State of Tennessee loaded with even more talent in 2018

#77
#77
BigOrangeTrain said:
Butch has done a pretty stellar job of getting the best instate talent except for this year. The only thing that could derail his instate success is a catastrophic letdown this season.
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You and I have different definitions of "stellar" In the class of 2015, there were two 5 stars and we landed both at the last minute. There were ten 4 stars and we landed 3 of them. Getting less than half of the four and five stars inside the state is mediocre in my book.
 
#79
#79
wizzer said:
You and I have different definitions of "stellar" In the class of 2015, there were two 5 stars and we landed both at the last minute. There were ten 4 stars and we landed 3 of them. Getting less than half of the four and five stars inside the state is mediocre in my book.
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Who on that list do you want right now?

I personally find no fault with our 2015 class. The overall talent of that class was perfect.

Gimme Micah Abernathy over Rico McGraw any day. And so on.
 
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#80
#80
Eastsidevol said:
2017 is a stronger class. Of the top 7 we have missed out on 4. Higgins, Stevens, Richardson and Rodgers. Hopefully we can add Smith and Chandler to Gray. That would give us 3 of the top 7.
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That stings. Smh at people who are not concerned by this
 
#81
#81
NEOCON said:
Last time we won a bowl before Butch was 2008 under Fulmer and it was the Outback bowl--same bowl Butch won last year.

Last time we won two bowl games in a row Fulmer was1996 and 1997--again under Fulmer almost TWENTY damn years ago.

Last time we were favored to beat both Ga and FL was 2001--Under Fulmer.

Butch took a team that was on life support and has us taking "we should win it all" and you can not take that for granted.

We don't wonder will we make a bowl game now.

We wonder will we win it all.

I have been a fan since 87 and this is the first time since Casey Clausen was our QB that I actually feel we are a loaded team.

Butch has earned a "wait and see" at this point.

Hell, he upgraded the DC this year and pulled him from ALOT of other major SEC teams that wanted him.

He's earned our respect.
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Excellent post.
 
#82
#82
I don't know why I seem to be one of the few that can see exactly what had happened to the early part of in state recruiting this year. The title IX lawsuit has been a greatly utilized negative recruiting tool. The school that has been able to take the greatest advantage of this is Clemson. A school that just played for a national title. What also helped this strategy work was the investigation at Baylor dealing with something very similar and the resulting fallout. It has been a kind of "perfect storm" situation for other coaches to sweep in and steal TN talent. We as fans follow these things closely enough to realize that whole title XI thing was bogus and an opportunity for a quick payday. But to recruits and parents its easy for another coach to paint an ugly image. No matter how false that image may be. This has nothing to do with Butch's ability as a recruiter. The only thing that rings true across all opinions is winning cures everything. We don't have to win the SEC or a national title, but we do need to reach double digit wins and beat Florida. A 10-3 or 10-4 season (if we win the east) and a bowl win are the bare minimums this year. Here's to hoping that the perfect storm switches in our favor and we go 14-1 or 15-0 and bring another title back to Knoxville. Go Vols!!!
 
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#83
#83
vols 30 said:
That stings. Smh at people who are not concerned by this
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I don't think there is anyone who isn't concerned. Most just know what happens on the field in 2016 matters more for our future than how the 2017 recruiting class looks in late July.

Recruiting is what it is this year. If we want to garner more interest from elite prospects we need to win the SEC championship. Butch has everything he needs to win it all in 2016. He needs to prove he can do it. If he does Tennessee is back among the elite of college football.

This aint 2014 or 2015 where we needed elite recruiting classes to compete in the future. The future is now. Time to get it done.
 
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#84
#84
secking said:
Pretty much. If you don't believe that all eyes are on Tn this year, you haven't been paying attention. This is the year, it is set up for Tn to take it, not just the east, but perhaps the SEC. Closest talent is Ga in the east with a freshman QB and a rookie coach. Bama will be good but not as good, will be beatable in the SECCG.

Not only is the media looking to see if Tn can take that next step, so are recruits. That is evident. Win big, BJ blows the lid off the program, if he don't capatilze, many doubters will pile on (media, recruits, fans). Tn is not the hunter this year, they are the hunted. It's time to prove/show what has been promised by Jones.

