Mostly just happenstance. Any major D1 program that has the ability and success to recruit nationally often overlooks the local pool. Alot of times, unless you are in major population centers like UCLA and USC and Miami and UF and FSU, the local pool is small. Most major programs are in relatively small towns without the presence of the university. UGA does not have a lot of local talent on the roster. for the most part, UT does not have a whole lot of state talent on the roster. The schools with strong state talent are the shools in the top HS football states, such as the FLA schools, Texas, Georgia, and California. They can compete nationally with state talent. UT has to recruit nationally to compete with these guys. Tenn is not a top tier HS recruiting ground as a whole outside the Memphis area. There will be the annual exceptions, but a relatively thin talent rich pool as a state. Now, if we were content being an Ole Miss or Miss State, then we have a lot of kids to choose from.