The perfect storm

#26
#26
Yeah, it seems that 2016 talent is down quite a bit, unfortunately. Fortunately for us, Vandy is down - and probably still sinking - so Nashville should be our playground for a while. That is good, because Memphis is always going to be hard for us.

I still say we should concentrate on building relationships in GA, because someday UGA's run will be over, and we need to be there to scoop them up like we did in the '90's. Ga has always appeared to be much easier pickings for us than Memphis.

Good point but we should also be looking in the Carolinas, Va, and Ky. UNC is down and has a pending NCAA investigation. S. Carolina is kinda tough right now because of Clemson.

None of those states by themselves produce a surplus of talent, but the point is, programs are cyclical and we should take advantage in all the neighboring states when we can.
 
#28
#28
I coach youth football in the mid state area and can testify about the talent level around middle Tennessee (the future is bright) .I've also been able to see a lot of these kids that we have recruited or sign play since the age of five. We must keep Byron Dvinner away BC he likes to take these kids and push them to sign with other schools other than Tn. Richmond being one of many I can name.
 
#29
#29
TN has never been a hotbed for top recruits--until lately.

We have always had too pull a lot of recruits from other states and Memphis was basically not even in our state for recruiting purposes it seemed.

With the last few classes though, consisting of Hurd, Malone, Richardson, and so on, we are beginning to see a lot more of our class being filled with in state talent.

Where this really begins to make a difference is that we do not really have any other in state rival for top talent where they might want to go.

Alabama fights it out with Auburn.

Florida fights it out with FSU and Miami.

Georgia with Georgia Tech. *Edit*

USCjr with Clemson.

But we are in an instate battle with Vandy. Not exactly the same kind of battle FSU vs FL would have.

So as the in state talent continues to grow, we may see ourselves in a very nice position of continuing to get top 5 star athletes.

Just count how many 5 stars we have pulled in and compare to how many are from TN?

My point is, us having a top 5 class each year may become a norm and it may also become a lot easier.

Not to be critical, but your argument is a little simplistic. For example, AU and Bama don't just fight it out in the state of AL for recruits. The fight vs each other and many other schools throughout the SE, and nationally, for talent. The state of GA is an obvious hotbed for CFB talent and most SEC schools recruit heavily here. Same for FL. UGA and Tech rarely go head-to-head for players. We're more likely to be vying with Bama/AU/FL/FSU, even UCLA, ie, for talent. TN has seen a recent upswing in the state talent pool, and that bodes well for UT and Vandy, as well as some other schools in the area. Whether or not it's a continuing trend or just an anomoly remains to be seen. But I don't believe that it's a UT vs Vandy situation anymore than it's a UGA vs Tech one. Vandy and Tech generally don't recruit the same players that UT and UGA do. A richer talent pool makes all instate schools stronger. That's why so many GA colleges and universities have football. The belief that TN is a UT vs Vandy recruiting state isn't realistic, IMHO.
 
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#30
#30
Not to be critical, but your argument is a little simplistic. For example, AU and Bama don't just fight it out in the state of AL for recruits. The fight vs each other and many other schools throughout the SE, and nationally, for talent. The state of GA is an obvious hotbed for CFB talent and most SEC schools recruit heavily here. Same for FL. UGA and Tech rarely go head-to-head for players. We're more likely to be vying with Bama/AU/FL/FSU, even UCLA, ie, for talent. TN has seen a recent upswing in the state talent pool, and that bodes well for UT and Vandy, as well as some other schools in the area. Whether or not it's a continuing trend or just an anomoly remains to be seen. But I don't believe that it's a UT vs Vandy situation anymore than it's a UGA vs Tech one. Vandy and Tech generally don't recruit the same players that UT and UGA do. A richer talent pool makes all instate schools stronger. That's why so many GA colleges and universities have football. The belief that TN is a UT vs Vandy recruiting state isn't realistic, IMHO.

Was really all you needed to say. As the talent level increases......more schools will be coming into the State to steal them.

Good post though.
 
#31
#31
Was really all you needed to say. As the talent level increases......more schools will be coming into the State to steal them.

Good post though.

