Will TN be able to recruit

[House of Neyland]

I know one thing we aren’t going to catch up to Georgia or out recruit Kirby anytime and that is why we won’t be beating them or winning the East anytime soon as long as he is there.

 

[BRIGA]

Heupel will probably get called up to take over the Sooners anyway.

 

[Voltopia]

Out of the 15 four star players in Tennessee for 2022, only 1 has verballed to Tennessee. The 13 other four star players are verballed to other schools and clearly couldn't care less about Tennessee.

A long, long way to go when your own in-state kids think so little of your school.

 

[vols 30]

Out of the 15 four star players in Tennessee for 2022, only 1 has verballed to Tennessee. The 13 other four star players are verballed to other schools and clearly couldn't care less about Tennessee.

A long, long way to go when your own in-state kids think so little of your school.

Sad

 

[TNnative]

He's definitely coaching them up but eventually he'll have to build the recruiting base. This class is pretty blah but the product he's putting on the field is showing his potential. I hate to be overly optimistic because we've been burned for 20 years but everyone has to be feeling the buzz he's developing around the program.

OK. It's "blah". But at this red hot moment? The Pruitt investigation is not completely concluded. We don't know have anything 100% official on what restrictions Tennessee is self imposing, or if the NCAA will throw a few more logs on the fire. There are a few unknown still flooating about on this situation. But You are not taking that into account. let's find out how that is going to play out. And accept this is probably the big reason why we are floating in "Blahville" right now.

I get you guys wanting things to build. But this is probably why things are not so rosy at this point. Patience. Good grief, no wonder my migraines are coming back. I think it is you guys!

Tennessee football future being sabotaged by NCAA prolonging investigation

 

[minorvol]

I don't think we need to anymore. The transfer portal is an equalizer if you use it right. Right now, there are 2,000+ players in the transfer portal. If you can identify talent that fits, you can flip the roster with experienced players in just one year. Sure, we all want to see Tennessee recruiting in the top 10 every year, but the reality of it is, the game has changed.

Excellent point. But CJH still has to recruit the portal players to TN. But he’s done pretty well with QBs so there is hope he can do that with other positions.

 

[JoAllan]

Out of the 15 four star players in Tennessee for 2022, only 1 has verballed to Tennessee. The 13 other four star players are verballed to other schools and clearly couldn't care less about Tennessee.

A long, long way to go when your own in-state kids think so little of your school.

You’re correct; however there is the NCAA stuff hanging over. Tennessee did win just 3 games last year……and now have yet another new coach.

Those things mean a lot to recruits.

Got to find out about the NCAA investigation. Got to keep improving that helps in standing and shows confidence in the coach and in the fact he may be here a while.

Also now they have got to get legal $$ flowing……..free cookies isn’t going to cut it.

From the above Tennessee’s recruiting will improve quit a bit I suspect……..not saying top 5 or anything…….but just from those……it will get much better……and quick.

That is depending on how the NCAA situation turns out.

 

[bpalmer28]

You’re correct; however there is the NCAA stuff hanging over. Tennessee did win just 3 games last year……and now have yet another new coach.

Those things mean a lot to recruits.

Got to find out about the NCAA investigation. Got to keep improving that helps in standing and shows confidence in the coach and in the fact he may be here a while.

Also now they have got to get legal $$ flowing……..free cookies isn’t going to cut it.

From the above Tennessee’s recruiting will improve quit a bit I suspect……..not saying top 5 or anything…….but just from those……it will get much better……and quick.

That is depending on how the NCAA situation turns out.

Saw where Tiyon was advertising for an AC company today. Where is Comcast and Pilot???

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

Not worried about it at all

We finally have a good coach and now the recruiting will start to suck?

Nah

We will be A okay.

 

[JoAllan]

Saw where Tiyon was advertising for an AC company today. Where is Comcast and Pilot???

That right there and the NCAA “thing” could change Tennessee’s fortunes quickly……or very slowly…..in regards to recruiting.

Again not talking about top 5 or anything……but much better.

 

[Elhanan]

That all depends on the people with money.

Want great recruits? Offer more than the other guy.

 

[TNnative]

That all depends on the people with money.

Want great recruits? Offer more than the other guy.

Actually, I got a feeling that the NCAA is waiting to find out which boosters were putting the lettuce in the McDonald's bags. Not really thinking Pruitt was loading them up from his own accounts, are you? I don't know if you ever saw the documentary about the rich guy who was doing monotary favors for Miami players. But the Hurricanes had to part ways with him.

