The hype train and recruiting

#31
#31
We are still going to be young this year, but we will have more experienced depth. Next year will be Butch's first recruited senior class. The next year will be Butch's first fully recruited senior class. Butch over achieved this year, period. Butch replaced his offensive coordinator, the weakest coaching link, and biggest postion of need on the entire team. If you can't see the results, and the methodical way Butch is building this program, then just sit back and enjoy the wins, baby!!
 
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#32
#32
Brave Volunteer said:
I agree and it looks like with the seemingly slower start with the 2016 recruiting class (comparitavely speaking after the last 2 classes), It looks like a lot of recruits are taking a "wait and see" approach with this class as opposed to the last two classes.

Personally I think the floor for this season needs to be 8 regular season wins and an impressive bowl performance.
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Maybe our coaches are taking a wait and see approach?
 
#33
#33
The games that will show our level of progress this year will be OU, FLA, UGA, BAMA, and Mizzou. We have to win minimum of one of those to say we have progressed, two shows significant improvement, three or more and we are headed to Atlanta. JMO, I think we win three, FLA, UGA & Mizzou. I really want to call OU as well, I'm just concerned with it being just the 2nd game and our OL may not have made the jump necessary at that time to win that one. If we beat OU, that sets us up for a very interesting season.
 
#36
#36
Big151Orange said:
The games that will show our level of progress this year will be OU, FLA, UGA, BAMA, and Mizzou. We have to win minimum of one of those to say we have progressed, two shows significant improvement, three or more and we are headed to Atlanta. JMO, I think we win three, FLA, UGA & Mizzou. I really want to call OU as well, I'm just concerned with it being just the 2nd game and our OL may not have made the jump necessary at that time to win that one. If we beat OU, that sets us up for a very interesting season.
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Arky will also be one to watch
 
#37
#37
Catbone said:
Arky will also be one to watch
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I agree, I was just mentioning those as we played all of them last year and lost all of them. The hogs definitely showed improvement last year and I expect that to be a close game as well. Hopefully, home field will help us get the win.
 
#38
#38
Recruiting is about building relationships, like Butch said when he first took the job here. He's also the type of coach that that will attract top recruits with his coaching style. Butch has swagger and is enthusiastic... a true players coach, but still will get in your face and push you to reach your potential. Yes, we need to continually show improvement each season to keep recruiting at the level we have the past two seasons, but I fully expect we will barring serious injury problems. If the o-line improves and Dobbs, Hurd, Kamara, North, Pig, Pearson, etc stay healthy for the most part, we are gonna put up some points this year. Defensive line will be improved, and possibly down right nasty, LB is a bit questionable at this point if Curt stays primarily at DE, and our secondary, which Sutton must stay healthy too, will be improved with Martin coming in the fall, and Brian Randolph leading at safety. Special teams will be solid as long as we find a serviceable punter, and there's much better overall depth with this team as a whole.

As for recruiting currently being ranked around 20th, I believe its because we won't sign another huge class numbers wise, so we are being more selective and making sure we recruit high quality players that will fill future needs. Bottom line, until Butch and staff show otherwise, I will not doubt or worry about anything concerning recruiting, as I believe they have surpassed all expectations most of us have had.

On the field, I see 8-10 wins this season including the bowl game, and I think 2016 will be the year we really get back to being National Championship contenders again. Then again, with a little good fortune, this team could surprise like OSU did last year and be in the mix this year. Either way, I'm just happy to be truly excited about what is happening with our football program again. It seems like forever ago since we were relevant nationally, and even within the SEC. Definitely trending in the right direction again for sure.
 
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#40
#40
EZE said:
The slow start to 2016 is because we will be having a smaller class. I think we are being more choosy early on, but that is just my opinion.
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taldo said:
The slower start has more to do with being picky due to limited numbers imo.
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livefaith said:
Maybe our coaches are taking a wait and see approach?
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VonoreVol said:
As for recruiting currently being ranked around 20th, I believe its because we won't sign another huge class numbers wise, so we are being more selective and making sure we recruit high quality players that will fill future needs. Bottom line, until Butch and staff show otherwise, I will not doubt or worry about anything concerning recruiting, as I believe they have surpassed all expectations most of us have had
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Wow, I hope all of you are right. Personally I think coach Jones is running out of things to sell at this point. When he first got here, he sold recruits on family and early playing time. Well early playing time is going away fast and I think recruits see that. I also think at this point recruits want to see on the field results. Butch has signed over 85 scholarship players since he became our coach. He's out of excuses. He MUST win this year! I'm not saying he has to win it all or anything but like I said before, 8 regular season wins and a bowl is the absolute floor for this team IMO. He also needs to start beating "the big 3" (Florida, Georgia, Alabama) at some point. I think CBJ must win an least 1 of those 3 games this year. I think we end the Mizzou losing streak this year. I think we beat South Carolina again this year. However to prove to recruits that we are truly "back" I think we have to beat at least one of the big 3.

I'm also wondering if the slower start with the 2016 class has anything to do with our change in recruiting coordinator?
 
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#42
#42
Offseason in the football forum lol. Of all the things to worry about, recruiting and Butch Jones should be pretty far down the list.
 
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#43
#43
taldo said:
The slower start has more to do with being picky due to limited numbers imo.
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Without defections, the numbers for the 2016 class look small. Do you recall the ongoing LEB rant that started with the 2015 class could only be 17 players but in the end we got a full class?

If I had to bet, I'd say we see defections / early graduations and sign 22-25 in 2016 and it will be a top 10 class - possibly top 5.
 
