Interesting thought on in-state recruiting by Hubbs

#7
#7
It is a little more complicated and may take more time than we wish. We have a poster here associated with a business that effectively markets mid-state players. That poster seems to imply that he steers players away from UT. I'm not sure how many of those there are around the state but I do know that UGA doesn't have that problem and didn't through all their years of mediocrity. They have a pretty wide network that channels the state's best players toward UGA.

I don't think that Heupel should necessarily work with those kinds of people. But he has to strategize ways to work around them when he can't work with them. Unfortunately population demographics don't help there either.
 
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#8
#8
Part of that was getting a late start. Given that we didn't even have a staff till February, and we had the investigation overhanging it all, they did an amazing job. 2023 and 2024 are going to be better litmus tests for their recruiting ability IMO, but to get a top 15 class with all the difficulties they face is very good.
 
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#11
#11
VolBricks said:
my neighbor is a VFL, he said that he has heard through back channels that Pruitt did not care about instate talent and basically burned all of the bridges with the HS coaches in TN. Heupel is having to rebuild those relationships. Go figure.
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I hear this each time we change coaches. I remember Pruitt saying he was going to "lock-down" Tennessee. So I am not sure what to believe. He for sure had an interest in the Memphis area.
 
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#12
#12
UT Hill Man said:
CJH is going to earn the respect back in this state that Fulmer, Pruitt, Jones, and Dooley lost.
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In his post signing day presser, I really liked that he opened by thanking the families and high school coaches for “trusting them with their young men!” And acknowledging everyone from trainers to support staff to faculty, in being instrumental in getting these guys on campus.
God I hope this guy can win at a high level and stick around Knoxville for a while!
🙏
GBO!!
 
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#13
#13
volmanNC said:
I hear this each time we change coaches. I remember Pruitt saying he was going to "lock-down" Tennessee. So I am not sure what to believe. He for sure had an interest in the Memphis area.
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I can tell you one thing that you can believe. Our last 3 were absolute goons!
May be why we hear it with each coaching change?
Butch had an all time legacy class fall in his lap and then couldn’t get out of his own way.
Pruitt was star struck and had no idea how to manage said stars.
I don’t know what the hell Dooley was doing and don’t think he did either.
GBO!!
 
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#14
#14
sjt18 said:
It is a little more complicated and may take more time than we wish. We have a poster here associated with a business that effectively markets mid-state players. That poster seems to imply that he steers players away from UT. I'm not sure how many of those there are around the state but I do know that UGA doesn't have that problem and didn't through all their years of mediocrity. They have a pretty wide network that channels the state's best players toward UGA.

I don't think that Heupel should necessarily work with those kinds of people. But he has to strategize ways to work around them when he can't work with them. Unfortunately population demographics don't help there either.
Click to expand...
Who is this scabbardly dog of which you speak?
 
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#17
#17
VolBricks said:
my neighbor is a VFL, he said that he has heard through back channels that Pruitt did not care about instate talent and basically burned all of the bridges with the HS coaches in TN. Heupel is having to rebuild those relationships. Go figure.
Click to expand...
People say this but he killed it in state in his second class and probably would have signed several of the 2021 in state 4* if he’d had another year. I am glad he’s gone but he definitely did not alienate in state coaches and players. If anything, they looked forward to seeing his staff and maybe a McDs bag.

2022 was the deepest pool of in state 4* in many years. Everyone was pouring time and money into recruiting TN this year. Just look at the variety of programs where these kids are winding up. The 2023 TN HS crop has about half as many blue chip prospects as 2023. A lot of schools ain’t gonna waste time here next cycle, especially if the Vols can lock up a couple of in state 4* early on.
 
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#19
#19
volmanNC said:
I hear this each time we change coaches. I remember Pruitt saying he was going to "lock-down" Tennessee. So I am not sure what to believe. He for sure had an interest in the Memphis area.
Click to expand...

Actually, it was pretty well known that Pruitt did not get along well with the coaches at the Middle TN powers. That was discussed in pretty good detail during his tenure. The Pruitt apologists just chose to bury their heads in the sand with this fact.

Pruitt did emphasize Memphis more than Butch who barely emphasized Memphis at all. David Johnson (Pruitt's former RB coach) had strong connections here in Memphis. Pruitt also took advantage of down MSU, Ole Miss, and Arky to cherry pick the talent out of Memphis as well. Butch might have chosen to avoid Memphis since Hugh Freeze had Ole Miss doing well and Hugh had extensive connections in town. Butch did emphasize Middle TN much more than Pruitt.
 
#20
#20
sjt18 said:
It is a little more complicated and may take more time than we wish. We have a poster here associated with a business that effectively markets mid-state players. That poster seems to imply that he steers players away from UT. I'm not sure how many of those there are around the state but I do know that UGA doesn't have that problem and didn't through all their years of mediocrity. They have a pretty wide network that channels the state's best players toward UGA.

I don't think that Heupel should necessarily work with those kinds of people. But he has to strategize ways to work around them when he can't work with them. Unfortunately population demographics don't help there either.
Click to expand...
UGA also didn’t have a legacy player as a coach until now- and if Dumb blows it again he will be on the clock. The collateral damage of Phil Brutus goes way deeper than so many realize. We are VERY fortunate that the university admin cleaned house top to bottom!
And to the other poster about recruiting dept: Bammer himself nuked those relationships first and foremost!
 
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#21
#21
Savannahbayvol said:
we have some excellent recruiters on staff BUT none had ever recruited Tennessee. They called the top 23 in-state recruits Wednesday night.
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We're top 15 with barely any In state prospects. I really don't care if we get zero in state recruits if we keep recruiting so well in other states. Good recruits are everywhere. Chasing stars on in state TN recruits is a recipe for disaster.
 
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#22
#22
We just doe not pay as much as some schools. We can lead the horse to the water but when it has already been bought a lake it is hard to make him drink !!!!
 
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