With all due respect, people say that about our team because its the God's honest truth when we are in recruiting battles with the likes of Bama and Ohio State. You have to look at the facts. We have been terrible because of 1) lack of talent, 2) lack of depth, 3) lack of experience, and 4) lack of stability/poor coaching. When those factors combine, a true impact player like bell, green, or Lawson stand a much better chance of walking in and getting playing time than at one school that won it 3rd NC in 4 years and the other one that was the only undefeated team in the country this year.
Remember Landon Collins, the No. 1 safety in the 2012 class who signed with Bama. He had zero tackles, zero assists, zero pass breakups, and zero interceptions. The reason: he didn't get to play. And he is only projected as a backup next year. As of right now, in the two deep, out of the four spots in the defensive backfield only 3 will be seniors for Bama next year. How is Bell gonna see the field there?
Looking at Ohio State, they have two juniors at CB, and two early enrollees backing them up. At safety, both starters return with a five-star senior and another EE in the two deep. When and where is bell gonna see the field there?
If you really scrutinize our roster at S and CB, you cannot argue that an impact player like Bell has more of a chance to make an impact his freshman year at Tennessee than either of the other schools. Bama has four and five stars starting at almost every position and in the two deep. Ohio State is not far behind. We don't have those types of players and are that far behind in comparison to those two schools.
So that is why people say that and this is why it is a legitimate comment.
Flame away.