'16 TN OL Bryce Mathews (Ole Miss commit)

#457
#457
So what has changed with Matthews in recent months? The last time I read this thread, or really just anything in general about Matthews, it didn't look good for UT. Wasn't Matthews pretty much considered a Texas A&M lock at one point in time? If memory serves me correct, hasn't Bryce had several immediate family members play at A&M?

247 now has Matthews with a 67% chance of going to UT, compared to just a 25% chance of committing to A&M. Why the sudden change of heart? What am I missing here? I'm fully aware his Brentwood teammate and good friend (Ryan Johnson) has been committed to UT for awhile now. I guess Johnson has been recruiting Matthews like a mad man for us too. I just never expected Butch to be able to steal this particular A&M "legacy" player, especially considering how not too long ago he seemed like a for sure lock for A&M. Any knowledge on the matter that anybody has to share would be greatly appreciated.
 
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#458
#458
ainge10heisman said:
So what has changed with Matthews in recent months? The last time I read this thread, or really just anything in general about Matthews, it didn't look good for UT. Wasn't Matthews pretty much once considered a Texas A&M lock at one point in time? If memory serves me correct, hasn't Bryce had several immediate family members play at A&M?

247 now has Matthews with a 67% chance of going to UT, compared to just a 25% chance of committing to A&M. Why the sudden change of heart? What am I missing here? I'm fully aware his Brentwood teammate and good friend (Ryan Johnson) has been committed to UT for awhile now. I guess Johnson has been recruiting Matthews like a mad man for us. Any knowledge on the matter that anybody has to share would be greatly appreciated.
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Butch
 
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#459
#459
Smokey49 said:
Butch
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Yeah, you can never count Butch out. I'd be lying though if I said I ever thought CBJ would be able to get him to commit to us considering Matthews ties to A&M, and how fondly he once spoke about their team/program. It's still a long ways to go until NSD, but by all accounts Matthews seems to be a heavy UT lean now.

We really do need to secure a commitment from Matthews though. You can never have too many high quality offensive lineman. It will suck if we lose out on this guy in the end though since he fills a position of need, plus with him being a local Tennessee prospect. Losing highly rated TN prospects always seems to hurt the most.
 
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#460
#460
ainge10heisman said:
Yeah, you can never count Butch out. I'd be lying though if I said I ever thought CBJ would be able to get him to commit to us considering Matthews ties to A&M, and how fondly he once spoke about their team/program. It's still a long ways to go until NSD, but by all accounts Matthews seems to be a heavy UT lean now.
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He's a legacy. Doesnt matter to what school. Butch gets the legacies
 
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#461
#461
Orange And Garnet said:
He's a legacy. Doesnt matter to what school. Butch gets the legacies
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Haha right! I guess that just shows how great of a recruiter ole Butch really is. How many other coaches do you see stealing highly rated legacy players of other programs? At one point Matthews was ALL A&M, and that's why I'm a little amazed.
 
#467
#467
ainge10heisman said:
Yeah, you can never count Butch out. I'd be lying though if I said I ever thought CBJ would be able to get him to commit to us considering Matthews ties to A&M, and how fondly he once spoke about their team/program. It's still a long ways to go until NSD, but by all accounts Matthews seems to be a heavy UT lean now.

We really do need to secure a commitment from Matthews though. You can never have too many high quality offensive lineman. It will suck if we lose out on this guy in the end though since he fills a position of need, plus with him being a local Tennessee prospect. Losing highly rated TN prospects always seems to hurt the most.
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My answer was a little tongue in cheek but basically the truth. I think some of the factors have been Butch is awesome, Knoxville is pretty close to home and A&M didn't prioritize him.
 
#468
#468
ainge10heisman said:
So what has changed with Matthews in recent months? The last time I read this thread, or really just anything in general about Matthews, it didn't look good for UT. Wasn't Matthews pretty much considered a Texas A&M lock at one point in time? If memory serves me correct, hasn't Bryce had several immediate family members play at A&M?

247 now has Matthews with a 67% chance of going to UT, compared to just a 25% chance of committing to A&M. Why the sudden change of heart? What am I missing here? I'm fully aware his Brentwood teammate and good friend (Ryan Johnson) has been committed to UT for awhile now. I guess Johnson has been recruiting Matthews like a mad man for us too. I just never expected Butch to be able to steal this particular A&M "legacy" player, especially considering how not too long ago he seemed like a for sure lock for A&M. Any knowledge on the matter that anybody has to share would be greatly appreciated.
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Bryce has never been an aTm lock. I think people just assumed that since his dad went to aTm that he would too. His dad has always said that he wants Bryce to go where he wants to go and Bryce likes UT so there was always interest. Jason said from the very beginning that Bryce was "wide open" as far as who he would consider.

Also, and this is just speculation on my part but since Jason coaches every Friday night at BA and is the full-time Director of Admissions there I suspect that Bryce may like to stay closer to Brentwood. There's no doubt that Jason and Kim have the resources to get to every game Bryce plays in college but I suspect it would be really nice to be closer.

I have no idea where Bryce ends up. They've kept that one really close to the vest but it's no secret that he really likes UT. He's been open about that.
 
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#471
#471
I think part of the swing was TAMU didn't see/push him as much of a priority. maybe he felt a little under appreciated on that front??? maybe, just a feeling, no insider.
 
#473
#473
Per TigerIllustrated

While Clemson has been regarded as a contender to watch, Tennessee and Ole Miss have been viewed as the most prominent factors in his recruitment.

"(The visit) definitely helped Clemson," Mathews said. "I had only been there once, so to follow that up and get that same impression of it - it was a special place, a real family oriented place. It's somewhere I could see myself spending the next four or five years at going to school at. It's definitely the kind of place I'm looking at now."

Mathews said the Clemson stop will be his final visit before he makes a commitment, which could come as early as this weekend "if the timing's right."

He expects to call the involved coaching staffs and announce his choice via Twitter.

"There is a certain school I'm gravitating toward more," Mathews said. "But I need to go weigh my options and make sure I'm doing what feels right.

"I just have to make sure I'm 100 percent confident about it and don't have any doubts about it. I just have to take time to pray about it and talk to friends and family and weigh my different options.
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