National Signing Day 2026 Thread

#31
#31
tn4elvis said:
Will this kid ever make it to campus
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according to my good friend who graduated with his mother and still lives in the area....he wants to be in Knoxville and further his development before going pro. My friend is a Texas fan so he'd have no reason to lie or being overly optimistic about him making it to canpus.
 
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#33
#33
TopDog4TN said:
according to my good friend who graduated with his mother and still lives in the area....he wants to be in Knoxville and further his development before going pro. My friend is a Texas fan so he'd have no reason to lie or being overly optimistic about him making it to canpus.
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That's great and all until an MLB team comes and offers him millions of dollars to sign with them as an 18 year old 😂

(Not saying you don't have a connection, just something that's hard to turn down)
 
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#34
#34
rockytop25 said:
That's great and all until an MLB team comes and offers him millions of dollars to sign with them as an 18 year old 😂

(Not saying you don't have a connection, just something that's hard to turn down)
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oh ya for sure, I'm not even trying to be the "connection guy" with a 100% fact or anything like that.....it just happened to be a coincidence last week that my friend sent me his profile telling me he went to school with his mother and that they're really good people. He just said they're the type that really value education. You're right though you never "truly" know until its all said and done.
 
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#35
#35
NO SIR EEE said:
Updated:

Signed:
Trevor Condon (OF) (Etowah High School, Woodstock, GA)

Jaxson Wood (SS) (Hoover High School, Hoover, AL)

Gannon Grant (RHP) (Center Grove High School, Greenwood, IN)

Cade Allen (RHP) (South Gibson High School, Humboldt, TN)

Cody Boshell (1B) (Bishop John J. Snyder High School, St. Johns, FL)

Colt Springall (2B) (Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, TN)

Drew Christine (LHP) (St. Johns College High School, Washington D.C.)

Cole Koeninger (2 way player SS/RHP) (Keller High School, Keller, TX)

Tyler Putnam (RHP) (Battle High School, Columbia, MO)

Kai Bratton (P) (Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana, CA)

Michael Teasley (3B) (Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge, TN)

Jack Dugan (SS) (Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, TN)

AJ Curry (1B) (University City High School, San Diego, CA)

Sean Dunlap (C) (Crown Point High School, Crown Point, IN)

Not signed:

Landon Thome (SS) (Nazareth Academy, Burr Ridge, IL)

Gary Morse (RHP) (Orange Lutheran High School, Bellflower, CA)

Cooper Shrum (RHP) (Belton High School, Belton, MO
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Any update on this with the three unsigned?
 
#40
#40
Updated:

Signed:
Trevor Condon (OF) (Etowah High School, Woodstock, GA)

Jaxson Wood (SS) (Hoover High School, Hoover, AL)

Gannon Grant (RHP) (Center Grove High School, Greenwood, IN)

Cade Allen (RHP) (South Gibson High School, Humboldt, TN)

Cody Boshell (1B) (Bishop John J. Snyder High School, St. Johns, FL)

Colt Springall (2B) (Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, TN)

Drew Christine (LHP) (St. Johns College High School, Washington D.C.)

Cole Koeninger (2 way player SS/RHP) (Keller High School, Keller, TX)

Tyler Putnam (RHP) (Battle High School, Columbia, MO)

Kai Bratton (P) (Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana, CA)

Michael Teasley (3B) (Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge, TN)

Jack Dugan (SS) (Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, TN)

AJ Curry (1B) (University City High School, San Diego, CA)

Sean Dunlap (C) (Crown Point High School, Crown Point, IN)

Cooper Shrum (RHP) (Belton High School, Belton, MO

Not signed:

Landon Thome (SS) (Nazareth Academy, Burr Ridge, IL) (Flipped commitment to FSU)

Gary Morse (RHP) (Orange Lutheran High School, Bellflower, CA)
 
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#46
#46
TheMookieMonster said:
Just seems odd to see him flip his commitment after they spoke so highly of Elander right after he was named head coach. Would love to know what happened here and why the sudden change of heart.
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The further we get from Tony, the more difficult it’s going to become. Sure, Elander is a great guy and was a strong connection for recruits, but he isn’t Tony. Let’s not fool ourselves, 98% of the recruiting prowess over the last 7 years is due to Tony Vitello. Period. Full stop.

