'19 TN CB Woodi Washington

#476
#476
Murfreesboro Oakland standout Woodi Washington has made a habit of getting to Rocky Top on non big recruiting days the last few months. Those low key visits have allowed him to spend time with the staff and players. He was once again on Rocky Top on Tuesday with J3M Select (7 on 7) teammates Adonis Otey and Trey Knox.

"It was a good visit," Washington said. "We sat down and did a photo shoot and we talked to coach Pruitt. He was the only coach there because the rest were out visiting schools recruiting." The message from Pruitt was to the point as the top Vol doesn't waste time with flashy pitches. He praises each player for their positives and then shows them where they can improve their game. "He was telling me to go hard every play and what I need to work on," Washington said. "We have a good relationship. I know him more as a person now. He's a straight guy. He doesn't tell you what you want to hear, but tells you exactly what he thinks."

And what he thinks matters because of his reputation for putting defensive backs in the NFL and that's where Washington hopes to get someday. Washington was one of the best defenders in the state last season as Oakland finished 13-1 with their only loss coming in a narrow defeat on the road to Maryville.

"He told me that he knows I'm a good player and he knows I'm tough," Washington said. "He knows I play hard and have good ball skills and stuff like that. He says I need to work on my physicality. Just when it comes to tackling, be a little more physical with my tackling."

Washington has perennial powers Oklahoma, Ohio State and several others like Arkansas chasing him hard. Where do the Vols stand? "They are high on my list," Washington said. "Just because of the relationship they have with me. Coaching is for sure important for me. I'm also looking at the depth chart at each school and who would be there when I get there."

And if he ever gets to Tennessee as a Vol, he'll have plenty of opportunities. Tennessee is in bad shape with their current group of defensive backs. They need help and that's where Pruitt, defensive backs coach Terry Fair and safeties coach Charles Kelly come in. They are hoping to land several key pieces in this 2019 class and Washington sees the need. "It's a positive that they need corners," Washington said. "The coaches at Tennessee have spoke to me about their need and where they feel like I'd fit in at Tennessee."
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-VQ
 
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#479
#479
I always wondered why players love Pruitt. I’m starting to see why just in the recruit quotes. He’s upfront and honest with everyone. He praises, but also critiques like a good teacher would. He’s the true definition of a coach. That’s the best approach in my opinion, but it’s vastly different than the normal approach of inflating a player and giving a sales pitch.
 
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#482
#482
Brillovol said:
I always wondered why players love Pruitt. I’m starting to see why just in the recruit quotes. He’s upfront and honest with everyone. He praises, but also critiques like a good teacher would. He’s the true definition of a coach. That’s the best approach in my opinion, but it’s vastly different than the normal approach of inflating a player and giving a sales pitch.
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Nail on the head. And if a guy can’t take criticism and only wants praise then you don’t want that player regardless of talent because they are not coachable.

Pruit knows what he wants in a player I think both physically and mentally. I still want to see on field results but I do believe we have a football coach.
 
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#483
#483
Is that Breakerboy? I would have thought he would have been styling orange
 
#488
#488
Brillovol said:
I always wondered why players love Pruitt. I’m starting to see why just in the recruit quotes. He’s upfront and honest with everyone. He praises, but also critiques like a good teacher would. He’s the true definition of a coach. That’s the best approach in my opinion, but it’s vastly different than the normal approach of inflating a player and giving a sales pitch.
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Former Bama players have said similar. He simplifies it and doesn't move on until you get it. So you can always play fast. He is real and will confront you but also the guy checking on you outside of football making sure your doing the right things in life. You know where you stand with him.
 
#491
#491
woodi washington visited tennessee twice earlier this year, but he didn’t get a chance to spend much time with first-year coach jeremy pruitt during either trip. He returned to knoxville earlier this week for a noticeably different visit. The four-star junior cornerback from oakland high school in murfreesboro, tenn., joined fellow murfreesboro standouts trey knox and adonis otey in visiting tennessee on tuesday for a relatively brief stay that allowed them to meet extensively with pruitt.

“we didn’t have school and it was close by, so we just decided to come,” said washington, who’s ranked the no. 197 overall prospect and no. 19 cornerback in the 247sports composite for the 2019 class. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound washington said the rest of the vols’ coaches were on the road recruiting tuesday, taking advantage of the ongoing spring evaluation period.

But pruitt was on campus and used his meeting with washington, knox and otey to watch some film with them, reviewing oakland’s second-round playoff win over crosstown rival blackman high school — where knox and otey play — and showing each of them the areas in which he believes they could improve.

