I know we swung for the fences but how did we miss on EVERYBODY?

[KBVol]

Any answers on how this happened? Smart a$$ answers at minimum please!

We didn’t miss on “everybody”. Please recall the early signing period. We got some really good football players in this class to go along with some reaches/projects. As far as the ones we missed, look at the circumstances and the limited amount of time this staff had. Trying to get west coast kids with offers from USC and UCLA is tough enough, let alone when you’ve only had a month or two to establish a relationship. Additionally, can you possibly imagine the negative recruiting that every other SEC used against Tennessee given last year’s 4-8 season and the ridiculous debacle created by Haslam, Davenport and Currie during the coaching search?

It’s ok to be a little disappointed in the way our class ended yesterday, I certainly am to an extent. But imho, we all need to back off for a minute, let this staff go to work and just see what our team looks like in season and what our 2019 recruiting class looks like 12 months from now. If things haven’t improved, then will be the time to panic, but certainly not right now.

 

[KBVol]

So Where is our '19 class currently ranked? If it's not top 10 can some please continue with their meltdowns?

It's entertaining.

We have all of 2 players committed at the moment, both 4 star players. Hardly a reason to meltdown.

 

[buckfama]

We have all of 2 players committed at the moment, both 4 star players. Hardly a reason to meltdown.

KB, lighten up man.

I guess I should have used blue font.

I was taking a jab at all the ledge jumpers yesterday.

This class is a direct result of the last year. Circus clown for an AD, Schianamo, and not a full year on the recruiting trail.

A lot were expecting miracles.

In reality it's probably about where it should be. I'm sure every school used negative recruiting against us and Lord knows we gave them plenty of ammo.

Let Fitz do his job and let the staff develop these kids, and the results on the field will fix a lot of these problems.

I can understand being disappointed, but the sun came up this morning, I woke up to a beautiful day.

It is what it is.

Edit - I see some mocking the phrase "fishing in a different pond".

Yes we were, that's why it's called fishing and not catching.

If he continues to go after these type of recruits, and shows improvement on the field, these types players will come. The most important recruiting tool is results on the field. At the end of the day that's what attracts the majority of kids to a program. They want to win.

 

[volboy81]

Looks like UT Fla and Neb are the 3 winners in recruiting as far as teams that completely crapped out last year as far as wins
We didn’t finish well but 20th in Nation and 7th in the SEC isn’t too bad under the circumstances. 2019–look out! Saw we already got Lampley for ‘19!!

 

[Roustabout]

Well you could leave. It would make you happy and make some fans happy.

Annoying you makes staying worth it.

 

[LittleCat]

They didn't fair much better. And it's way easier to recruit in the state of FL.

Honest question, is it?

UF is competing with a bevy of other instate schools. And teams all over the nation come to UF trying to raid talent.

 

[MadWorld]

Let me ask this?

Would you have been a disappointed if ITS, Walker, Copeland, Griffin, Peterson did NOT visit and consider Tennessee? Would you have even had any emotions about these players if it had NOT been for Pruitt? Because CBJ was NOT recruiting these players.

Point being. If CJP had not come in and at least swung for the fences, no one would have been the wiser, because Butch has been pulling the wool over our heads for so long. (Some good talent, some not so much).

Would you rather keep swinging for these players and miss? or not swing at all? That is the difference with this viewpoint. Get players who can compete with UGA, UA, FL, or go with players who can't.

Like someone said above, Start winning some games with who we have, and we will start hitting on some of the bigger "fish"

 

[VolsR#1n98]

My perspective on OP's original question:

1) Early Signing Period. Two significant impacts on yesterday's outcome:

a) They had about a week to load up for the early signing period. His staff did well leaning on previously established relationships. The early signing class was good considering.

b) And this is significant to the outcome yesterday: The solid backups to the misses signed early. That pool was GONE...a major change from previous recruiting cycles! After the early signing period, there were less than 100 of the top 300 players available to sign; only 30-40 were uncommitted. All of those top players could be secure in landing in a place of choice. The rest were the "projects" and less fortunate. So in my opinion, he had to swing for the fences and use 3 or lower "star" recruits for the back-ups. The staff just couldn't close the deal on many. He at least had them listening, got them on campus and got the hat on the table. He swung for the fence and hit a tower foul ball at the foul pole. Next year should be the better litmus test...better timing.

