'24 GA WR Mike Matthews (Tennessee)

[Frosty]

You know something the rest of us don't about Wingo and Jefferson? I know it's fify with us and bama for Jefferson, but haven't heard or seen any buzz from Wingo lately... I questioned how this spring we were thought of as being "the hot team" in the midwest, but since then it looks like that has fizzled. I thought we needed to get Wingo back to town to have a chance?

Wingo OV is during the season and he is visiting after the dead period IIRC

 

[Jackcrevol]

Top 4

Top 20 spenders for recruiting by Power Five college football programs

used to be number one

 

[MarcoVol]

used to be number one

Yeah when Pruitt and Nieds were paying everyone

 

[norrislakevol]

I feel really really good here, and man what a WR haul it would be with Matthews, Wingo, Staley, and Jefferson. Would that be our best in history?

Maybe? 2003 class with Meachem, Swain, and Smith was a really good one. The one with Rogers and Hunter was another good one, but yeah, this one....provided we land all those guys would be better I think.

 

[UpstateVol613]

Sounds like Clemson is starting to let their board down.

Ease off my man @nmerritt11 (Rivals.com) . I think all he's trying to underline is that Tennessee has been cast as the favorite for weeks.

What I've reported is more from the Clemson perspective. Felt strong optimism coming out of the OV. But as time has gone on, and the longer this has dragged out, that optimism obviously isn't as strong. That said, they don't know anything negative, and the Matthews camp isn't one to tell anyone anything.

But the buzz has Matthews about to announce his date and give his choice by the end of the month, and confidence is exponentially higher on Tennessee's end.
I think that should be given considerable weight.

 

[butchna]

Ok. Where did you infer my statement as 'chicken little belief?'

Tennessee's level of talent has sky rocketed, along with its population, in the last 20 years - post Katrina.

If you look at the 98 team, it was a hodge podge of regional talent. SC, NC, GA, and most even AL.

I'm with @bignewt here, go get the best players regardless of location. But you do have to be able to get some of the top players in your state bc theyre good players.

2025 is going to be a huge year. Go get the best.

Every year has been a “huge year” dating back to 2013. Aren’t we landing “some of the top players”?

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

I don't think its silly. Its why Florida can have a terrible product and land a top 5 class with a decent recruiting staff. Same with Texas/USC/etc. But no, we aren't Nebraska in terms of being in a place void of talent. We just don't have the same luxuries that several schools do with footprint (on the bright side is has been steadily improving over the last 20 years - hopefully, that can continue).

IMO distance to home is consistently the #2 or #3 factor in a kid's recruitment.

If you have coaches that can coach players to their abilities and know their x and o’s you can win with classes ranked 5-10. Just like you said even in Florida and Texas where teams have tons of talent it doesn’t always translate to championships. All the Florida teams have struggled over the last decade, Texas has been probably the most overated program for a few decades. Recruiting is important but having coaches that can get the most out of the talent is even more important. Not all coaches can. GBO!

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

The football stadium is riverfront, downtown Knoxville has been completely renovated into a great place to eat or spend a weekend, you are minutes from the most visited national park in the country with breathtaking hikes and views, and the weather is quite seasonable. The people here are super welcoming, and living expenses are lower than most metropolitan areas. It's an easy 6-8 hour drive to the beach in several directions, and you can ski in 4-7 hours.

I'm calling BS on the location disadvantage

We all love what we are doing in Ktown. We do have a really good regional location. But the biggest talent plum out there is Atlanta area and let's examine it and then we can move on to other areas.... I don't know why folks think we have a tremendous location advantage in that area over the most comparable programs that also tag that area. Mileage and time wise we are closest to Tuscaloosa and Columbia, they each beat us by a few miles, but Clemson has a distinct advantage and Auburn blows us out of the water. We get a seat at the tables, but we are not geographically advantaged. We are in the conversation.

Heck one would think we would at least be second in line for Rome Ga area talent, but Auburn beats us there too. That is before you factor in the crap shoot of driving through Chattanooga. Then they really clean up in Carrolton , LaGrange and especially Columbus who they share TV coverage with. Guess we win Dalton.

We are in a great location to get in the regional secondary battles WHEN kids are not in line with the HOME team, but not often is our staff at risk for losing guys we have distinct geographical advantages. Some in KY, and the Carolinas and VA and N. Bama.

The closer to the top of talent lists are more than likely LESS distance driven and the list of top programs expands and the rest of the factors rule the day, the old ones and now NIL.

 

[volbeast33]

We all love what we are doing in Ktown. We do have a really good regional location. But the biggest talent plum out there is Atlanta area and let's examine it and then we can move on to other areas.... I don't know why folks think we have a tremendous location advantage in that area over the most comparable programs that also tag that area. Mileage and time wise we are closest to Tuscaloosa and Columbia, they each beat us by a few miles, but Clemson has a distinct advantage and Auburn blows us out of the water. We get a seat at the tables, but we are not geographically advantaged. We are in the conversation.

Heck one would think we would at least be second in line for Rome Ga area talent, but Auburn beats us there too. That is before you factor in the crap shoot of driving through Chattanooga. Then they really clean up in Carrolton , LaGrange and especially Columbus who they share TV coverage with. Guess we win Dalton.

We are in a great location to get in the regional secondary battles WHEN kids are not in line with the HOME team, but not often is our staff at risk for losing guys we have distinct geographical advantages. Some in KY, and the Carolinas and VA and N. Bama.