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#44
#44
walkenvol said:
Without defections, the numbers for the 2016 class look small. Do you recall the ongoing LEB rant that started with the 2015 class could only be 17 players but in the end we got a full class?

If I had to bet, I'd say we see defections / early graduations and sign 22-25 in 2016 and it will be a top 10 class - possibly top 5.
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I agree and we will see some players that receive a gitshirt from Butch as it happens every year. I think this year is different in that we can afford to be more picky and not take higher risk guys like we have had to in the past who we hoped would work out but had doubts.
 
#46
#46
Brave Volunteer said:
Wow, I hope all of you are right. Personally I think coach Jones is running out of things to sell at this point [and many more words]
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This is Tennessee. We have one of the winningest programs in the nation, and seem poised to add to that body of work in 2015 and beyond. We also have tradition oozing out of our pores.

It simply isn't possible for our coaches to run out of ways to sell recruits on the program. Modify tactics, sure. Run out? Never.
 
#47
#47
VFL-82-JP said:
This is Tennessee. We have one of the winningest programs in the nation, and seem poised to add to that body of work in 2015 and beyond. We also have tradition oozing out of our pores.

It simply isn't possible for our coaches to run out of ways to sell recruits on the program. Modify tactics, sure. Run out? Never.
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You're right, Tennessee will always have a lot to sell to recruits. I should have worded that better. I guess what I should have said was that CBJ and his staff are going to have to alter the sales pitch. Basically since CBJ has been here he and his staff have sold recruits on 3 things... Family, Fascilities, and Early playing time. He's going to have to change that up.

Family: They should always promote a family atmosphere but let's be honest, every school does that. It's not like Tennessee has the market cornered on promoting a family-friendly environment.

Fascilities: Obviously Tennessee's fascilities are as good as anybody's in the country. However it's not like the schools that we are competing with for big time recruits have bad fascilities. Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M, LSU, etc all have great fascilities. Plus more and more schools are spending money to catch up. I'm not so sure how much longer we can simply use fascilities as a difference maker compared to the other schools.

Early playing time: Unless you're an OL, an LB, or an RB, I'm not sure how you can sell early playing time to anybody anymore, unless of course you're talking about special teams. However as our team continues to be built with quality depth, its going to be harder and harder to convince blue chip athletes to come here if they're going to sit the bench.

The only thing left that CBJ can promote are 1.) Championships and 2.) Putting players in the league. These are the 2 factors that we have GOT to add to the resume if we are going to continue to recruit at an elite level. Otherwise we're going to become Ole Miss. Have that one great class and then peter out.
 
#48
#48
I think he can still sell family and facilities, they are strengths of our program just as much as they were the past three years. They don't distinguish Tennessee from other top tier programs with nice facilities or a family focus, as you point out. But then, they didn't in 2013 or 2014, either.

Add our tradition and rich winning legacy to that, and the number of other programs whose sales pitches are as strong drop to a few handfuls.

Then I think Butch can still talk about the potential for early play time -- because it's a coaching mind set, this idea that if you're the best, hey, we'll play you right out of high school. You just gotta prove you're the best for the job. Is the competition stiffer now than it was two years ago? Sure, but the opportunity is still there just as it was.

Contrast that with some coaches and programs who very strongly want new team members to redshirt a year, gain strength and conditioning, learn the playbook and the program.

If willingness to play true freshmen continues to be a part of Butch's philosophy even after he has the luxury of not needing to, well then, I think it's still a valid selling point for him.

In short, he and his coaches still have plenty of weapons at their disposal on the recruiting trail. As you say, they just need to alter their strats a bit.

Go Vols!


p.s. I think Butch and staff have another potent selling point when they talk about values, and only taking players who have strong moral character. That might be a turnoff to some recruits, but then...that usually means that the recruits don't share our values in the first place, and so we don't mind at all. I'm basing this from a few things that Butch and his coaching crew have said over the past year or two. For high school players (and their parents and coaches) who do share those values, I think this is another very strong selling point, and one that is less common than it probably should be.
 
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#49
#49
We are trending upward with a bowl win and a winning record. He has more than ever to get recruits attention.
 
#50
#50
Brave Volunteer said:
You're right, Tennessee will always have a lot to sell to recruits. I should have worded that better. I guess what I should have said was that CBJ and his staff are going to have to alter the sales pitch. Basically since CBJ has been here he and his staff have sold recruits on 3 things... Family, Fascilities, and Early playing time. He's going to have to change that up.

Family: They should always promote a family atmosphere but let's be honest, every school does that. It's not like Tennessee has the market cornered on promoting a family-friendly environment.

Fascilities: Obviously Tennessee's fascilities are as good as anybody's in the country. However it's not like the schools that we are competing with for big time recruits have bad fascilities. Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M, LSU, etc all have great fascilities. Plus more and more schools are spending money to catch up. I'm not so sure how much longer we can simply use fascilities as a difference maker compared to the other schools.

Early playing time: Unless you're an OL, an LB, or an RB, I'm not sure how you can sell early playing time to anybody anymore, unless of course you're talking about special teams. However as our team continues to be built with quality depth, its going to be harder and harder to convince blue chip athletes to come here if they're going to sit the bench.

The only thing left that CBJ can promote are 1.) Championships and 2.) Putting players in the league. These are the 2 factors that we have GOT to add to the resume if we are going to continue to recruit at an elite level. Otherwise we're going to become Ole Miss. Have that one great class and then peter out.
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Spot on with the facilities part....mostly :)
 
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