Don't really agree.

Butch has shown he can pull kids from Memphis now, top talent none the less.

That right there shows something about his ability to keep kids in state as Memphis is not close to UT honestly.

It also seems that many kids in TN don't want to leave TN and the kids near Knoxville are extremely loyal.

Yes, we will lose talent but the simplistic part he mentioned is that he figures "other schools" will start coming into the area going after the top talent.

Like the battle for Hurd, Richmond, and Malone was not already a battle?

Face it, we kicked Georgia's teeth in this year in recruiting and went head to head with Bama...and we aren't even good yet.

Georgia is not a threat moving forward. They will get the players we don't want....kinda like this year.
 
#32
#32
Don't really agree.

Butch has shown he can pull kids from Memphis now, top talent none the less.

That right there shows something about his ability to keep kids in state as Memphis is not close to UT honestly.

It also seems that many kids in TN don't want to leave TN and the kids near Knoxville are extremely loyal.

Yes, we will lose talent but the simplistic part he mentioned is that he figures "other schools" will start coming into the area going after the top talent.

Like the battle for Hurd, Richmond, and Malone was not already a battle?

Face it, we kicked Georgia's teeth in this year in recruiting and went head to head with Bama...and we aren't even good yet.

Georgia is not a threat moving forward. They will get the players we don't want....kinda like this year.
it's cyclical for most every program out there, save a couple of places out there.

we're in a good place from an opportunity point. UGA is getting to the same kind of point we were at 8 years ago. Richt is good, but he's getting/gotten stale. he doesn't resonate like he did 10 years ago with recruits.

we're the next big thing again, and the wagon is filling up.

it'll all go back around again, and again, and again.....

UGA will fire Rihct or he'll retire and the'll hire the next "shiny new thing" and then they'll get back to being the next big thing......and at some point int he future, we'll get stale again.....and we'll start all over.
 
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#33
#33
Don't really agree.

Butch has shown he can pull kids from Memphis now, top talent none the less.

That right there shows something about his ability to keep kids in state as Memphis is not close to UT honestly.

It also seems that many kids in TN don't want to leave TN and the kids near Knoxville are extremely loyal.

Yes, we will lose talent but the simplistic part he mentioned is that he figures "other schools" will start coming into the area going after the top talent.

Like the battle for Hurd, Richmond, and Malone was not already a battle?

Face it, we kicked Georgia's teeth in this year in recruiting and went head to head with Bama...and we aren't even good yet.

Georgia is not a threat moving forward. They will get the players we don't want....kinda like this year.

I'm not sure you and I share the same sense of reality. UGA and UT we're neck-and-neck in every recruiting poll that I saw. Not exactly getting our teeth kicked in. And I'm not too sure you can compare UT's class to Bama's. Sounds like your post is a lot of wishful thinking rather than facts. Not sure even other realistic Vol fans would agree with you. You had a very successful class and filled some holes, as did we. "Georgia is not a threat moving forward". I don't think CBJ would agree with that, but I guess we'll have to see.
 
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#34
#34
I'm not sure you and I share the same sense of reality. UGA and UT we're neck-and-neck in every recruiting poll that I saw. Not exactly getting our teeth kicked in. And I'm not too sure you can compare UT's class to Bama's. Sounds like your post is a lot of wishful thinking rather than facts. Not sure even other realistic Vol fans would agree with you. You had a very successful class and filled some holes, as did we. "Georgia is not a threat moving forward". I don't think CBJ would agree with that, but I guess we'll have to see.

Our d line class is better than bamas.
 
#35
#35
Encouraging this year because we flipped Richmond late. The last couple of years we lost 5 stars: Herron from Memphis to LSU, Ramsey from Nashville to FSU, Bars from Nashville to Notre Dame. I don't think Vandy will be competition for the top instates.

The state of Tennessee is not dense enough to support year in and year out dominance in recruiting. Have to go outside the state lines and the real "sell" skill is to convince a guy from states away that UT is the place for next step in career.