“we did a photo shoot. And then, after that, we just went and talked to coach pruitt, watched a little film,” washington said. “he just was telling us to just go hard every play, don’t have plays off, and just telling us what we need to work on to get better. “he said that we all could play, and we all have a few things we can work on. He said i should be a little more physical playing.”

washington said he liked getting honest feedback from pruitt “because it lets me know what i need to work on and get better at,” and pruitt was “not just telling me i’m good all the time.” pruitt also stressed the importance of “just playing all different positions on the field — playing, like, kickoff, kick return, all those things,” washington said. “he was saying that gives you a better chance of playing,” washington added. Washington said he likes what he has seen and heard from pruitt after getting to know the former defensive coordinator at alabama, georgia and florida state more over the past few months. “he’s a cool guy,” washington said of pruitt. “i like the way he coaches and carries himself.”

while washington said pruitt made it clear to all three players during tuesday’s visit that he “does want us to camp” at tennessee this summer, washington said he’s “not sure” yet whether he will participate in one of the vols’ camps. But after recently referring to tennessee as one of a handful of schools standing out to him, along with oklahoma, ohio state and arkansas, he said the vols remain high on his list after his latest trip to knoxville. “they’re still in the top group,” washington said.
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-247
 
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#492
#492
I wonder if CJP being so up front and honest with these guys about what they need to work on will help ease the transition when they get on campus. I remember Zack Azzani at the signing day celebration a few years ago saying something like, "Pray for me because now I have to start de-recruiting Preston Williams" (not the exact quote but pretty close). Basically, he had been kissing Preston's butt for months to get him to sign, and now he was worried about how Preston (and Preston's ego) would take to real coaching and criticism. Seems like CJP's approach could deflate some of those egos before guys even step on campus and make that aspect of the transition a little easier.
 
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#493
#493
highspeed said:
I wonder if CJP being so up front and honest with these guys about what they need to work on will help ease the transition when they get on campus. I remember Zack Azzani at the signing day celebration a few years ago saying something like, "Pray for me because now I have to start de-recruiting Preston Williams" (not the exact quote but pretty close). Basically, he had been kissing Preston's butt for months to get him to sign, and now he was worried about how Preston (and Preston's ego) would take to real coaching and criticism. Seems like CJP's approach could deflate some of those egos before guys even step on campus and make that aspect of the transition a little easier.
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It definitely helps with the limiting of the shock factor
 
#494
#494
highspeed said:
I wonder if CJP being so up front and honest with these guys about what they need to work on will help ease the transition when they get on campus. I remember Zack Azzani at the signing day celebration a few years ago saying something like, "Pray for me because now I have to start de-recruiting Preston Williams" (not the exact quote but pretty close). Basically, he had been kissing Preston's butt for months to get him to sign, and now he was worried about how Preston (and Preston's ego) would take to real coaching and criticism. Seems like CJP's approach could deflate some of those egos before guys even step on campus and make that aspect of the transition a little easier.
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that, and he's not going to over promise and under deliver on the offer/commit deal. he doesn't 'need' the commit like the previous staff did. and i think that applies more to otey and knox, than it does washington at this point. i think washington could any time, and he'd be a take. not so sure about the other two.
 
#495
#495
jakez4ut said:
that, and he's not going to over promise and under deliver on the offer/commit deal. he doesn't 'need' the commit like the previous staff did. and i think that applies more to otey and knox, than it does washington at this point. i think washington could any time, and he'd be a take. not so sure about the other two.
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Not sure why I feel this way, but I get the sense JP is solely focused on finding those kids who will set the program up to win. Butch's focus/aim/goal was seemingly to get a highly ranked class.

I'm going to need a few drinks at lunch to effectively articulate Dooley's aims.
 
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#496
#496
WinginFlorida said:
Not sure why I feel this way, but I get the sense JP is solely focused on finding those kids who will set the program up to win. Butch's focus/aim/goal was seemingly to get a highly ranked class.

I'm going to need a few drinks at lunch to effectively articulate Dooley's aims.
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oh, i agree, and i'm not one of those that says we should take all 3 of these kids cause they're in state.

i mean, i wouldn't take Knox over keyton or curry. and i wouldn't take otey over Hill or Fields.
 
#497
#497
WinginFlorida said:
Not sure why I feel this way, but I get the sense JP is solely focused on finding those kids who will set the program up to win. Butch's focus/aim/goal was seemingly to get a highly ranked class.

I'm going to need a few drinks at lunch to effectively articulate Dooley's aims.
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Easy.

image.ashx




I do miss his orange pants though. Really showed he was all in with the program and not gonna take the Georgia job. :)
 
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#499
#499
Sleegro said:
Easy.

image.ashx




I do miss his orange pants though. Really showed he was all in with the program and not gonna take the Georgia job. :)
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"Dooley was a better coach for UT than Pruitt will be, because Dooley wore more orange."

- McGill
 
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