Perspective on what CBJ & Staff are doing...

#1

ajvol01

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#1
I had almost forgotten how far we have come in 10 short months, but noticed the 2013 recruiting rakings on VQ today and it got me thinking.

After 3 consecutive losing seasons Butch and his staff have on paper the 5th best Tennessee recruiting class since 2002 (13 years).

The top 4 class averages ('02, '05, '07, & '09) turned out to be largely overrated and also suffered lots of attrition.

JMO, but I don't think the 2014 class will have problems with player evaluations, grades/admissions, or attrition based on the players we currently have committed and our remaining targets.

So in reality the 2014 class will likely be the best since the 90s when the Vols were in the top 5 and contending for SEC East/SEC Championship every year.


So, what I'm really saying is...guys, Butch gets it!

:rock::dance2::good!::loco::shades:


Commits 5* 4* 3* 2* Avg
2014 27 1 14 10 2 3.52
2013 22 0 5 16 1 3.18
2012 22 0 11 9 2 3.41
2011 27 0 12 14 1 3.41
2010 27 1 12 9 4 3.26
2009 22 2 9 11 0 3.59
2008 18 0 4 11 3 3.06
2007 32 5 11 15 1 3.63
2006 22 1 4 13 4 3.09
2005 26 1 16 9 0 3.69
2004 24 2 7 8 6 3.08
2003 22 1 7 11 3 3.27
2002 25 5 16 2 2 3.96


All recruiting data from Rivals
 
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#5
#5
Best since '02, IMO. An Adoree or Clifton would put them over the top.

Plus '02 had a lot of guys that never made a significant impact on the field or maybe never even saw the field (Jeffries / Benedict)

Brandon Jeffries 5*
Heath Benedict 4*
LaRon Harris 4*
Greg Jones 4*
Aaron Kirkland 4*
Ruben Mayes 4*

Can't forget James Banks 5* and all of his off the field issues that ended his time after only 2 seasons

JT Mapu 5* was great as a soph, but he was never the same player when he returned from his 2 year mission
 
#7
#7
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#8
#8
This is how it is supposed to work on Rocky Top. We are so used to bad coaching and AD in recent years that when it starts going right we are somewhat surprised. Butch knows what he is doing.
 
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#9
#9
I had almost forgotten how far we have come in 10 short months, but noticed the 2013 recruiting rakings on VQ today and it got me thinking.

After 3 consecutive losing seasons Butch and his staff have on paper the 5th best Tennessee recruiting class since 2002 (13 years).

The top 4 class averages ('02, '05, '07, & '09) turned out to be largely overrated and also suffered lots of attrition.

JMO, but I don't think the 2014 class will have problems with player evaluations, grades/admissions, or attrition based on the players we currently have committed and our remaining targets.

So in reality the 2014 class will likely be the best since the 90s when the Vols were in the top 5 and contending for SEC East/SEC Championship every year.


So, what I'm really saying is...guys, Butch gets it!

:rock::dance2::good!::loco::shades:


Commits 5* 4* 3* 2* Avg
2014 27 1 14 10 2 3.52
2013 22 0 5 16 1 3.18
2012 22 0 11 9 2 3.41
2011 27 0 12 14 1 3.41
2010 27 1 12 9 4 3.26
2009 22 2 9 11 0 3.59
2008 18 0 4 11 3 3.06
2007 32 5 11 15 1 3.63
2006 22 1 4 13 4 3.09
2005 26 1 16 9 0 3.69
2004 24 2 7 8 6 3.08
2003 22 1 7 11 3 3.27
2002 25 5 16 2 2 3.96


All recruiting data from Rivals

Great post!! I really only started following the recruiting process closely last year about this same time. It was a painful to say the least. Butch and Co. have done a great job and really are in on most of the guys they want. I agree that this class should not have the same types of character issues seen in the past. Go Vols..its gonna get real exciting soon!!
 
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#10
#10
Great post!! I really only started following the recruiting process closely last year about this same time. It was a painful to say the least. Butch and Co. have done a great job and really are in on most of the guys they want. I agree that this class should not have the same types of character issues seen in the past. Go Vols..its gonna get real exciting soon!!

Thanks for the kind words.

The future is bright :)
 
#11
#11
What CBJ and staff have done with this team to date is nothing short of remarkable. With the same results from future classes riddled with talent and depth, the sky is the limit! I truly believe that Butch will lead us back to the mountain top.

These guys can not only recruit talent, they can coach up as well.
 
#12
#12
What CBJ and staff have done with this team to date is nothing short of remarkable. With the same results from future classes riddled with talent and depth, the sky is the limit! I truly believe that Butch will lead us back to the mountain top.

These guys can not only recruit talent, they can coach up as well.

Not to mention how all of the 2014 class is becoming a team before they enroll.

I can't ever remember a year when so many commits repeatedly came on UOVs to help recruit or support the current team.
 
#13
#13
Butch has done nothing less than completely rewrite the "Recruiting Handbook" for the University of Tennessee and, to date, he has done it based almost entirely on pure, unadulterated salesmanship. Imagine what he will be able to do on the recruiting front when we are consistently ranked in the Top Ten again.
 
#14
#14
It should be worth noting that they used to be much more generous with 5* ratings, so that's why we had five of 'em in 02 and 07.
 
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#16
#16
Nice work OP.

Those 2005, 2007 and 2009 recruiting classes were such let downs.

2002 wasn't much better, that one had started to slip from memory. Gerald Riggs was the #1 or #2 player in the nation wasn't he? Never really played like it.
 
#18
#18
Butch has done nothing less than completely rewrite the "Recruiting Handbook" for the University of Tennessee and, to date, he has done it based almost entirely on pure, unadulterated salesmanship. Imagine what he will be able to do on the recruiting front when we are consistently ranked in the Top Ten again.

Not to dispute you, but salesmanship is just the tip of the iceberg. I think the most important part of Butch Jones is his relationship building. I have read several interviews with recruits, and they all speak highly of how Butch and the staff builds relationships with them. He is doing something that is unique in this day and age; he wants to get to know these kids as people rather than just players. And by knowing these young men as individuals, he gets a good idea about the young men's character, and if they have are "coachable".

I could make a list a mile long comparing the positive attributes of Butch Jones to those of every football coach Tennessee has had in my memory (the earliest being Doug Dickey). Most of them are becoming clear to everyone here.

I would rather ask a simple question. After the firing of he who's name we prefer not to mention the morning after losing to a team who's name is more sickening, Tennessee fans everywhere were calling for a "home run hire". With what we have seen so far, do you think we got it?
 
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#20
#20
Nice work OP.

Those 2005, 2007 and 2009 recruiting classes were such let downs.

2002 wasn't much better, that one had started to slip from memory. Gerald Riggs was the #1 or #2 player in the nation wasn't he? Never really played like it.

Thanks General

On Rivals for '02 Vince Young was #1, Riggs was #12

Riggs career was limited somewhat due to injuries, but I would still consider him successful based on 2004 (1000 yd season) and 2005 (specifically the LSU OT comeback).
 
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