'17 TN ATH Jacoby Stevens (LSU commit)

[BaldBiker]

So rather than dealing with the point of his post.... you quibble over a brain cramp?

He's correct of course. These are mid and east TN players. That should be a lock down area for UT.

No. It actually doesn't have to be, and to be honest, parts of Middle TN are just as close to other schools as they are to UT. Couple that with the fact that not all kids in Middle TN are UT fans, it actually makes people that say this sound pretty ridiculous. JS lives in TN. Maybe even born here (can't remember), but his family's loyalties have never really been to UT. The young man grew up a LSU fan. So what? It's his choice.

Atlanta is a hotbed for Georgia Football, but it is by no means a lock down area for them. A good chunk of our best players are from the greater Atlanta/ North Georgia area. Also, to be honest, Middle Tn recruits leaving Middle TN to go anywhere (to include UT) is more a knock on Derrick Mason and Vanderbilt's inability to do anything worth a damn then it is on Butch Jones.

As far as your first sentence goes. Take that sh** back over to the FF. I'm not one of your FF lackeys that hangs on to your every word. I don't give a damn what you think about it.

 

[BaldBiker]

I am saying he is recruiting the best players for his system. He has mentioned in-state recruits sure has he made a big deal about it? As big as the people on here do? No. The home state or failure thing was created and is nurtured on this site.

Seems like a pretty easy thing to understand to me.

The bolded part is absolutely true.

 

[Vol464]

No. It actually doesn't have to be, and to be honest, parts of Middle TN are just as close to other schools as they are to UT. Couple that with the fact that not all kids in Middle TN are UT fans, it actually makes people that say this sound pretty ridiculous. JS lives in TN. Maybe even born here (can't remember), but his family's loyalties have never really been to UT. The young man grew up a LSU fan. So what? It's his choice.

Atlanta is a hotbed for Georgia Football, but it is by no means a lock down area for them. A good chunk of our best players are from the greater Atlanta/ North Georgia area. Also, to be honest, Middle Tn recruits leaving Middle TN to go anywhere (to include UT) is more a knock on Derrick Mason and Vanderbilt's inability to do anything worth a damn then it is on Butch Jones.

As far as your first sentence goes. Take that sh** back over to the FF. I'm not one of your FF lackeys that hangs on to your every word. I don't give a damn what you think about it.

Earned a like for the final paragraph

 

[HalfullVol]

The kid grew up in La. Probably has a lot of relatives and good memories of his time there.

Never saw this happening.

 

[BaldBiker]

The kid grew up in La. Probably has a lot of relatives and good memories of his time there.

Never saw this happening.

Exactly. While I thought it was stupid for people to react the way they did, I could at least understand people's frustration in the Higgins thread. To come into this thread and do the same thing is absolutely ridiculous. It's been known for a long time that Jacoby was More than likely going to LSU.

 

[Jax_Vol]

What atomic bomb? I'm here now, Ill ask around!

The Germans dropped it on Pearl Harbor

 

[bignewt]

And we didnt quit then either!

 

[butchna]

So you are saying that UT did not recruit and is not recruiting the most talented players in the state?

Or maybe you are saying Jones was wrong when he made a big deal over the need to get the best players in your home state.... and his appeal to them about playing for their home state university?

Who exactly are you arguing with? :huh:

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

why are some trying to spin these losses into not a big deal?

All we heard last year was, "just wait til next year. It is a great year for talent in tn hsfb". According to rivals, ut got just 2 of the top 10 players in tn last year. Right now rivals has 13 guys ranked 4*. The top 3 are already committed to someone other than ut. Of the 7 committed, only two are committed to ut.

This isn't good. Regardless of what you blame it on, only one guy is paid to fix it.... And his job likely depends on getting it fixed.

The 247 composite looks a bit worse. They only rank 7 tn players as 4* plus two with 5*. Five of these 9 are committed with only one to ut. Neither 5* is committed to ut.

That is a worse percentage of top instate players than bama, uga, lsu, and uf get. If ut is to compete then this must change.

👆=💩💩💩

 

[Jax_Vol]

Jacoby isn't even really a Tennessee guy. He grew up elsewhere. Just happened to land here. Bunch of relatives in Louisiana.


Not counting this one at all.

 

[Outofmyvolcanmind]

Jacoby isn't even really a Tennessee guy. He grew up elsewhere. Just happened to land here. Bunch of relatives in Louisiana.


Not counting this one at all.

To be honest, only Alabama kids seem loyal.

All other states are impressionable.

