'20 TN DE Jay Hardy (Auburn commit)

[BreatheUT]

Rocker has a more laid back, approach to recruiting. It works for some but not others. It’s not as effective in this day and age where kids need constant attention.

I’d be fine with retaining him but we’re never going to recruit at as high a level with him there imo.

This has been the knock on Rocker. I think he is mainly here for the paycheck. I'm not sure he even tried to recruit his son here for baseball. I consistently saw his mug on television chomping on popcorn at the Vandy games. I wonder if he took advantage of those trips and ever recruited while in Nashville.

 

[jakez4ut]

This has been the knock on Rocker. I think he is mainly here for the paycheck. I'm not sure he even tried to recruit his son here for baseball. I consistently saw his mug on television chomping on popcorn at the Vandy games. I wonder if he took advantage of those trips and ever recruited while in Nashville.

 

[VolMike16]

This has been the knock on Rocker. I think he is mainly here for the paycheck. I'm not sure he even tried to recruit his son here for baseball. I consistently saw his mug on television chomping on popcorn at the Vandy games. I wonder if he took advantage of those trips and ever recruited while in Nashville.

Rocker has never been much of a recruiter. Saying he’s just here for a paycheck is a lazy take. He’s a good coach though and the play of the dline showed that. Vandy has developed a number of really good pitchers for awhile now. Really a no-brainer.

 

[T Dog]

This has been the knock on Rocker. I think he is mainly here for the paycheck. I'm not sure he even tried to recruit his son here for baseball. I consistently saw his mug on television chomping on popcorn at the Vandy games. I wonder if he took advantage of those trips and ever recruited while in Nashville.

Hey before you BreatheUT

 

[MarcoVol]

This has been the knock on Rocker. I think he is mainly here for the paycheck. I'm not sure he even tried to recruit his son here for baseball. I consistently saw his mug on television chomping on popcorn at the Vandy games. I wonder if he took advantage of those trips and ever recruited while in Nashville.

Ya but you can’t let him go bc he adds so much value coaching both football and baseball, namsayin?

 

[de1conley]

This has been the knock on Rocker. I think he is mainly here for the paycheck. I'm not sure he even tried to recruit his son here for baseball. I consistently saw his mug on television chomping on popcorn at the Vandy games. I wonder if he took advantage of those trips and ever recruited while in Nashville.

This post clearly shows that you have no clue. Rocker has been a very hands on technique coach. He's never been classified as a helluva recruiter. He was doing well at Fla, UGA, Auburn because he was at places that recruit themselves and win yr in and yr out. It's different because we've gone thru a decade of disarray and dysfunction. Rocker recruits based on his past work of who he coached and got drafted, coaching record from college and NFL, being a former pro and AA in college.

As far as his son anyone with common sense would send their kid to Vandy in baseball. If you choose to attend a game why wouldn't you eat refreshments or concessions. Hell if it were my son I'd have worn a jersey showing who i was there to represent. At Vany you are almost guaranteed to play for a NC and be drafted very high. So nothing wrong with what he did there either.

Think before you post and wear clear glasses not ones with orange tint. In life you hv to weigh decisions and they must mk sense not for the right now but in the future. The Rockers definitely did this.

 

[TrippieRedd]

It's funny how people think Rocker just sits here and beats his **** off. Best coach on the staff other than Pruitt.

 

[Grudenator]

It's funny how people think Rocker just sits here and beats his **** off. Best coach on the staff other than Pruitt.

Lol no. He is a good coach, but it’s a stretch to say other than Pruitt.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Lol no. He is a good coach, but it’s a stretch to say other than Pruitt.

Ok...who else

wait...you're a troll, idc about your opinion.

 

[DaddyChad]

Ok...who else

wait...you're a troll, idc about your opinion.

Chaney for one, anyone that can coach Nate Peterman to an NFL contract is special

 

[DaddyChad]

Btw I’m not saying I think Rocker is a bad coach.

 

[chargervol]

It's funny how people think Rocker just sits here and beats his **** off. Best coach on the staff other than Pruitt.

Recruiting junkies, man.

But yeah, extremely rare to see an entire staff comprised only of elite teachers and recruiters. So I prefer to keep a mix. If they all can't be both, then definitely want some of the teachers.

I get it "Jimmys and Joes" but Butch proved there's a limit.