2. Many of the players previously committed to UT (Jones boys) did not fit this staffs recruiting profile...This staff will play a completely different brand (thank God) and they need players that fit that mold. They had to wave "by" to those they felt wouldn't be able to contribute. They simply had to hit F5/refresh on the current recruiting roster and this left a significant void to fill. If I remember right, they signed about 13 new recruits where TN wasn't on their radar...that's significant as well.

Hang in there...next season should give us an idea on player development and the next recruiting cycle should give us some insight to how this staff can recruit. We simply don't have enough data to make an informed decision at this point.

 

[JazzMaster001]

All the New Coaches Hired this Year: (recruiting rankings per 247)
FSU/Taggart 11th
Florida/Mullen 14th
Oregon/Cristobal 16th
Texas AM/Fisher 17th
UCLA/Kelly 18th
Tennessee/Pruitt 20th
Nebraska/Frost 22nd
Mississippi St/Moorhead 27th
Ole Miss/Luke 31st
Arizona St/Edwards 36th
Arkansas/Morris 55th
Arizona/Sumlin 58th
Oregon St/Smith 70th
UCF/Heupel 77nd

Just for reference, it isn't as bad as some are making it out to be.

True and if you look at those ahead of us most of those teams have HC's with a lot of experience. I think the unknown factor of Pruitt being a 1st time HC played a bigger role than I initially anticipated. At the end of the day this is a solid class with a few potential difference makers in there. Not spectacular by any means but solid nonetheless.

 

[windrider]

Pruitt got a reality check. He's NEVER been in a situation where he has been the bullied and not the bully.

Bama, FSU, UGA and back to Bama.
UT just went 4-8 and Pruitt was tone deaf. Plus signed a rapist in an act of desperation to fill schollies.

His a Bammer and I'm still in shock that a UT legend hired a ****in Bammer to lead this program.

Is a DISLIKE button in the works for us?

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

So Where is our '19 class currently ranked? If it's not top 10 can some please continue with their meltdowns?

It's entertaining.

Does it even matter? That's like being concerned with where you're ranked in the preseason poll. As we've all seen, kids that are committed now (both to Tennessee and other schools) will decommit, committ somewhere else, and decommit there too. That's why I generally don't follow recruiting until December.

 

[Jim]

Pruitt swinging for fence, Butch Jones bunts

Butch struck out looking. This class was a foul tip. Pruitt is staring at a full count and next year’s class is the payoff pitch. A strike out, walk, or single won’t do it. We next extra bases.

 

[The Crimson Cried]

Pruitt got a reality check. He's NEVER been in a situation where he has been the bullied and not the bully.

Bama, FSU, UGA and back to Bama.
UT just went 4-8 and Pruitt was tone deaf. Plus signed a rapist in an act of desperation to fill schollies.

His a Bammer and I'm still in shock that a UT legend hired a ****in Bammer to lead this program.

Idiocy- See above.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

Pruitt got a reality check. He's NEVER been in a situation where he has been the bullied and not the bully.

Bama, FSU, UGA and back to Bama.
UT just went 4-8 and Pruitt was tone deaf. Plus signed a rapist in an act of desperation to fill schollies.

His a Bammer and I'm still in shock that a UT legend hired a ****in Bammer to lead this program.

I'm in shock that people are this ignorant

 

[CagleMtnVol]

pruitt got a reality check. He's never been in a situation where he has been the bullied and not the bully.

Bama, fsu, uga and back to bama.
Ut just went 4-8 and pruitt was tone deaf. Plus signed a rapist in an act of desperation to fill schollies.

His a bammer and i'm still in shock that a ut legend hired a ****in bammer to lead this program.

👀 🤣

 

[TNnative]

Any answers on how this happened? Smart a$$ answers at minimum please!

