'20 GA OL Tate Ratledge (UGA commit)

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#1,251
CAVPUT said:
Guess I took Pruitt and his comments after that first recruiting class when he was scrambling for bodies literally. Paraphrasing, but didn't he say we'd be right at the top in recruiting after that first one? Seem to recall last year as being in the 12-15 range. Maybe he's going to blow us away with the finish to this coming class, but at this point, I think we're 8th in the SEC in recruiting?

Current 2020 rankings
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not concerned with recruiting ranking right now. Developing is key. Butch was right up at the top of recruiting and we saw how that worked out.

I doubt our recruiting rankings have dipped below vandy, Mizzou or even scar. Coaching matters.
 
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#1,252
#1,252
LouderVol said:
not concerned with recruiting ranking right now. Developing is key. Butch was right up at the top of recruiting and we saw how that worked out.

I doubt our recruiting rankings have dipped below vandy, Mizzou or even scar. Coaching matters.
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I go back and forth between both thoughts. Your points a very legit in that it’s about developing your kids, since Mizzou and Vandy, who haven’t recruited anywhere near us in recent years, have beaten us up on the field.......and it’s only May/6+ months to early signing period.

But then I think that if we really do have a great recruiting staff and some momentum because of it, why haven’t we seen some big fish jump in the pond yet and why did Jarrett go to LSU....while it looks like we’re about to lose out on two more of our top targets this week to Kentucky and Georgia?

I don’t know what to think at the moment and it’s probably too early to think much of anything right now.
 
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#1,253
KBVol said:
I go back and forth between both thoughts. Your points a very legit in that it’s about developing your kids, since Mizzou and Vandy, who haven’t recruited anywhere near us in recent years, have beaten us up on the field.......and it’s only May/6+ months to early signing period.

But then I think that if we really do have a great recruiting staff and some momentum because of it, why haven’t we seen some big fish jump in the pond yet and why did Jarrett go to LSU....while it looks like we’re about to lose out on two more of our top targets this week to Kentucky and Georgia?

I don’t know what to think at the moment and it’s probably too early to think much of anything right now.
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That last paragraph... That's the right answer.
 
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#1,254
I think UT's recruiting for the 2020 cycle is, to put it mildly, disappointing so far. I do think starting strong matters a great deal more than it used to with the early signing period. At the same time, it is still relatively early and there are some outstanding players UT is in on right now.

I think what makes the start feel even worse is that UT started strong with Jordan Davis, Harrison Bailey, Dominic Bailey, etc., but has fizzled since despite having some moments where things looked like UT was about to land Justin Rodgers, etc. Pruitt and co. seem to swing for the fences (and they need to swing and connect to get UT to the top of the East) and there have been some hits (Darnell Wright, Wanya Morris, Quavaris Crouch, Ramel Keyton, Henry To'oto'o, etc.) and some misses (George Pickens, Owen Pappoe, etc.). So, I think Pruitt and co., at times, aren't doing a good job of identifying and closing on good players that are UT leans in hopes of getting the upper echelon players and that the misses sting doubly when the good players UT could have had moved on with other schools. At the same time, Pruitt knows he needs to fish in the deepest waters and land the biggest fish if he is going to beat UGA, UF, Bama, etc., and he is pursuing that with full effort, I think.

In sum, I think those bemoaning the start have points but they still need to remember there is a lot of time left in recruiting and a couple commitments (Rodgers and Ratledge, for instance) can swing the balance and we will all feel quite a bit different with a few key commitments. And, those who keep saying it is early have points but they still need to remember that getting momentum in a class early matters more with the early signing period. I am almost certain the staff isn't pleased with where UT is right now and they will redouble their efforts to close strong. I bet we end with a top ten class and that will be quite good in context and I think we have a staff that can develop players now.
 
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#1,256
This is a tough one. But the fact is, our program isn't close to the point that UGA's is. Our trajectory is good right now, but we need to allow a couple of years for Pruitt to get everything in order. Elite classes will come after sustained success, not before. And tackle is a position that actually looks good for us the next 3 years. Tate might've been a guard here. That's the only fact that can take some sting our of losing this battle.
 
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#1,257
DaddyChad said:
It’s sad as hell that our administration allowed us to sink this low. Kids like Cade Mays, Lawrence, Higgins, Ratledge, etc all would’ve been locks as Vols if not for the level of absolute incompetence.
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For a moment, just imagine if the fans hadn't screamed for Fulmer to be fired and we could've had a smooth coaching transition. Just imagine how far along we would be. The administration was a reflection of the fanbase. Impatient and illogical.
 
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#1,258
titansvolsfaninga said:
For a moment, just imagine if the fans hadn't screamed for Fulmer to be fired and we could've had a smooth coaching transition. Just imagine how far along we would be. The administration was a reflection of the fanbase. Impatient and illogical.
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Or, we coulda hired an AD, instead of Mike 'Numbnuts' Hamilton.
 
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#1,259
titansvolsfaninga said:
For a moment, just imagine if the fans hadn't screamed for Fulmer to be fired and we could've had a smooth coaching transition. Just imagine how far along we would be. The administration was a reflection of the fanbase. Impatient and illogical.
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This is probably not going to get a lot of likes but it should. Truth.
 