I’m not saying Elander can’t move into that role, but at best he’s only going to capture a percentage of what Tony brought. What the Thome family said about E is the same thing that probably 200 top recruits who signed with other schools would say.
 
#47
#47
WaywardVol said:
The further we get from Tony, the more difficult it’s going to become. Sure, Elander is a great guy and was a strong connection for recruits, but he isn’t Tony. Let’s not fool ourselves, 98% of the recruiting prowess over the last 7 years is due to Tony Vitello. Period. Full stop.

I’m not saying Elander can’t move into that role, but at best he’s only going to capture a percentage of what Tony brought. What the Thome family said about E is the same thing that probably 200 top recruits who signed with other schools would say.
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He doesn't have to be Tony.

Jared Dickey: “He is the reason people come to Tennessee. Because of the way he can talk."

Griffin Merritt: "The respect for him is through the roof for the players. He’s literally V(itello) 2.0 but just more personable with players.”

Chris Burke: "He has been along for every step of the way as Tennessee Baseball has elevated itself to the top of the sport. I anticipate the momentum that has been built to only continue as Josh steps into the Head Coaching role."

Evan Russell: "No question that he will be successful. He is a master at recruiting and that is what this game is all about. His hand is all over the success of this program, and he will be a true professional for the University. "

Players and recruits LOVE the guy. Thome is the only '26 recruit go sign somewhere else
 
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#48
#48
rockytop25 said:
He doesn't have to be Tony.

Jared Dickey: “He is the reason people come to Tennessee. Because of the way he can talk."

Griffin Merritt: "The respect for him is through the roof for the players. He’s literally V(itello) 2.0 but just more personable with players.”

Chris Burke: "He has been along for every step of the way as Tennessee Baseball has elevated itself to the top of the sport. I anticipate the momentum that has been built to only continue as Josh steps into the Head Coaching role."

Evan Russell: "No question that he will be successful. He is a master at recruiting and that is what this game is all about. His hand is all over the success of this program, and he will be a true professional for the University. "

Players and recruits LOVE the guy. Thome is the only '26 recruit go sign somewhere else
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Last part isn't true, though I agree with your overall sentiment. Cole McLean (Kentucky) and Dylan Palmer (JUCO, I believe) both decommitted and went elsewhere. Granted, they decommitted when Tony quit and before Elander was hired, so they differ from Thome in that regard, which may have been your point.
 
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#49
#49
cncchris33 said:
Last part isn't true, though I agree with your overall sentiment. Cole McLean (Kentucky) and Dylan Palmer (JUCO, I believe) both decommitted and went elsewhere. Granted, they decommitted when Tony quit and before Elander was hired, so they differ from Thome in that regard, which may have been your point.
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Honestly I saw it from McKee earlier and didn't do any research after that. Still impressive (imo) to hold on to so many guys
 
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#50
#50
rockytop25 said:
He doesn't have to be Tony.

Jared Dickey: “He is the reason people come to Tennessee. Because of the way he can talk."

Griffin Merritt: "The respect for him is through the roof for the players. He’s literally V(itello) 2.0 but just more personable with players.”

Chris Burke: "He has been along for every step of the way as Tennessee Baseball has elevated itself to the top of the sport. I anticipate the momentum that has been built to only continue as Josh steps into the Head Coaching role."

Evan Russell: "No question that he will be successful. He is a master at recruiting and that is what this game is all about. His hand is all over the success of this program, and he will be a true professional for the University. "

Players and recruits LOVE the guy. Thome is the only '26 recruit go sign somewhere else
Click to expand...
As head coach, CTV simply couldn‘t have the same relationship with the players as the Assistants. He had to sometimes be the bad guy. He even said that he was envious of the relationship Elander had with the players evidenced by him working with them in the cages at all hours.
 
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