NIL and Portal) the playing field has become more balanced. The days of Bama, UGA, and OSU controlling the direction of the CFP are dwindling. I didn't like it at first, but I am seeing less parity within college sports. Losing 1 to 3 games will not mean you're out of the playoffs. imho
 
#35
#35
Any recruit would be well advised not to listen to any message board as an indicator of the overall fan base. That’s putting it nicely. It’s a great school with great resources and a beautiful part of the country. Tennessee has a proud fan base and a great venue and a proud tradition. GBO
 
#36
#36
D-Vols said:
You are pi$$ing in the wind my friend, with so many negative Nancy crybabies on VOL Nation you will get no cooperation. I know if I was a player, trying to determine where I was going to spend my next four years, I would definitely be looking at every thing I could, including Vol Nation. I am sure what some players have read on Vol nation has cost us some players and anyone who thinks otherwise is probably a child or has a huge I d 10 T problem.
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Is that why it’s called a head wind?
 
#37
#37
As me great granddaddy used to say, “If you can’t be part of the solution, be part of the problem.”
 
#38
#38
Volador said:
With us being half way through the season and currently 5-2, you can read/see that there are some rumblings on Vol Nation. That is normal.

However, if you were a 2026 football recruit that has committed to Tennessee, would you be doing any research on what the temperature is around the football program in Knoxville? That's kind of rhetorical because OF COURSE YOU WOULD BE SCOURING THE INTERNET probably daily/hourly for information on perhaps the biggest decision of your life.

So, it probably makes sense that most if not all UT recruits find VolNation.com, as it is the premiere UT sports blog on the internet. And if this assumption holds true, what are these young men ages 17 and 18 thinking when the read the threads on this fine website?

Vicious Cycle: If we were to put on our collective caps and think of the #1 (and or top) reason/s that kids decommit from a school, my UTK educated guess would say that kids don't want to go to a school where there is friction between players, coaches and fans. Hell, I know I wouldn't, would you? So here is the conundrum we at UT continue to find ourselves in. The more games we lose, the more the fan base is agitated. The more the fanbase is agitated, the more likely elite players will opt to go to a school where there is a more positive vibe on campus and online. Let's face it, this happens every day now with student athletes as NIL and changes to the portal make it so easy to change your mind on a dime and go elsewhere.

What Vol Nation Fans Can Do: Think about everything you post from a 2026 recruits perspective, Of course we are free to write what we want and express our happiness and or displeasure however, could we, the fanbase, be part of the problem, not solution?

Go Vols!!
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Looks like you're in a thread starting mode. Bored?
 
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#40
#40
Comical that some of our "fans" think Tennessee fans are the only ones that are overly passionate and outspoken.
Fans, fanatics, fanatical.
 
#41
#41
I would look the coach directly in his eyes and ask him if he will shave before games and look well groomed. If yes, I would commit instantly.
 
#45
#45
Volador said:
With us being half way through the season and currently 5-2, you can read/see that there are some rumblings on Vol Nation. That is normal.

However, if you were a 2026 football recruit that has committed to Tennessee, would you be doing any research on what the temperature is around the football program in Knoxville? That's kind of rhetorical because OF COURSE YOU WOULD BE SCOURING THE INTERNET probably daily/hourly for information on perhaps the biggest decision of your life.

So, it probably makes sense that most if not all UT recruits find VolNation.com, as it is the premiere UT sports blog on the internet. And if this assumption holds true, what are these young men ages 17 and 18 thinking when the read the threads on this fine website?

Vicious Cycle: If we were to put on our collective caps and think of the #1 (and or top) reason/s that kids decommit from a school, my UTK educated guess would say that kids don't want to go to a school where there is friction between players, coaches and fans. Hell, I know I wouldn't, would you? So here is the conundrum we at UT continue to find ourselves in. The more games we lose, the more the fan base is agitated. The more the fanbase is agitated, the more likely elite players will opt to go to a school where there is a more positive vibe on campus and online. Let's face it, this happens every day now with student athletes as NIL and changes to the portal make it so easy to change your mind on a dime and go elsewhere.

What Vol Nation Fans Can Do: Think about everything you post from a 2026 recruits perspective, Of course we are free to write what we want and express our happiness and or displeasure however, could we, the fanbase, be part of the problem, not solution?

Go Vols!!
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This is a hilarious post. It’s 2025 and you think teenagers are looking at a message board? Maybe if it was 2005 they would be looking at a message board. Teens are on TikTok, Twitter, Insta, and Snap. If they want a website to read what fans think about a team they will go to Discord or Reddit. Old people use message boards b/c it’s what we used when we were younger 20+ years ago.
 
#46
#46
Oldvoldad said:
This sounds like a post from a fan that still hasn't wrapped their head around the current NIL state of CFB. Kids take the best deal year to year. (Some are all about the money. Some it's just a major factor) They are not looking that far ahead.
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So you're saying if tOSU offered $100,000 and Memphis offered $200,000, then the recruit will go to Memphis.......🥴
 
#48
#48
RandomUTfan said:
Sports fan bases are notoriously toxic. I know it's cliché to mention at this point but fan is short for fanatic. Look up the definition. These segments of fan bases are never the majority, but they are LOUDER than the majority. Their entitlement forces them to search for something to complain about. Someone besides themselves to blame their misery on.
Click to expand...
The majority of fan bases are not people you’d ever make a life changing decision on. Have you guys ever been to a game?? Hell, have you looked in the mirror? I’m constantly scratching my head and asking, “are these really my people?”
 
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#49
#49
WaywardVol said:
The majority of fan bases are not people you’d ever make a life changing decision on. Have you guys ever been to a game?? Hell, have you looked in the mirror? I’m constantly scratching my head and asking, “are these really my people?”
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That's not wrong. I just give people grace. Everyone deserves grace. We're all on the same journey. It's just that we are all at different stages of that journey. I don't see much perspective on sports inside most fan bases. There's actually very little of it. And I get the design is to divide us all into tribes. So I don't buy that garbage either. I don't hate anyone for any reason, much less because they root for a sports team I don't like.
 
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