 

[sjt18]

No. It actually doesn't have to be, and to be honest, parts of Middle TN are just as close to other schools as they are to UT. Couple that with the fact that not all kids in Middle TN are UT fans, it actually makes people that say this sound pretty ridiculous. JS lives in TN. Maybe even born here (can't remember), but his family's loyalties have never really been to UT. The young man grew up a LSU fan. So what? It's his choice.

Atlanta is a hotbed for Georgia Football, but it is by no means a lock down area for them. A good chunk of our best players are from the greater Atlanta/ North Georgia area. Also, to be honest, Middle Tn recruits leaving Middle TN to go anywhere (to include UT) is more a knock on Derrick Mason and Vanderbilt's inability to do anything worth a damn then it is on Butch Jones.

Right. UGA gets who they want from every corner of GA. UF or FSU get pretty much everyone they want out of FL. LSU pretty much gets everyone they want out of LA.

But UT.... none of the good players in TN grow up UT fans so we shouldn't expect them to want to play for UT, right?

Vandy, really?

As far as your first sentence goes. Take that sh** back over to the FF. I'm not one of your FF lackeys that hangs on to your every word. I don't give a damn what you think about it.

No. I'd rather hand that sh** to you after your smart aleck attempt to avoid a valid argument. Sorry... but I'm not one of your "lackeys" that you dismiss because you can't handle what I post.

 

[sjt18]

I am saying he is recruiting the best players for his system. He has mentioned in-state recruits sure has he made a big deal about it? As big as the people on here do? No. The home state or failure thing was created and is nurtured on this site.

He's made a pretty big deal out of it. The "system" argument might work here and there.... but not for 80% of the highest ranked players in the state.

People just don't want to admit that this recruiting class and particularly with in state recruits isn't going as well as everyone hoped.

I think Jones does a pretty good job of jumping on some players before anyone else figures out who they are. I think Lewis in particular fits that mold this year. But UT needs to be the first option for most of the players east of Nashville at least.

That plus establishing a pipeline into ATL is how UT has to recruit.

 

[Kristy*]

Right. UGA gets who they want from every corner of GA. UF or FSU get pretty much everyone they want out of FL. LSU pretty much gets everyone they want out of LA.

. . .

GA, FL, LA? Come on. . . We have taken players from each of those states in CBJ's tenure. And I would have to believe we aren't the only team able to poach star players from those border-less states. Looks like your argument needs fixin'. I'll wait. :zeitung_lesen:

 

[Outofmyvolcanmind]

Right. UGA gets who they want from every corner of GA. UF or FSU get pretty much everyone they want out of FL. LSU pretty much gets everyone they want out of LA.

But UT.... none of the good players in TN grow up UT fans so we shouldn't expect them to want to play for UT, right?

Vandy, really?

No. I'd rather hand that sh** to you after your smart aleck attempt to avoid a valid argument. Sorry... but I'm not one of your "lackeys" that you dismiss because you can't handle what I post.

You might want to do research or sit this out.

 

[m1al]

Right. UGA gets who they want from every corner of GA. UF or FSU get pretty much everyone they want out of FL. LSU pretty much gets everyone they want out of LA.

But UT.... none of the good players in TN grow up UT fans so we shouldn't expect them to want to play for UT, right?

Vandy, really?

No. I'd rather hand that sh** to you after your smart aleck attempt to avoid a valid argument. Sorry... but I'm not one of your "lackeys" that you dismiss because you can't handle what I post.

IMO, running around, waving your arms in the air and screaming holy sh!t, we're all gonna die does not help. It does create click bait but makes one look foolish in the end..

Is this class where we would like it to be at the moment? No. However the 'moment' is early. We have a season to play. If we live up to expectations, recruiting will definitely pick up and this class WILL be look different on NSD..

 

[sjt18]

GA, FL, LA? Come on. . . We have taken players from each of those states in CBJ's tenure. And I would have to believe we aren't the only team able to poach star players from those border-less states. Looks like your argument needs fixin'. I'll wait. :zeitung_lesen:

The point is they seldom miss on in state players they want and DEFINITELY do not miss on 80%.

In state recruiting has always been tough for UT in part because of the distance to Memphis. But HSFB within the state is improving and particularly in mid-state. UT has to start getting the lion's share of that talent.

 

[sjt18]

IMO, running around, waving your arms in the air and screaming holy sh!t, we're all gonna die does not help. It does create click bait but makes one look foolish in the end..

That's not what I'm doing. I'm just not sticking my head in the sand and pretending like it does not matter if UT can't get the best instate players and particularly those from east of Nashville.