Vols might have to do the same. But it might be kind of like that Monty Python public stoning scene from "Life of Brian" A little cross dressing might be in order for a few folks for the rest of the decade.

 

[VolArmy74]

I think recruiting will be fine once the NCAA stuff goes away and maybe even before then. There's still pretty girls in Knoxville. UT is still a great college life atmosphere. Those two factors play heavily into recruiting and always have. We are ahead of schedule as far as program improvement. The offense is a virtual carnival ride that features quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs as well as offensive linemen, better than most in the league.

I also have faith in Heupel's coaching ability to the extent that if we get a full roster of top 15 talent, we can and will compete with anyone in the league. We are just used to having to out talent everyone to have a chance based on previous coaching administrations. The most talented team in the SEC has played in the SECCG often, but that's because Saban also has the coaching to back it up. In the 2010s South Carolina went to the SECCG and Missouri went twice while having 3rd-5th in the East level talent. Auburn went twice with less talent than Alabama or LSU and at least two of Florida's trips they had less talent than Georgia.

In the composite talent rankings LSU, Florida and A&M are all in the top 8 nationally and Auburn is 14th. Florida is contending for worst team not named Vandy in the league at this point in the season. LSU is awful and in a coaching search. A&M just finished getting swept by the Mississippi schools, who are down the chain quite a bit in SEC talent ranking vs them. Coaching matters a whole lot.

 

[Powder and shot]

Sad when Tennessee families and players don't recognize Tennessee as the greatest state along with it's premier University.

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

Name one TN HC in the last 50 years that has walked into the situation Heupel has.

I’d argue Dooley walked into a pretty grim situation. Not as bad as JH, but remember he came into the position at the very end of December, early January with just, if I remember correctly, 2-3 weeks until signing say (this was before early signing day existed). So he had a pretty rough go in year 1. Not as bad as JH’s, but I’d rank it pretty close.

 

[PG1]

Well then the question is will the fanbase accept being a perineal 7-5 to 8-4 type team

Yes most of us are realists and that’s just what we are and gonna be.

 

[West Vol]

This is trueish but...
Dooley walked in after a class decimated with Kiffin defactors (I think only 2 of the original class ended their careers with UT)
Butch walked in after a class in which Dooley took no OL in an entire year

Not arguing that Heupel has it the hardest, but it shouldn't be a total excuse if he fails to recruit

Dooley also walked into a lot of really good recruiting groundwork laid by the last staff. Kiffin was planning on being here in 2010. It was a last second deal that made him depart, so he was actively trying to get good players in Knoxville in his final days here. Dooley basically started his career with an NFL offense (granted they were all young). And the Tennessee brand still had a decent amount of juice at that point to entice future recruits. His failure is 100% on him.

Now the other guys did walk into really tough situations. Dooley didn’t recruit his entire last year. Butch’s crew really tailed off at the end. Pruitt’s guys were barely trying at the end, too.

 

[LWSVOL]

Like we did in the 90’s or are those days gone? I think Butch and Pruitt were able to have top 5-10 classes (although Pruitt not legally). Can our history, tradition and resources still command top 5 classes or does our current landscape make this impossible? Is Nashville growth really going to help us that much? Georgia has pretty much cut us off due to UGA’s success. How about North/South Carolina? What is the realistic outlook for UT’s recruiting? Everyone keeps saying that CJH needs better players but to what extent is that possible?

won't know the answer to that until 3-4 years after the final chapter on the investigation is written. But not likely to recruit to that level for a long, long time

 

[West Vol]

I’d argue Dooley walked into a pretty grim situation. Not as bad as JH, but remember he came into the position at the very end of December, early January with just, if I remember correctly, 2-3 weeks until signing say (this was before early signing day existed). So he had a pretty rough go in year 1. Not as bad as JH’s, but I’d rank it pretty close.

Pretty sure he had multiple early enrollees already on campus and serious headway made for several other big time players. That class was where the bulk of his playmakers came from. Other than CP84, he never again attracted that kind of talent. Also had AJ Johnson committed and I think Brian Randolph for the next class.

 

[GoVols64]

Like we did in the 90’s or are those days gone? I think Butch and Pruitt were able to have top 5-10 classes (although Pruitt not legally). Can our history, tradition and resources still command top 5 classes or does our current landscape make this impossible? Is Nashville growth really going to help us that much? Georgia has pretty much cut us off due to UGA’s success. How about North/South Carolina? What is the realistic outlook for UT’s recruiting? Everyone keeps saying that CJH needs better players but to what extent is that possible?