The closer to the top of talent lists are more than likely LESS distance driven and the list of top programs expands and the rest of the factors rule the day, the old ones and now NIL.

We use to feast in states near us that had top schools that were struggling but not the majority are decent….this staff is still doing a decent job though.

 

[VolNash17]

Texas high school talent is overrated. Good players overall but not what they’re ranked as usually

 

[joevols89]

If you have coaches that can coach players to their abilities and know their x and o’s you can win with classes ranked 5-10. Just like you said even in Florida and Texas where teams have tons of talent it doesn’t always translate to championships. All the Florida teams have struggled over the last decade, Texas has been probably the most overated program for a few decades. Recruiting is important but having coaches that can get the most out of the talent is even more important. Not all coaches can. GBO!

Well yes, you have to have both to bring home the natty. A roster with top 5(ish) talent and top coaching. Right now Bama/UGA have both. Maybe Ohio State. I think teams with top 10-15ish talent can also win if they have a generational talent at QB (Ie Cam Newton).

 

[Abvolsfan92]

I'm expecting to feel like a little kid on Christmas day all this week. Think we are headed for some good news and magically resurge to the top for all of our prospects when Matthews and Spillman jump aboard.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Well yes, you have to have both to bring home the natty. A roster with top 5(ish) talent and top coaching. Right now Bama/UGA have both. Maybe Ohio State. I think teams with top 10-15ish talent can also win if they have a generational talent at QB (Ie Cam Newton).

It’s still played on the field. We just beat Bama,LSU and Florida. Bama and LSU both had much higher recruiting classes and yet we beat them. Just saying the coaching evaluations and the ability to coach players up to the best of their abilities is the main thing. Yes recruiting is important but outside the top 2-3 ranked teams when you get to 4th-10th the differences are smaller and more subjective. I am very happy the direction Heupel and staff have this team headed. Can’t wait till the season kicks off and it’s settled on the field! GBO!!!!

 

[eskimovol]

It's making me really mad, but he is highly involved with Clemson Athletics

Bet him 5 potatoes he’s wrong. In fact, anytime you talk money with a Clemson fan use potatoes. That should get them riled up.

 

[norrislakevol]

Well yes, you have to have both to bring home the natty. A roster with top 5(ish) talent and top coaching. Right now Bama/UGA have both. Maybe Ohio State. I think teams with top 10-15ish talent can also win if they have a generational talent at QB (Ie Cam Newton).

This is pretty close to being accurate IMO. You don't have to have every class in the top 5, but to have at least 1 or two that are in there or real close to it. If you have multiple classes that are decidedly outside the top 15 then you have virtually zero chance to win a title. You can also win one with all your classes in the top 10 - 12ish. The transfer portal has changed this a little though.

 

[UTK]

Hyatt won’t have the record for TDS a season long

 

[KptVFL]

 

[jasonvol18]

It's making me really mad, but he is highly involved with Clemson Athletics

He IS NOT going to Clemson. Not even their own people believe that.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

 

[Abvolsfan92]

View attachment 563457

I feel very confident but there is always the battered vol syndrome in us that says what happens is he is really trying to shock the world and puts on that USC,Clemson or even a Bama hat

 

[ShelbourneVol]

We have top recruiting budget in the Nation, er at least top 2.

In state talent traditionally in Tennessee is less than most other SEC member states.

 

[VolNash17]

In state talent traditionally in Tennessee is less than most other SEC member states.

That would be a nice excuse in 1985… with the internet kids are going anywhere and everywhere. Throw a 500 mile radius around Knoxville and there is equal talent to the 500 mile radius around Athens Georgia. Imaginary borders don’t mean anything to these kids

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I feel very confident but there is always the battered vol syndrome in us that says what happens is he is really trying to shock the world and puts on that USC,Clemson or even a Bama hat

For me it’s not BVS, it’s just with recruits like Matthews, you never know. Even if he commits to us, the big teams aren’t just gonna give up on him. Also, what happens IF we have a slip up like last year and lose one to a Missouri, UK or God forbid SC again? I don’t expect us to but you never know. If that happened, spills of have an impact on his commitment? Also, there are the few guys we have seemingly been in the lead for and all of a sudden a team swoops in and gets him.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

That would be a nice excuse in 1985… with the internet kids are going anywhere and everywhere. Throw a 500 mile radius around Knoxville and there is equal talent to the 500 mile radius around Athens Georgia. Imaginary borders don’t mean anything to these kids

Dude you cannot be serious. The difference in high school football talent between Georgia and Tennessee is huge. I would be willing to bet the best team in one of UGAs lower ranked divisions would beat the absolute best team in our highest division.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

Because a majority of these athletes and inner city kids don't give a dang about the mountains, woods, or rivers. Unless your a good ole southern boy or girl, these kids usually don't appreciate the outdoors as much compared to the lifestyle a Miami or LA type of school offers.

Of course they do. I don't think I've ever known any teenager who didn't like the idea of go carts, bungee jumping stuff, arcades, zip-lines, hanging out with friends, girls on vacation, and a national park as beautiful as any beach in the southeast, etc. Knoxville is a better city than the majority of SEC towns as well. It's not like they'll be doing that stuff all the time. . . or ever. It's the fact that all those things, and a lot more, are available here and the distance for the large majority of recruits is not much, if any further than the other SEC schools from their home.

The point is that the recruiting "hotbeds" are not far enough away to make any difference for the majority of recruits. It is not an insurmountable obstacle some make it out to be. . . in fact, it's not much of an issue at all, especially when you're winning. . .