'27 TN S Kenneth Simon

[VOLINVONORE]

That would be awesome. I really want to see the '27 class built around the in-state kids.

There is a ton of top end talent and I think having home grown kids is as important as ever in the NIL era.

I want to build the team around the best players we can convince to play at Tennessee. If some of them are from Tennessee, great, but we need the best players regardless of where they played high school football.

 

[allvolrecruiting]

I want to build the team around the best players we can convince to play at Tennessee. If some of them are from Tennessee, great, but we need the best players regardless of where they played high school football.

Which a good bit of them are in Tennessee in 2027 class as the poster implied. It is still important to recruit within your practical radius as you try to get players that will stay long-term as the poster also stated

I agree with your point too though. They need to elevate the level of the players in-state that they have been taking. I think a lot of that will be fixed with Knowles actually valuing the secondary. The amount of top DBs in the state that have left and Tennessee was simply never really in on is rough. But hey Banks got his 3 developmental guys that fit what Willie liked to work with!

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Which a good bit of them are in Tennessee in 2027 class as the poster implied. It is still important to recruit within your practical radius as you try to get players that will stay long-term as the poster also stated

I agree with your point too though. They need to elevate the level of the players in-state that they have been taking. I think a lot of that will be fixed with Knowles actually valuing the secondary. The amount of top DBs in the state that have left and Tennessee was simply never really in on is rough. But hey Banks got his 3 developmental guys that fit what Willie liked to work with!

We have a few players who are legitimately 5* type players, but Tennessee does not come lose to States like Georgia, Florida, Texas, California etc. It good to be able to get 3-4 of the top rated players as long they fit the needs of the roster.

 

[allvolrecruiting]

We have a few players who are legitimately 5* type players, but Tennessee does not come lose to States like Georgia, Florida, Texas, California etc. It good to be able to get 3-4 of the top rated players as long they fit the needs of the roster.

I hope your not expecting a coaching staff at Tennessee to live in California, Texas etc. Texas kids don't usually pan out anyway past their top 4-5 prospects. Florida is just speed and you can find that elsewhere. If it a complete prospect, they are going to end up at OSU, UF, UGA, Bama, etc. Staff needs to be living in Georgia ABSOLUTELY and they have failed to grow balls and put resources into getting some of the top guys from that state, but I think that could change under Knowles. Would ideally be living in Georgia, NC, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama and Tennessee and then poach a prospect they like from different areas around the nation.

Tennessee has gotten a couple highly-rated OL prospects from Texas that they beat out legit programs for. None of them are here...

 

[LittleVol]

I hope your not expecting a coaching staff at Tennessee to live in California, Texas etc. Texas kids don't usually pan out anyway past their top 4-5 prospects. Florida is just speed and you can find that elsewhere. If it a complete prospect, they are going to end up at OSU, UF, UGA, Bama, etc. Staff needs to be living in Georgia ABSOLUTELY and they have failed to grow balls and put resources into getting some of the top guys from that state, but I think that could change under Knowles. Would ideally be living in Georgia, NC, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama and Tennessee and then poach a prospect they like from different areas around the nation.

Tennessee has gotten a couple highly-rated OL prospects from Texas that they beat out legit programs for. None of them are here...

We’ve been awesome in the Carolinas but Fulmer I think had the best success in Georgia.
Eric Brrry
Deon Grant
Jamal Lewis etc


Heupel was able to get Rouse which was nice but we definitely need to pick it up in Georgia.

 

[SugarCC]

We’ve been awesome in the Carolinas but Fulmer I think had the best success in Georgia.
Eric Brrry
Deon Grant
Jamal Lewis etc


Heupel was able to get Rouse which was nice but we definitely need to pick it up in Georgia.

While no, not on the level of those guys...then again, not many are on that level; Tyre West, Mike Matthews, Ethan Davis, Travis Smith, Christian Gass, Jadon Perlotte, Jaedon Harmon...all from Georgia.