Those days are gone for everyone except Bama, Ohio State, UGA and maybe Clemson. We will have to get rish in the portal and make the most of 3 and 4 stars. We keep winning and they will come though; Tennessee is a great destination!

 

[ButchPlz]

It is one thing to recruit, and win the star search. It is another to develop. Yeah Butch recruited well, in his first class, but the talent that came from those classes took a slight downward trajectory with each year. And Hell, he ran off about half of his own recruits. As we later learned fully, some in really crappy ways. Pruitt? Well his development and game day results was pretty much akin to Jones. And both took 4 and 5 stars and tuned them into 2 and 3 stars.

Heupel is taking what he has got, added to the pool out of neccessity from the transfer portal, and what freshmen he has brought in, some may have yet to crack into the rotation.

History tradition and resources might bring a few in. But more importantly, what HS recruits are seeing should eventually translate in attracting higher level talent. Heupel is taking what he has and getting the best out of them. This team is really starting to make strong statements.

Time will tell, but ask yourself this. If you were a recruit, would you want to play for Heupel? I'm 61 and too banged up to grasp it. But you would are a little less cynical and used up should consider that question. Just comparing this staff's first year to Pruitt's Jones', Dooley or Kiffin's first year? I feel Heupel is more the real deal than those other four put together.

Goes with my point- Heupel doesn't need to burn it down in recruiting immediately. He's doing better than we all thought with zero depth and a lot of transfer talent. Recruiting needs to be competent, and we need a couple portal guys. The process will be a real process this time, with step by step progress.

 

[Atlanta917]

Like we did in the 90’s or are those days gone? I think Butch and Pruitt were able to have top 5-10 classes (although Pruitt not legally). Can our history, tradition and resources still command top 5 classes or does our current landscape make this impossible? Is Nashville growth really going to help us that much? Georgia has pretty much cut us off due to UGA’s success. How about North/South Carolina? What is the realistic outlook for UT’s recruiting? Everyone keeps saying that CJH needs better players but to what extent is that possible?

Too many good recruits in Georgia for UGA to sign. The goal at first should be to get what you can and cherry pick the 5*’s with interest. Do the same in the Carolinas and Florida. With auburn, Clemson, and the Florida schools being down, now is the time to get what you can. The main thing holding Tennessee back is uncertainty with sanctions.

 

[ru4real-really?]

yesterdays opening drive against the best defense in the land in the best arena in college football should be a pretty good recruiting tool don't you think! It made everybody think "the Vols are back"!

 

[Brave Volunteer]

With Georgia, Alabama, and Clemson all having unprecedented success, its a terrible recipe for our recruiting, as we compete with all 3 of them for a lot of the same recruits and with Texas and Oklahoma coming into the league its just going to get tougher. I'm 50 and if I'm being completely honest, I dont believe I will live to see the same level of success that we had in the 90's. I'd love to be wrong but I don't think I am. At this point I just want the "hemorrhaging" to stop! I just want our football program to not be a complete embarassment anymore which would consist of the following minimals...

1. Beat the teams in the league we are supposed to beat every year. (Vandy, KY, SC, and Mizzou).

2. Fight for 4 quarters against GA, AL, and FL every year and not look completely outclassed.

3. Consistently have a winning record every year and go to a bowl game.

If we can be at a level to maintain this floor of success and maybe have the chance to have a real special season every 4 years or so, then I will be content. Anything beyond this would be icing on the cake.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

A possible down turn at Clemson does nothing but benefit our recruiting both here and there as well as in Georgia.

That could be offset by an uptick in success at SC. Don't know what young Beamer's ceiling is, but he has some good credentials and some positive press working for him now. BUT SOS could never get over the hump

There is very little one can take away from the 90's , CPF took advantage of what it WAS, but that has changed regionally and nationally. Lots of programs have healed, the number of TV games has lowered impact of Momma demanding kid stay close to home so more kids will shop a wider area, and now NIL and Portal have undetermined total impact. Program stability, success and trendlines are now more important than ever. Schools still have their place in regional and national status, but instate loyalty is not what it used to be, and has been replaced with drive time and travel expense where that is a family priority. So we are still in a good spot if you place a 3-5 hour drive time circle around Neyland. Once we clean up the NCAA stuff that will factor in our national status as well, if we in fact start trending the right direction. Then you` have to get lucky with depth charts at preferred or closer schools a prospect has. Perception given by national talking heads on radio and TV can be a tie breaker. It is all as clear as mud.