'26 AL EDGE Hezekiah Harris (Tennessee commit)

#103
#103
sonofUT62 said:
Highest under Heupel?
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Highest since they started tracking recruiting rankings online. If you look at 247 Tennessee’s classes in early 2000s were stellar but unless I’m mistaken they didn’t start really documenting recruiting rankings online until 2009/2010 (when Shannon Terry started 247). Someone correct me if I’m wrong
 
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#107
#107
SmyrnaATLVolisback said:
Rodney Garner special. Chop doing work too. Great to have some elite recruiters at DL and LB
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Man a Cory Raymond type hire at DB would be nuts. Imagine us getting those day 1, ready made, 6-3 five star studs that OSU/LSU/Jawja/ and surprisingly Bama are getting yearly. I like the DBs we have been signing but just imagine those type with the d-line/backers we’ve been signing.
 
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#108
#108
HoleInTheRoof said:
Who would’ve guessed when we hired Heupel that our defensive recruiting was almost if not better than our offensive recruiting 😂
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Didn’t expect it at all, but when we announced CRG hiring I knew that sent shock waves. Auburn hasn’t been the same since he left for Knoxville.
 
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#109
#109
OrangeMoundTNVol said:
Man a Cory Raymond type hire at DB would be nuts. Imagine us getting those day 1, ready made, 6-3 five star studs that OSU/LSU/Jawja/ and surprisingly Bama are getting yearly. I like the DBs we have been signing but just imagine those type with the d-line/backers we’ve been signing.
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Yeah he’s awesome! His DBs led LSU to the 10th ranked pass D in the SEC in 2024!! And his Florida DBs led the team to a 9th ranked pass D in 2023! Both years worse than Vols but please hire him bc supposedly he’s better than what we have!!
 
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#111
#111
MarcoVol said:
Yeah he’s awesome! His DBs led LSU to the 10th ranked pass D in the SEC in 2024!! And his Florida DBs led the team to a 9th ranked pass D in 2023! Both years worse than Vols but please hire him bc supposedly he’s better than what we have!!
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The guy does well with Florida & Louisiana DBs. It’s never a bad thing signing corners from those two states. I’m sorry, I like 5 star athletes at corner. But hard to argue with our results so far. As far as HS recruits I like what RG3 has turned into, and sounds like we hit on 6’2 Redmond. Boo was a 5 star talent to me, character issues(surprise) kept him from being rated one. Also looks like we hit on Farooq and Beasley.
 
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#112
#112
MarcoVol said:
Yeah he’s awesome! His DBs led LSU to the 10th ranked pass D in the SEC in 2024!! And his Florida DBs led the team to a 9th ranked pass D in 2023! Both years worse than Vols but please hire him bc supposedly he’s better than what we have!!
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I’m not saying I don’t agree with you but using pass defense ranking to determine how good of a coach a db coach is is kind of lazy… pass defense is as much a product of front 4 play and scheme as it is db talent… but I love our staff and wouldn’t mind boosting in any way we can especially if WM retires or leaves soon.
 
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#113
#113
OrangeMoundTNVol said:
The guy does well with Florida & Louisiana DBs. It’s never a bad thing signing corners from those two states. I’m sorry, I like 5 star athletes at corner. But hard to argue with our results so far. As far as HS recruits I like what RG3 has turned into, and sounds like we hit on 6’2 Redmond. Boo was a 5 star talent to me, character issues(surprise) kept him from being rated one. Also looks like we hit on Farooq and Beasley.
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Those are just rankings placed on kids that camp based on someone's opinion. It's not science.
 
#115
#115
HoleInTheRoof said:
Who would’ve guessed when we hired Heupel that our defensive recruiting was almost if not better than our offensive recruiting 😂
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In terms of actual production, I don't think its even close. There's been a lot of empty calories in offensive recruiting.

Peyton Lewis, Miles Kitselman, Ethan Davis (a stretch probably), John Campbell, Dont'e Thornton, McCallan Castles, Dylan Sampson, Squirrel White, Bru McCoy. That's the list of hits from 2022, 2023, 2024 classes. Much of 2024 is still TBD, as is 2025 and 2026, but the list of hits on defense is pretty strong. Boo Carter, Jaxson Moi, Jermod McCoy, Arion Carter, Rickey Gibson, Jeremiah Telander, Gabe Jeudy-Lally, Keenan Pili, James Pearce, Joshua Josephs, Tyre West.