 

[allvolrecruiting]

While no, not on the level of those guys...then again, not many are on that level; Tyre West, Mike Matthews, Ethan Davis, Travis Smith, Christian Gass, Jadon Perlotte, Jaedon Harmon...all from Georgia.

Yeah but Rouse was the one they went in and competed with all the recruiting powers legitimately and got the job done. Mike wanted to leave the state. Bama preferred Meadows and was not waiting for TSJ. Stole Tyre from UGA but he was their fourth-best DT commit. So on and so on.

They went in to mid GA and beat out Texas, Michigan, Alabama, etc for Brayden Rouse who was a premier premier prospect

 

[SugarCC]

Yeah but Rouse was the one they went in and competed with all the recruiting powers legitimately and got the job done. Mike wanted to leave the state. Bama preferred Meadows and was not waiting for TSJ. Stole Tyre from UGA but he was their fourth-best DT commit. So on and so on.

They went in to mid GA and beat out Texas, Michigan, Alabama, etc for Brayden Rouse who was a premier premier prospect

Ok.

 

[allvolrecruiting]

To be clear, those players are good players and need to get those guys absolutely. Nothing against them, but would like to see them be more aggressive in easily the most productive state for college football prospects. At the end of the day, you have to have some game changers to go from good to great. Tennessee needs to do a better job getting into those big recruitments that are not at QB, one top offensive target, or with the last defensive staff, LEO.

Not a Georgia guy but go get a Josh Dobson. Go into Georgia and get a top-5 guard recruit in Jordan Agbanoma.

A program that is doing this the best right now is Texas A&M. Obviously can not measure the impact of those 2026 and 2027 guys yet, but they went in and got a premier stand up edge rusher in Tristan Givens, a productive DL at Buford in Bryce Perry-Wright, a top receiver in Aaron Gregory (granted he fell thru the cracks which still blows my mind) in 2026. In 27, they got a top QB recruit in Jayce Johnson and two other blue-chip recruits already and just getting started.

Knowles actually placing value on the defensive unit and Heupel placing value on acquiring Knowles and letting him run the show on that side of the ball is an encouraging sign that things will progress forward. Kelsey Pope is taking big swings at receiver. Sims needs to get DGG but he has a loaded RB board past that too with three high-impact guys not named DGG having Tennessee at the top of list. Abes has done a good job at tight end. Need to land one of these big name OLs. The potential for 2027 class is very high BECAUSE they are taking the right steps forward

 

[Vol423]

We’ve been awesome in the Carolinas but Fulmer I think had the best success in Georgia.
Eric Brrry
Deon Grant
Jamal Lewis etc


Heupel was able to get Rouse which was nice but we definitely need to pick it up in Georgia.

Fulmer had his success when there were nowhere near as many excellent programs with high quality head coaches in the SEC as there are now, including Georgia.

 

[LittleVol]

Fulmer had his success when there were nowhere near as many excellent programs with high quality head coaches in the SEC as there are now, including Georgia.

Yes, but there’s more talent now in Georgia than there was back then.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Yeah but Rouse was the one they went in and competed with all the recruiting powers legitimately and got the job done. Mike wanted to leave the state. Bama preferred Meadows and was not waiting for TSJ. Stole Tyre from UGA but he was their fourth-best DT commit. So on and so on.

They went in to mid GA and beat out Texas, Michigan, Alabama, etc for Brayden Rouse who was a premier premier prospect

Harmon was committed to Alabama and we beat Georgia for Perlotte.

 

[allvolrecruiting]

Harmon was committed to Alabama and we beat Georgia for Perlotte.

Got a previous Georgia commit in Perlotte and did flip Harmon yes, but as mentioned in other parts of the message, I meant for getting the players at the top of everyone's board like Rouse was.

Harmon and Perlotte would have been the last rated LB commit for each Bama/UGA

 

[pricevol5]

What about going into Mississippi and getting the #1, #3, and #12 player while Ole Miss has their best season ever.

Staff not getting enough credit for that.

 

[allvolrecruiting]

What about going into Mississippi and getting the #1, #3, and #12 player while Ole Miss has their best season ever.

Staff not getting enough credit for that.