 

[InVOLuntary]

All coaches have strengths and weaknesses. Some are great recruiters, some are great at coaching football. A rare few are great at both. I feel Rocker is probably better on the coaching football side. That being said, if Pruitt feels that what coach rocker brings to the table is good for what he's trying to accomplish, then I'm good with that. If he feels that his lack of recruiting is a liability and he thinks he can upgrade, I'm good with that too.

 

[LittleVol]

Actually, we're hoping if he signs with us it will give us an 'in' with his '22 teammate who was the real star of the championship game.

Who is that?

 

[Jackcrevol]

All coaches have strengths and weaknesses. Some are great recruiters, some are great at coaching football. A rare few are great at both. I feel Rocker is probably better on the coaching football side. That being said, if Pruitt feels that what coach rocker brings to the table is good for what he's trying to accomplish, then I'm good with that. If he feels that his lack of recruiting is a liability and he thinks he can upgrade, I'm good with that too.

Keep 'em, let's Rocker'n roll.

 

[BreatheUT]

This post clearly shows that you have no clue. Rocker has been a very hands on technique coach. He's never been classified as a helluva recruiter. He was doing well at Fla, UGA, Auburn because he was at places that recruit themselves and win yr in and yr out. It's different because we've gone thru a decade of disarray and dysfunction. Rocker recruits based on his past work of who he coached and got drafted, coaching record from college and NFL, being a former pro and AA in college.

As far as his son anyone with common sense would send their kid to Vandy in baseball. If you choose to attend a game why wouldn't you eat refreshments or concessions. Hell if it were my son I'd have worn a jersey showing who i was there to represent. At Vany you are almost guaranteed to play for a NC and be drafted very high. So nothing wrong with what he did there either.

Think before you post and wear clear glasses not ones with orange tint. In life you hv to weigh decisions and they must mk sense not for the right now but in the future. The Rockers definitely did this.

Clearly I didn't mention anything about Rocker's coaching ability. As a matter of fact I think Rocker is a good coach. Our DL has improved tremendously in 2 years, and I associate a lot of that to Rocker. The fact he keeps landing good jobs prove this.

What I also know he fans have had complaints about his recruiting at multiple stops. I don't know if it's his inability to really connect the recruits or just a lack of putting hard work into it. Either way, he is considered average at best. A little surprising given he's a former All SEC and I believe All American DL himself.

But it bothers me a little to potentially not get the top instate player that is at his position...and lose him to his alma mater.

We are deep at this position so it wouldn't be devastating, just a little butt hurt.

Sorry if it bothers you a little. You don't have to be captain save.

 

[tbones0711]

Just for posterity, I was curious so I looked it up. According to 247 Rocker this year has been:

Lead on
Dom Bailey

Secondary on
Tyler Baron
Jimmy Callaway
Omari Thomas
Reginald Perry

Last year

Lead on
Savion
Darel Middleton

Secondary on
Elijah Simmons

I definitely think there's room for improvement there, but it's not like he's doing nothing. And I think his ability to develop players offsets some of this. But that's 8 really good players he's helped recruit here the last 2 years. He does seem to do better as the support recruiter and not the lead though. I also think he is going to retire anyway so we will probably try to get a better recruiter in there. But man I hate losing a guy who is that good at developing players.

I appreciate you taking the time to look up these facts......thanks. I know UT recruits by region and you have listed as Rocker being lead recruiter on D.Bailey who played in the DC area. Pruitt's wanting to get his foot in the door in that area bigtime but we're talking Clemson,Penn St., strongholds, just naming the top 2 that come to mind and other worthy P5 schools recruit that area such as Va. Tech, Maryland, NC, on and on.

It just may be a case that Rocker is being asked to recruit one of the toughest regions. I know a lot of posters on VN are constantly harping on Rocker's recruiting abilities but if anyone on our staff knows recruiting it's JP himself and as long as Rocker is still on the staff it's apparent that he's at least playing par, imho.

 

[sonofUT62]

Clearly I didn't mention anything about Rocker's coaching ability. As a matter of fact I think Rocker is a good coach. Our DL has improved tremendously in 2 years, and I associate a lot of that to Rocker. The fact he keeps landing good jobs prove this.

What I also know he fans have had complaints about his recruiting at multiple stops. I don't know if it's his inability to really connect the recruits or just a lack of putting hard work into it. Either way, he is considered average at best. A little surprising given he's a former All SEC and I believe All American DL himself.

But it bothers me a little to potentially not get the top instate player that is at his position...and lose him to his alma mater.