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#1,260
#1,260
WhatInVolnation said:
I think UT's recruiting for the 2020 cycle is, to put it mildly, disappointing so far. I do think starting strong matters a great deal more than it used to with the early signing period. At the same time, it is still relatively early and there are some outstanding players UT is in on right now.

I think what makes the start feel even worse is that UT started strong with Jordan Davis, Harrison Bailey, Dominic Bailey, etc., but has fizzled since despite having some moments where things looked like UT was about to land Justin Rodgers, etc. Pruitt and co. seem to swing for the fences (and they need to swing and connect to get UT to the top of the East) and there have been some hits (Darnell Wright, Wanya Morris, Quavaris Crouch, Ramel Keyton, Henry To'oto'o, etc.) and some misses (George Pickens, Owen Pappoe, etc.). So, I think Pruitt and co., at times, aren't doing a good job of identifying and closing on good players that are UT leans in hopes of getting the upper echelon players and that the misses sting doubly when the good players UT could have had moved on with other schools. At the same time, Pruitt knows he needs to fish in the deepest waters and land the biggest fish if he is going to beat UGA, UF, Bama, etc., and he is pursuing that with full effort, I think.

In sum, I think those bemoaning the start have points but they still need to remember there is a lot of time left in recruiting and a couple commitments (Rodgers and Ratledge, for instance) can swing the balance and we will all feel quite a bit different with a few key commitments. And, those who keep saying it is early have points but they still need to remember that getting momentum in a class early matters more with the early signing period. I am almost certain the staff isn't pleased with where UT is right now and they will redouble their efforts to close strong. I bet we end with a top ten class and that will be quite good in context and I think we have a staff that can develop players now.
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I believe the draft hurt us, hell, it hurt as VOL fans. I have a feeling that this staff is letting time be a factor in the memory of recruits before they ramp it back up. I believe some of this has to do with the attention span of today’s teenager. IMO.
 
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#1,261
Of course the draft hurt us, but those aren’t Pruitt’s players and we had a small senior class.

Imagine if we had beaten South Carolina and made a bowl game? A bowl and a potential winning season in year one would’ve made a far greater difference in the minds of recruits and their families than what this year’s draft says about us.

Instead we blew a lead and got Tokyo sandblasted by Vandy and Mizzou to wrap up the season. That’s what’s being used against us IMO and most explains why kids are waiting to jump on board.
 
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jackcrevol said:
Or, we coulda hired an AD, instead of Mike 'Numbnuts' Hamilton.
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We have an AD now, unfortunately the fanbase is the same. I trust CPF based on the last few hires. I will be patient. The recruits that we have lost out on, ste the seeds that were sown by UT fans.
 
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#1,269
titansvolsfaninga said:
For a moment, just imagine if the fans hadn't screamed for Fulmer to be fired and we could've had a smooth coaching transition. Just imagine how far along we would be. The administration was a reflection of the fanbase. Impatient and illogical.
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The fans had zero to do with Fulmer being fired. Same person responsible for Schiano almost being hired was responsible for that.
 
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#1,270
The problem for the past 10 years was Haslam and the ADs. Us fans CONSTANTLY support the team through thick and thin. We show up for all the games after a disaster of a decade. We are also one of the most profitable programs in the country due to us fans. Most other fanbases would have reached apathy and not spend money on football after going through what we have
 
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#1,271
LouderVol said:
not concerned with recruiting ranking right now. Developing is key. Butch was right up at the top of recruiting and we saw how that worked out.

I doubt our recruiting rankings have dipped below vandy, Mizzou or even scar. Coaching matters.
Click to expand...

No argument there, but he's the one who said we'd be right at the top. I don't think he meant "development". It was clear...at least to me..that he expected to be at or near the top in recruiting. So far that hasn't happened.
 
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#1,272
CAVPUT said:
No argument there, but he's the one who said we'd be right at the top. I don't think he meant "development". It was clear...at least to me..that he expected to be at or near the top in recruiting. So far that hasn't happened.
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He also hasn’t been in this situation before... however I do think we have a top 10 class this year. Considering what we did last year... that’s pretty freaking impressive!
 
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#1,274
TennMan101 said:
Football-wise, UT is a better school than two of the 3 schools you just mentioned. It hasn't shown in the past decade, but we are and always will be a blue blood football program. Clemson has just started coming around and Bama / Georgia has had their ups and downs just like us. JMO
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Our last natty was over 20 years ago. The one before that...50 years. We are light years behind Bama, UGA and Clemson. I'm not sure we're a better "school" than any of those 3. We certainly aren't in their league on the football field. I do get your point in that we have a better history in football than either UGA or Clemson, but that was so very long ago. It's almost to the point of saying that Ga Tech has a better history than UGA and Clemson. It really is a reach...a way, way back reach.

Pruitt spouted off about how great we were going to be in recruiting. Pretty clear he thought recruiting would be just as easy at UT as at Bama. Just stroke some egos and grab that 5 star haul. Reality is harsh sometimes. Hey, maybe this staff is filled with super coaches that can take a top 15 class and beat the likes if Bama and UGA. Time will tell.
 
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#1,275
It still amazes me (though it shouldn't) that people still bitch about not having a top 5 class, yet fail to acknowledge the fact that we've been getting our butts handed to us by programs that recruit 2 & 3 star players. Don't miss the forest for the trees.
 
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