I might have missed a couple here and there, but the last two seasons have been heavy on defensive production and game management on offense with the run game.

To your point, it's impressive that the side of the ball most were worried about is the current strength.
 
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#116
#116
KnoxToTheBoro93 said:
I’m not saying I don’t agree with you but using pass defense ranking to determine how good of a coach a db coach is is kind of lazy… pass defense is as much a product of front 4 play and scheme as it is db talent… but I love our staff and wouldn’t mind boosting in any way we can especially if WM retires or leaves soon.
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This is all I’m saying as well, I’m all for upgrades after WM retires. I didn’t say fire him so I don’t understand how I triggered the guy. I don’t believe we’ve signed a top100 ranked DB yet, unless Wyatt sticks at safety. Luckily the portal has been good to us at the position. It’s a premier position at corner, and should have an emphasis on paying/signing an elite one every single year. Just like NFL teams covet it.
 
#117
#117
KnoxToTheBoro93 said:
I’m not saying I don’t agree with you but using pass defense ranking to determine how good of a coach a db coach is is kind of lazy… pass defense is as much a product of front 4 play and scheme as it is db talent… but I love our staff and wouldn’t mind boosting in any way we can especially if WM retires or leaves soon.
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Absolutely I was just hyping up the staff over other staffs.

But also LSU had 2 DEs drafted. FL had a DL, LB, CB, S drafted. So neither team was lacking talent on that side of the ball. Plus Blake Baker is considered a top DC in cfb.
 
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#118
#118
MarcoVol said:
Absolutely I was just hyping up the staff over other staffs.

But also LSU had 2 DEs drafted. FL had a DL, LB, CB, S drafted. So neither team was lacking talent on that side of the ball. Plus Blake Baker is considered a top DC in cfb.
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You are correct, but I think the way Tim banks has our defense rolling adding a recruiter at cb coach isn’t the worst idea… Heup has a true culture set that an elevation of talent in the secondary could make us scary good on defense with the way we are recruiting at edge and LB.. I like the players we are getting in the secondary already as well..
 
#119
#119
swchandler1988 said:
Highest since they started tracking recruiting rankings online. If you look at 247 Tennessee’s classes in early 2000s were stellar but unless I’m mistaken they didn’t start really documenting recruiting rankings online until 2009/2010 (when Shannon Terry started 247). Someone correct me if I’m wrong
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Before 247 you had Rivals, Scout, and ESPN providing the recruiting rankings. We had several top 5 finishes in the early 2000s. Butch got us a couple of top 5s with the legacy guys that didn't pan out. But it's been awhile since we have finished as high as we are poised to finish.
 
#122
#122
EastTNVol95 said:
There is a reason Tom Loy put out that article on 247Sports yesterday about us possibly finishing with a top 5 class.

If you flip Harris, Keys and Lincoln Watkins we'd have the number 7 class in the country on 247.

All it would take is one or two more big flips before signing day and we're top 5. There's still a long way till December and our staff closed as strong as anyone in the country last cycle.
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The great thing is we have a history of flipping targets committed to other schools that might not show up really until their Sr seasons. And the other great thing is there's virtually no cap on how many players we can take with the rosters destined to swell to 105.
 
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#125
#125
RandomUTfan said:
Consistently the ace up his sleeve has been Coach Chop. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve credit, but Chop does a lot of the DL recruiting legwork these days.
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Make no mistake Garner is universally know by D lineman. He can flat coach up players. Chop is a great asset but having both of them is great. Recruiting is great but when you can get the most out of players is even better. I love both it just seems some don’t want to give Garner his due. Chop is great and I am thrilled we have him, they are both invaluable. No reason for folks to put one over the other. They work in tandem, just because Garner might not go on visits as much as chop doesn’t mean he doesn’t impact recruiting. Many times it’s both of them coaching together that brings some recruits in. Not directed at you, just an overall observation reading a few folks comments that don’t seem to appreciate Garner. Just because he isn’t as visible during recruiting doesn’t mean he isn’t making a big impact. And his coaching is top notch. GBO
 
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