Yes! This was great. This shows the type of battles they should be in on and that they can win enough of them with investment

 

[Jackcrevol]

Simon is worth a listen. The other three - not sure they could collaborate to change a light bulb.

i dunno someone posted that KSi was pissed at the coaching staff for some things, and kid was likely going elsewhere. notice he's no longer a tennessee fan

 

[VOLINVONORE]

i dunno someone posted that KSi was pissed at the coaching staff for some things, and kid was likely going elsewhere. notice he's no longer a tennessee fan

I am glad this was in blue font

 

[Jackcrevol]

I am glad this was in blue font

if there were a darker shade of sarcasm I would have uses that. literally some of the silliest commentary around Kevin Simon id read.

 

[jvols1999]

To be clear, those players are good players and need to get those guys absolutely. Nothing against them, but would like to see them be more aggressive in easily the most productive state for college football prospects. At the end of the day, you have to have some game changers to go from good to great. Tennessee needs to do a better job getting into those big recruitments that are not at QB, one top offensive target, or with the last defensive staff, LEO.

Not a Georgia guy but go get a Josh Dobson. Go into Georgia and get a top-5 guard recruit in Jordan Agbanoma.

A program that is doing this the best right now is Texas A&M. Obviously can not measure the impact of those 2026 and 2027 guys yet, but they went in and got a premier stand up edge rusher in Tristan Givens, a productive DL at Buford in Bryce Perry-Wright, a top receiver in Aaron Gregory (granted he fell thru the cracks which still blows my mind) in 2026. In 27, they got a top QB recruit in Jayce Johnson and two other blue-chip recruits already and just getting started.

Knowles actually placing value on the defensive unit and Heupel placing value on acquiring Knowles and letting him run the show on that side of the ball is an encouraging sign that things will progress forward. Kelsey Pope is taking big swings at receiver. Sims needs to get DGG but he has a loaded RB board past that too with three high-impact guys not named DGG having Tennessee at the top of list. Abes has done a good job at tight end. Need to land one of these big name OLs. The potential for 2027 class is very high BECAUSE they are taking the right steps forward

Great post

 

[Jackcrevol]

To be clear, those players are good players and need to get those guys absolutely. Nothing against them, but would like to see them be more aggressive in easily the most productive state for college football prospects. At the end of the day, you have to have some game changers to go from good to great. Tennessee needs to do a better job getting into those big recruitments that are not at QB, one top offensive target, or with the last defensive staff, LEO.

Not a Georgia guy but go get a Josh Dobson. Go into Georgia and get a top-5 guard recruit in Jordan Agbanoma.

A program that is doing this the best right now is Texas A&M. Obviously can not measure the impact of those 2026 and 2027 guys yet, but they went in and got a premier stand up edge rusher in Tristan Givens, a productive DL at Buford in Bryce Perry-Wright, a top receiver in Aaron Gregory (granted he fell thru the cracks which still blows my mind) in 2026. In 27, they got a top QB recruit in Jayce Johnson and two other blue-chip recruits already and just getting started.

Knowles actually placing value on the defensive unit and Heupel placing value on acquiring Knowles and letting him run the show on that side of the ball is an encouraging sign that things will progress forward. Kelsey Pope is taking big swings at receiver. Sims needs to get DGG but he has a loaded RB board past that too with three high-impact guys not named DGG having Tennessee at the top of list. Abes has done a good job at tight end. Need to land one of these big name OLs. The potential for 2027 class is very high BECAUSE they are taking the right steps forward

so fahr? i'm kidding. good post

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Top in-state target excited about Knowles taking over the defense​

Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy four-star linebacker prospect Kenneth Simon II is building a fast rapport with Knowles.

“Coach Knowles was really cool,” Simon said of the Vols big defensive coordinator hire. “Being able to sit with him and go over some different ways he could use me.”

Simon has a great connection with the staff.

“Also Coach (William) Inge and my family had a great meeting and then me and Coach Heupel’s relationship is very strong right now.”
Alabama, Texas A&M and Georgia are other suitors in the Simon sweepstakes.

-On3