We are deep at this position so it wouldn't be devastating, just a little butt hurt.

Sorry if it bothers you a little. You don't have to be captain save.

Either state that he’s a good coach or take back the comment about him “just being here for the paycheck”. Those two comments are completely incompatible and ^ this looks like you’re trying to walk back getting called on some bull ****. And when is it his responsibility to recruit his child for UT baseball? Vandy is currently a better program and their program is putting pitchers in the first round like Alabama football. If you don’t expect a parent to do what’s best for his child then I don’t know what to tell you.

 

[Grudenator]

Ok...who else

wait...you're a troll, idc about your opinion.

Ansley for one

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

Dog ate the LOI or maybe couldn't find an ink pen nah he's a Vol.

Actually his HS coach is still at it. Demanded he give him his LOI until further notice.

 

[fifties fan]

Who is that?

Howard. Played in the middle down and up. Seemed like he made half of the tackles.

 

[de1conley]

Clearly I didn't mention anything about Rocker's coaching ability. As a matter of fact I think Rocker is a good coach. Our DL has improved tremendously in 2 years, and I associate a lot of that to Rocker. The fact he keeps landing good jobs prove this.

What I also know he fans have had complaints about his recruiting at multiple stops. I don't know if it's his inability to really connect the recruits or just a lack of putting hard work into it. Either way, he is considered average at best. A little surprising given he's a former All SEC and I believe All American DL himself.

But it bothers me a little to potentially not get the top instate player that is at his position...and lose him to his alma mater.

We are deep at this position so it wouldn't be devastating, just a little butt hurt.

Sorry if it bothers you a little. You don't have to be captain save.

But my thing is his m.o. has been a really good technical coach who is only an avg recruiter. See you're never going to get a staff in which everyone recruits lights out. Fans complain, but as long as the bosses know what they hired it is on them. Don't know how old you are but Chief never recruited but was consodered an all world DC in the 90s. His recruiting was when you came to campus and to seal the deal. Like i said earlier its harder to get kids to UT regardless of instate or where they come from after a decade of dysfunction and self destruction in the Athletic department and football offices.

 

[m1al]

But my thing is his m.o. has been a really good technical coach who is only an avg recruiter. See you're never going to get a staff in which everyone recruits lights out. Fans complain, but as long as the bosses know what they hired it is on them. Don't know how old you are but Chief never recruited but was consodered an all world DC in the 90s. His recruiting was when you came to campus and to seal the deal. Like i said earlier its harder to get kids to UT regardless of instate or where they come from after a decade of dysfunction and self destruction in the Athletic department and football offices.

Compared to Chief, Rocker is recruiter of the year...

 

[BreatheUT]

But my thing is his m.o. has been a really good technical coach who is only an avg recruiter. See you're never going to get a staff in which everyone recruits lights out. Fans complain, but as long as the bosses know what they hired it is on them. Don't know how old you are but Chief never recruited but was consodered an all world DC in the 90s. His recruiting was when you came to campus and to seal the deal. Like i said earlier its harder to get kids to UT regardless of instate or where they come from after a decade of dysfunction and self destruction in the Athletic department and football offices.

Fair. I spoke with JC when he was the LB coach and I was a high school recruit. That is how old I am.

BTW I'm still on the NPA group message as a parent.

 

[Batman1948]

This post clearly shows that you have no clue. Rocker has been a very hands on technique coach. He's never been classified as a helluva recruiter. He was doing well at Fla, UGA, Auburn because he was at places that recruit themselves and win yr in and yr out. It's different because we've gone thru a decade of disarray and dysfunction. Rocker recruits based on his past work of who he coached and got drafted, coaching record from college and NFL, being a former pro and AA in college.

As far as his son anyone with common sense would send their kid to Vandy in baseball. If you choose to attend a game why wouldn't you eat refreshments or concessions. Hell if it were my son I'd have worn a jersey showing who i was there to represent. At Vany you are almost guaranteed to play for a NC and be drafted very high. So nothing wrong with what he did there either.

Think before you post and wear clear glasses not ones with orange tint. In life you hv to weigh decisions and they must mk sense not for the right now but in the future. The Rockers definitely did this.

Have you spent any time with UT's baseball coach lately? UT has the best pitching coach in college baseball. That's coming from people who know baseball. Just like football, our baseball team is gonna be a force in the college game. Guys that used to flock to Candy now come to UT.