Is this class where we would like it to be at the moment? No. However the 'moment' is early. We have a season to play. If we live up to expectations, recruiting will definitely pick up and this class WILL be look different on NSD..

Never said any different. Maybe some of those instate kids will flip. But you and I have watched this long enough to know that once a kid commits, develops relationships with the other commits, and starts recruiting for his choice.... they don't flip very often.

And I again, last year those preaching your message said "wait til next year, TN is loaded with talent". Now they're saying it doesn't matter that UT isn't getting that talent. Do you not see the inconsistency in that?

 

[Kristy*]

The point is they seldom miss on in state players they want and DEFINITELY do not miss on 80%.

In state recruiting has always been tough for UT in part because of the distance to Memphis. But HSFB within the state is improving and particularly in mid-state. UT has to start getting the lion's share of that talent.

Those states have historically had more talent, so they can lose more and still have good in-state representation. The 80% is not easily provable either way, but I wouldn't believe it personally.

Our in-state recruiting has been good leading up to this year. This year, if you look at Stevens' family in LA giving LSU a major advantage and Richardson not being heavily recruited by us, you have Higgins and Rodgers leaving the state. Higgins was a huge loss. Rogers was dead set on going anywhere but here. I just don't see the struggle that is being suggested.

 

[CrunchingTheVolz]

That's not what I'm doing. I'm just not sticking my head in the sand and pretending like it does not matter if UT can't get the best instate players and particularly those from east of Nashville.


Never said any different. Maybe some of those instate kids will flip. But you and I have watched this long enough to know that once a kid commits, develops relationships with the other commits, and starts recruiting for his choice.... they don't flip very often.

And I again, last year those preaching your message said "wait til next year, TN is loaded with talent". Now they're saying it doesn't matter that UT isn't getting that talent. Do you not see the inconsistency in that?

You will see those same inconsistencies in the instate player threads. Months and months, even years in some cases literally everyone saying how the kid is a stud. Must get. Great talent. Then as it plays out he's not going to be a Vol for whatever reason, no loss. Was never coming here. Just isn't good enough. Lots of recent examples of it.

 

[m1al]

And I again, last year those preaching your message said "wait til next year, TN is loaded with talent". Now they're saying it doesn't matter that UT isn't getting that talent. Do you not see the inconsistency in that?

"Your message"? I have NO message other than to NOT freak out and beat the hell out of a dead horse NO MATTER what happens in the end..

I'm very excited about the upcoming season and the potential it holds. This years recruiting class, it's current ranking and NSD 2017, I'm not really worried about one way or the other..

 

[sjt18]

Those states have historically had more talent, so they can lose more and still have good in-state representation. The 80% is not easily provable either way, but I wouldn't believe it personally.

UT signed 2 of the top 10 last year and currently have commits from 2 of the top 10 if I am not mistaken.

It was better the two years prior I think without looking back.

 

[sjt18]

"Your message"? I have NO message other than to NOT freak out and beat the hell out of a dead horse NO MATTER what happens in the end..

LOL.... but folks declare it is a "dead horse" long before it is. They just don't want to face unpleasant things.

There's also this subtle hyperbole... "not to freak out". No one is freaking out that I've seen. It is a problem. It does need to be fixed. That's not freaking out.... just being honest.

I'm very excited about the upcoming season and the potential it holds. This years recruiting class, it's current ranking and NSD 2017, I'm not really worried about one way or the other..

The problem remains. UT needs players and needs to do better in state.

IMO, the most important guy out there right now for UT is Chandler and many here think he's on board. Eze as well. There are some big fish left in the pond but UT has to land some of them.

UT also seems to need another top end RB in this class.

 

[bignewt]

we need someone to create a recruiting forum spectrum and plot our posters based on how negative or positive they are.

 

[Kristy*]

UT signed 2 of the top 10 last year and currently have commits from 2 of the top 10 if I am not mistaken.

It was better the two years prior I think without looking back.

Not us at 80%. You said the other states. I doubt they retain 80% of their in-state guys.

Last year (and past years), we wouldn't have heavily pursued all our top 10 ranked in-state players simply because we were able to get other players higher on our board. I understand the mentality, but I think it's best to get the best, regardless of where they reside.

This year, we have more instate talent for sure. It would have been nice to have gotten Higgins and Stevens. If we get Smith and Chandler to go along with Gray and Fant, then we'll have gotten most of the big in-state targets. Like I said, Higgins was a big loss. Stevens was LSU all the way.