He's signed 85 players, his team, his time.
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Just win!! Let's roll!
 
#85
#85
Orange And Garnet said:
I'm happy to see in state talent growing
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The main thing that has helped the state of Tennessee is FAR better coaching & training for the in-state kids. Middle & High school programs are much, much better than they've been in years past (which could be considered stone-aged imo). The explosive mid-state population growth seems to get all of the credit here on VN, but that is not totally correct imo.
 
#86
#86
Eastsidevol said:
For the first time I think people are starting to question Butch's recruiting ability. Losing so many in-state players this year has cost him. He has to find a way to secure the borders like LSU has done.
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it's ain't over till it's over...long way to signing day...:)

GO VOLS!
 
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#87
#87
vols 30 said:
That stings. Smh at people who are not concerned by this
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and SMH at people who do not understand that not everyone in the state of Tennessee wants to play for the Vols and no amount of pressure or whomever is recruiting will change that. It's reality. Deal with it and quit griping
 
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#88
#88
Eastsidevol said:
2017 is a stronger class. Of the top 7 we have missed out on 4. Higgins, Stevens, Richardson and Rodgers. Hopefully we can add Smith and Chandler to Gray. That would give us 3 of the top 7.
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and when you consider Rodgers was never coming to UT because of daddy issues and Steven was never coming because he's really not a TN kid, he's a LA kid.....
 
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#89
#89
Eastsidevol said:
2017 is a stronger class. Of the top 7 we have missed out on 4. Higgins, Stevens, Richardson and Rodgers. Hopefully we can add Smith and Chandler to Gray. That would give us 3 of the top 7.
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too bad we can't recruit in other states!
 
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#90
#90
Eastsidevol said:
2017 is a stronger class. Of the top 7 we have missed out on 4. Higgins, Stevens, Richardson and Rodgers. Hopefully we can add Smith and Chandler to Gray. That would give us 3 of the top 7.
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So you made a post where you specifically said "pay attention the 2016 class".
And when someone points out it wasn't a very good class for Tennessee talent, you jump to 2017?

Yeah, you're not just looking for something to gripe about are you?
 
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#91
#91
2018 has the potential to be one monster of a recruiting class and has more potential than 2017 due to:

1. We have two highly rated TN kids that are ALL VOL, are all in other kid's ears and are aphas. We had two highly rated kids early on in 2017 but time has shown that they were not all vol, one had spurned other schools due to competition (Hunter ain't an alpha) and the other (Higgins) is purely a follower. Cade and Tae are leaders and other recruits gravitate to that. This will really bode well with the wealth of in state talent in 2018.
2. We will have the opportunity to do what Clemson is doing this year. If you look back Clemson has had some decent classes that are top heavy with talent, this year they have a strong full class. I firmly believe a lot of this is due to them being an "IT" program this year with them making a run to the title game. If UT plays up to their potential this year we will have a golden opportunity to be the "IT" program. Just win baby!
3. The selling point of early playing time will be back! We have loaded up the last couple of years and the depth is there but there are some positions that will once again have the sell of early playing time. Unless things change between now and NSD which I fully anticipate it doing it looks like we will be able to sell early PT in some positions especially at Guard. We will need some elite guards and a center in the 2018 class.

This cycle is going to be fun to watch. Especially if we have a SEC Title run.
 
#92
#92
Eastsidevol said:
Butch has done a great job of recruiting until this year. Unfortunately in the SEC you cannot afford to have an off year. Alabama, LSU, and UGA are all having great classes this year. If you aren't keeping up with them talent wise you are falling behind. Last time I checked we were 9th in the SEC.
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Exactly! Can't have even one off year.
 
#94
#94
Crazy Ivan said:
I bet that excites Dabo.

Damn him.
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So Dabo nabbed a couple, it sucks but it is not yet a trend. Lets not give him too much credit. Trey Smith appears to be a heavy lean towards us and that would give us two of the top four. Not ideal but not exactly "losing the state" worthy. As the great poet Mick sings "You can't always get what you waaaant..."(unless you are Nick Saban).
 
#95
#95
bignewt said:
too bad we can't recruit in other states!
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Saw this over Neyland today. Dabo can't spell Butch apparently.

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