4-8 season, a complete cluster**** coaching search, enough perceived backstabbing within the administration led to a whole lot of it. And I don't care how good the coaching staff you end up hiring might be; that is a truckload of crap to overcome in a month.

So they missed on the highly rated guys from Georgia who ended up where? Ding Ding! At Georgia! And highly rated guys from California who ended up at? That's right, USC! Sorry if you don't like a smart a$$ response but honestly man, you asked a stupid a$$ question.

 

[TNnative]

Honest question, is it?

UF is competing with a bevy of other instate schools. And teams all over the nation come to UF trying to raid talent.

I saw that 62 of the ESPN top 300 are from the state of Florida. And that is just the top layer of talent. How many good players get lost in the crowd down there? And still, the gators, canes and seminoles bring in out of state talent.

You bet we and you guys and plenty of others are going to raid talent from there, and there will be plenty left over. Let's face it, Florida HS football may now be more than what Texas was in the 70s and 80s.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I don't think your words mean what you think they mean.

And reality and logic are clearly absent from you.

 

[illinoisvolfan1]

Because we sucked last year. Even a new coaching staff couldn’t overcome that fact.

 

[PrattvilleVol]

Freak...Please delete this thread. OP is drunk.

 

[chargervol]

I'm definitely disappointed that we didn't land 1 or 2 of the big names. And despite all the posts here claiming otherwise, I remember most of those posters saying we would.

Not upset with Pruitt. If he wins, he'll get his share. But the "what is wrong with you thinking they would come here after the season we had?" remarks are silly. Because whatever was wrong with me, was shared by the large majority. At least I'll admit as much.

 

[KBVol]

I'm not worried about missing on some of these kids. J.Copeland was on twitter Monday night talking about how he was up all night crying from the stress of the decision. That kid who switched hats and went to Georgia was apparently a dumbass. It's hard to blame Eddie Smith for wanting to play for Coach Saban. The one that bothers me a little was the WR who we found out of nowhere who apparently used us to get an offer to FSU, but, you know, if that's his character then I'm cool with him playing with likeminded people at FSU.

Let's be happy about the kids who want to be here. Some of the others were not ideal Vols IMHO.

Well said

 

[KBVol]

KB, lighten up man.

I guess I should have used blue font.

I was taking a jab at all the ledge jumpers yesterday.

This class is a direct result of the last year. Circus clown for an AD, Schianamo, and not a full year on the recruiting trail.

A lot were expecting miracles.

In reality it's probably about where it should be. I'm sure every school used negative recruiting against us and Lord knows we gave them plenty of ammo.

Let Fitz do his job and let the staff develop these kids, and the results on the field will fix a lot of these problems.

I can understand being disappointed, but the sun came up this morning, I woke up to a beautiful day.

It is what it is.

Edit - I see some mocking the phrase "fishing in a different pond".

Yes we were, that's why it's called fishing and not catching.

If he continues to go after these type of recruits, and shows improvement on the field, these types players will come. The most important recruiting tool is results on the field. At the end of the day that's what attracts the majority of kids to a program. They want to win.

Ok, gotcha brother, we’re of like mind.

 

[Vol Main]

No, 2018 class is NOT as bad as some are making it out to be. One reason is that we were looking at apossible ranking near top ten, and then on NSD we missed on most four star guys.. Some signees did have a good offer list, but some just didn't, I see peep gripe that Pru did not target three star players who were more recruitable, given our circumstances. But I think he did that fairly well.

 

[Bring_Back_Dooley]

There is no way to spin it. It was a very deflating and disappointing day.

Huh? Did you really expect to sign a class of 5* players in the span of what...six weeks? No mention of the massive impact of the early signing period, of course.

Perhaps our expectations were too high

I'd say that's an understatement.

I think there was hope that Pruitt would come in right away and snag at least a top 10 class...because it seemed we were very close to that happening.

Anyone that thought UT would sign a Top 10 class this year is delusional. Period.

Things turned the wrong way today, and there is definitely pain and disappointment with that happening.

If you were disappointed yesterday, that's your own problem for having unrealistic expectations.

:no: