Butch should sign a great 2014 class

#26
#26
Yep. Just the legacy class should be enough to lay a top 10 foundation. Of course Peyton was a legacy for Ole Miss, and UT is about in that place today. So i wouldnt stick the Berrys and Creamer in the bank just yet. Winning some games is the best medicine right now and the schedule looks imposing.
 
#27
#27
Roustabout said:
Yep. Just the legacy class should be enough to lay a top 10 foundation. Of course Peyton was a legacy for Ole Miss, and UT is about in that place today. So i wouldnt stick the Berrys and Creamer in the bank just yet. Winning some games is the best medicine right now and the schedule looks imposing.
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Thanks Buzz Killington :)
 
#28
#28
LotteryPick said:
This thread happens every year.


Believe it when I see it.
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Good post, it added a lot to the thread. Jones is working like a real SEC coach should unlike Dool-idiot-ley. If Ole Miss can have a great class, then yes we will be back. We have to rebuild relationships and that is what Coach Jones is doing.
 
#29
#29
smokey0625 said:
Good post, it added a lot to the thread. Jones is working like a real SEC coach should unlike Dool-idiot-ley. If Ole Mi$$ can have a great class, then yes we will be back. We have to rebuild relationships and that is what Coach Jones is doing.
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Fyp
 
#30
#30
RichRollin said:
I can understand some being a bit let down with this class. I also think some have over reacted with negativity. Something that's overlooked by the "bridge jumpers" is the ground he covered in building and repairing relationships in such a short time while scrambling to put the class together. That's gonna help land some of the top players we came in second or third for in this class IMO.
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Totally agree. I think Coach Jones can repair a lot of the damage done by previous coaching staffs all the way back to Coach Fulmer. Amazing that these coaches thought they could ignore the Tennessee high schools until they have a D1 prospect and then swoop in and take them. SMH.

As far as the bridge jumpers, I am okay with culling the herd. A little Darwinism is fine. Although bridge jumping is extreme, maybe they could just be pushed to follow a different team? :)
 
#31
#31
A Nice article on ESPN about how Butch Jones recruited in his first year as Tennessee head coach:

"The immediate challenge: The newest new UT coach and his staff had 31 permissible days of recruiting from Dec. 7, when he was introduced, until signing day. That meant maintaining existing relationships and commitments. It meant quickly building new bridges and prioritizing a revamped target list.


The end result: The Volunteers announced Wednesday the signing of 21 prospects, including 12 who made decisions after Jones was hired.


Eight of the dozen were committed to other schools.


"We were playing catch-up," Jones said. "I don't like doing it that way, but they showed an interest in us and we just presented the facts."


This guy will get it done next season. Give him a full calendar year and we have a top 5 class. GO VOLS!!!
 
#32
#32
Roustabout said:
Yep. Just the legacy class should be enough to lay a top 10 foundation. Of course Peyton was a legacy for Ole Miss, and UT is about in that place today. So i wouldnt stick the Berrys and Creamer in the bank just yet. Winning some games is the best medicine right now and the schedule looks imposing.
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Oh I would respectively have to disagree that UT is in the same boat Ole Miss was when Peyton came out...the Ole Miss program had just about bottomed out...now I know we have had our struggles but bottoming out??? Not even close....Having said that, I agree that we need to win the games we should next year and win 1 or 2 50-50 game and maybe 1 we shouldnt win....that would aid UT as much as anybody...I heard an incredible summary of WHY Ole Miss had the year they had this year by Brent Hubbs on the radio...it all made perfect sense and happens in recruiting every year to one or two teams....I'll summarize it for you something when I have more time...very interesting!!!
 
#33
#33
LotteryPick said:
This thread happens every year.


Believe it when I see it.
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No it doesn't. Having several legacy players coming out in the same year is rare. This past class and '14 are either indications TN HSFB is improving or are anomalies. Either way, Jones has to make the case that Dooley didn't to the instate guys. He seems committed to doing that.
 
#34
#34
tennrich1 said:
Oh I would respectively have to disagree that UT is in the same boat Ole Miss was when Peyton came out...the Ole Miss program had just about bottomed out...now I know we have had our struggles but bottoming out??? Not even close....Having said that, I agree that we need to win the games we should next year and win 1 or 2 50-50 game and maybe 1 we shouldnt win....that would aid UT as much as anybody...I heard an incredible summary of WHY Ole Miss had the year they had this year by Brent Hubbs on the radio...it all made perfect sense and happens in recruiting every year to one or two teams....I'll summarize it for you something when I have more time...very interesting!!!
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I get the gist of what you're saying but i sure hope we've bottomed out. Come kick off it'll be the 4th coach in 6 seasons and battling it out not to come in last, if that's not close to the bottom my liver might not make it til we turn around
 
#35
#35
volswillrise12 said:
I have to see a few things before I'm willing to believe the 2014 recruiting class will save the football program. Vonn Bell was supposedly a Volunteer fan since birth and we know how that turned out. I'm skeptical but this first season for Butch is no throw away year or Year Zero. If I'm one of these 2014 UT locks then paying attention to these games coming up is crucial. Can Butch's system work? Is this the "guy" for the football program? I support Butch but I think everyone needs to take a step back. The Berry twins, Hurd, Kelly Jr. are going to go where they can win---and the problem that the AD has is that they have all the toys and facilities like the big boys but have screwed around with substandard coaching talent. I sincerely hope that all the TN kids come to TN but there are no guarantees with 18 yr old kids.
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I don't know that they "screwed" around with substandard coaching... You take a shot on these coaches and sometimes it doesn't work. Dooley failed and Kiffin was a disloyal jerk... Neither are unique in college football- Weis, Nutt, Petrino, Neuheisel, RichRod, etc. You never know whether something will work until you try it.

Before you start... Neither Miles or Saban had impressive resumes when they arrived at LSU. Richt nor Muschamp had ever been a HC. Freeze, Sumlin, Meyer, Sweater Vest, Franklin, etc came from mid-majors or lower. Few "big splash" coaches exist and even then they fail as often as they succeed.


BUUUUUUTTTTT... your major point is dead on. Jones has a better roster in '13 than he will have in '14 and likely better than '15 due to youth. He needs to establish his coaching ability THIS YEAR. Too many are writing off this fall without realizing how critical it is to the future of Jones and the UT program's near and mid term success.

I do not believe he's UT's HC in 3 years if he does not manage at least an 8-5 record this fall. Maybe wrong... but I am willing to be on record.... and I make very few ironclad predictions.

I have little doubt at all that 8 wins is what it takes to show these recruits that he's moving UT in the right direction. That or better and he can sell his ability to coach plus early PT... that's a powerful combo.
 
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#36
#36
The bottom was actually '11. UT didn't bounce off the bottom in '12 for several well worn reasons... but that was the bottom of the barrel roster and depth wise. It really can't get much worse than that.
 
#37
#37
I think ESPN actually likes Butch. They have made several positive comments. With respect to recruiting I think usually the kid maked ths decision. It up to Butch to get them any way he can.

:)
 
#39
#39
LotteryPick said:
This thread happens every year.


Believe it when I see it.
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I'll believe it when I see it also, but it hasn't happened like it will this year in a long time, if ever.

A truckload of legacy players plus the best in-state class in years is an advantage that Jones can't count on very often.

If he can't land a big class this year, he can't recruit at an SEC level.
 
#41
#41
When Meyer, Saban and these snake charmers are in your living room it's not to hard to point to UT's record the last 5-7 years. All I'm saying is being a legacy does not equal instant signing.
 
#42
#42
We only signed 21 for 2013. Will CBJ try to sign more for this class? How many spots can he roll to '14?
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#45
#45
Roustabout said:
When Meyer, Saban and these snake charmers are in your living room it's not to hard to point to UT's record the last 5-7 years. All I'm saying is being a legacy does not equal instant signing.
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No, but the legacy is a tremendous advantage in many cases, and CBJ has an entire year to sell himself and the program.

Perennial mediocrity didn't stop Ole Miss from signing a big class.

No excuses.
 
#46
#46
Peyton Berry said:
I really think Butch and staff may get a really good class next year, and possibly even great. There are multiple players with Tennessee ties that have had family members play for UT and also a very good instate crop next year (although I know that doesn't mean we lead for them but it most definitely helps).

Players, just that I know of, with family ties are Vic Wharton 4* (committed), Evan and Elliot Berry (both real good prospects), Dillon Bates- high 4*, Todd Kelly Jr.-high 4*, and Cedrick Wilson Jr.

And some of the highly sought after instate guys are Josh Malone- high 4*, Alex Bars- high 4*, Jalen Hurd- high 4*, Patera Wilson- 4*, and Charles Mosley just to name a few of the best.

If Butch and Co. could get most of these guys, and I honestly think he will unless he completely flops next season, that would be an awesome start. Its rare that Tennessee has the luxury of instate talent like it does this year, and even more rare this many excellent players with family connections with UT.

I believe next years recruiting class is HUGE. If Butch can get some of these highly rated guys to committ early, they seem to always help recruit other highly rated guys to come join them. Could set up a very nice class. Alot of the above mentioned players are at positions of need also, esp LB. If Butch can't sign at least a top 15 class next year with this many highly ranked players with UT connections, it will not be a good sign for this coaching staff in recruiting for the time they will be here.
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Don't forget Gary Wunderlich, K, from MUS. Wilhoit is his kicking coach and he is widely considered one of the top 2 kickers in the country coming out next year:

http://http://www.ncsasports.org/football-recruiting/tn/memphis/memphis-university-school/gary-wunderlich
 
#47
#47
My ability to "believe in Butch" will definitely take a HUGE hit if he doesn't snag the Berry Bros and early. I don't speak for the rest of the fanbase, but I can't imagine anyone being able to put a good spin on either of those kids not ending up at UT (and worse, ending up at another SEC school, with Trooper Taylor, or with Kiffin). At the end of the day, the Berry's need to not only be our biggest recruits, but also our biggest recruiters. One of the reasons Ole Miss reigned in such a great class is b/c they got some of those guys to sign up early and recruit each other (same with Ohio St). It's great if you pull big stars on signing day.....it's better if you sign those guys up early and help you recruit. JFFT
 
#48
#48
I don't think the Berry brothers decide that early. They have a lot of options and just because their dad and Brother played here doesn't make them any part of a "lock".
 
#49
#49
Roustabout said:
When Meyer, Saban and these snake charmers are in your living room it's not to hard to point to UT's record the last 5-7 years. All I'm saying is being a legacy does not equal instant signing.
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Agree. Jones needs 8 wins and has to beat one of the snake charmers if he really wants credibility.

On your point, I cannot imagine a kid being stupid enough to believe Meyer.... but they keep doing it.
 
#50
#50
AstonRoyal said:
hmm I wonder how good the 2015 class is going to be without all of these legacies to save us.
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Huh? 2015 will have its own bumper crop of recruits without the legacies. 2014 is just a very nice unique anomaly of an opportunity that we should be able to capitalize on.
 
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