Tennessee football: Vols surging with critical recruiting season coming
"For a program that prides itself on winning championships, the 2019 Vols won’t be held in that same vein. However, they could be remembered as the team that helped UT return to being significant once again. The Vols closed the season with a winning record. That’s a long way from that loss to Georgia State.
What caused the sudden turnaround? Pruitt. Simply put, he was the perfect coach for the resurrection of this season. He was steadfast in his beliefs of simply getting better every day and building a foundation on defense and more defense.
The Vols rank seventh in the SEC in defense but that doesn’t illustrate just how far they have come. When needed, UT’s defense was ready. The Vols have held their last four opponents to 21 points or fewer. No, that’s not dynasty worthy, but it’s progress.
Progress means relevancy and Tennessee has not been relevant for a decade.
Imagine a couple of 5-star recruits signing with the Vols now that they’re being mentioned once again. More importantly, imagine a special signal-caller that took a gander at Tennessee’s resurgence. Has he been swayed? That could be the difference. Imagine a special quarterback that didn’t look elsewhere had UT’s season gone down the tubes.
Let’s not put too much on just one player, but a special quarterback and a handful of defensive playmakers is all the Vols need. Yes, they’re that close. The Vols have proven they’ll rally behind their head coach and have the mental fortitude to overcome tough times. That leads to success."
I have a feeling that Pruitt will close strong similar to last year. We are on fire right now and there's no way recruits aren't noticing. The future is Bright Orange Nation
GBO