Until we can claim dominance in contiguous states...while the top 10 in final season rankings, are pulling guys from everywhere, not sure we can claim the best of the best. CBJ has done a commendable job with recruiting, but when my Raleigh buddy tells me that top NC players are staying in state, for what appears to me to be less tier schools than UT (and not that far away for family to travel), it can begin in-state but that can not be our only bragging point.

Ohio State doesn't brag about getting Columbus guys. They get cream of crop from all over the country. We are the best school in the state.....wow.
 
#36
#36
Our d line class is better than bamas.

Not sure if this is a serious post or not. If it is, you're taking one segment of recruiting as proof that you went "head-to-head" with Bama :loco: What if Bama didn't need d linemen for this class?
 
#37
#37
If UGA pulls in Smith and appears to be looking that way , but you never know with him , UGA will probably jump us in a couple of services . To say we kicked their teeth in is ludicrous . Though we are definitely leveling the playing field with them
 
#38
#38
Adding to that "Perfect Storm" of the better quality of high school athlete coming out of Tennessee , is the unusual amount of legacy players we have had the last two years . This will not continue at the current rate , well at least not till Travis Henry's kids start graduating high school
 
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#39
#39
If UGA pulls in Smith and appears to be looking that way , but you never know with him , UGA will probably jump us in a couple of services . To say we kicked their teeth in is ludicrous . Though we are definitely leveling the playing field with them

Absolutely. CBJ has done a great job of filling needs in his tenure at UT. I think most Vol fans are practical and know that recruiting by itself doesn't win championships. If it did we'd have a full trophy case. You have to add good coaching and luck. We've had decent coaching and really bad luck with key injuries.

UT is on the rise from where you've been. But to discount other programs an have the "we're back and stepping over other programs on our way to Bama" is going to lead to unfulfilled expectations. There are a few very good football programs 'tween UT and Bama who aren't just gonna lay down.
 
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#40
#40
Absolutely. CBJ has done a great job of filling needs in his tenure at UT. I think most Vol fans are practical and know that recruiting by itself doesn't win championships. If it did we'd have a full trophy case. You have to add good coaching and luck. We've had decent coaching and really bad luck with key injuries.

UT is on the rise from where you've been. But to discount other programs an have the "we're back and stepping over other programs on our way to Bama" is going to lead to unfulfilled expectations. There are a few very good football programs 'tween UT and Bama who aren't just gonna lay down.



Yep, you're right, top talent, good coaching, staying healthy and having some good luck along the way are all needed to win the SEC.

Teams are going to lay down for us a lot more though, when we KNOCK them down, LOL!

That's going to happen lots more consistently soon, like it used to do, so prepare your UGa friends because our footVol team is on the road back and marching back up the mountain to a top 10 powerhouse like we used to be.

It's good that so many SEC fans love to hear "Rocky Top" played a lot on gamedays, LOL!

Our D is getting nasty so it's going to be fun watching our D line put the Big Orange CRUNCH on people starting this coming season.

#BrickbyBrick...VFL...GBO!!!
 
#42
#42
Not sure if this is a serious post or not. If it is, you're taking one segment of recruiting as proof that you went "head-to-head" with Bama :loco: What if Bama didn't need d linemen for this class?

Bama "didn't need" defensive linemen in a class? :lol:...very weak.
 
#44
#44
TN has never been a hotbed for top recruits--until lately.

We have always had too pull a lot of recruits from other states and Memphis was basically not even in our state for recruiting purposes it seemed.

With the last few classes though, consisting of Hurd, Malone, Richardson, and so on, we are beginning to see a lot more of our class being filled with in state talent.

Where this really begins to make a difference is that we do not really have any other in state rival for top talent where they might want to go.

Alabama fights it out with Auburn.

Florida fights it out with FSU and Miami.

Georgia with Georgia Tech. *Edit*

USCjr with Clemson.

But we are in an instate battle with Vandy. Not exactly the same kind of battle FSU vs FL would have.

So as the in state talent continues to grow, we may see ourselves in a very nice position of continuing to get top 5 star athletes.

Just count how many 5 stars we have pulled in and compare to how many are from TN?

My point is, us having a top 5 class each year may become a norm and it may also become a lot easier.

wait for 2017 class. I understand it will be the best ever in this state
 
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