"Lack of high school talent in TN"

[GAVol]

Since Spurrier, Richt and Saban arrived we haven't gotten great talent in that radius? Hmmmmm some how that doesn't seem correct Ga.
The reality is that the talent is there and kids will come to UT if the coaches are right. I hope Jones is the guy. We shall see.
One thing is certain, he's a helluva upgrade over what we had.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

I'm not one of these people that thinks we're doomed by geography. Just saying there's a reason why a top layer in SC like Albert Haynesworth went to Tennessee while in the present Jadaveon Clowney didn't.

 

[VolBeef88]

I'm not one of these people that thinks we're doomed by geography. Just saying there's a reason why a top layer in SC like Albert Haynesworth went to Tennessee while in the present Jadaveon Clowney didn't.

I totally agree with you. We've been out recruited the past few years. The Chatt Times ran a story on Doofus not recruiting that area as I'm sure you remember. The right coach can and will bring the talent to UT. Let's just hope Butch is the man.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[Cartervol]

The talent is getting better here.. The programs are improving.. Tennessee is experiencing a population boom also..

I think more than anything it's the fact there are good programs in the Carolinas now, that really weren't all that great in the 90's early 00's.. That goes for the programs around us in the SEC also.. They've built up their programs while Tennessee has slid back some.. There is a lot of competition for the kids within that 200 mile radius of Knoxville that Tennessee used to own.. Spurrier is still a pain in Tennessee's side.. He's signing a lot of players that would be here otherwise. TV and facility improvements have helped these programs that weren't as good a option before..They're on close to equal footing now.. They also got the right coaches which helps a ton..

 

[UUVol]

tennessee produces some exceptional players, but tennessee does not produce enough. in short, that's the problem. that 1998 team had all kinds of talent not from tennessee. here are a list of recruits who made the rivals 250 list in recent years and were from the state of tennessee. if not indicated in parentheses, the player signed with tennessee.

2012
chad voytik (pittsburgh)
drae bowles
jovon robinson (auburn)
brian kimbrow (vandy)
graham shuler (stanford)
caleb azubike (vandy)

2011
antonio richardson
cameron clear

2010
jacques smith
barry brunetti (west virginia)
keiwone malone (alabama)

2009
marlon brown (georgia)
austin long (georgia)

2008
barrett jones (alabama)
aaron douglas

2007
bj coleman
chris donald
rashad mason (north carolina)
harrison smith (notre dame)
golden tate (notre dame)
alex watkins (alabama)

2006
mike berry (auburn)
jacques mcclendon
brandon warren (fsu)

in 2013, jalen ramsey, frank herron, cornelius elder, christian morris, jason carr, jalen reeves-mabin, and austin sanders are in the rivals 250.

reeves-mabin, carr, and sanders are current tennessee commits

Herron was bumped to a 5* today per rivals - '14 class will be loaded as well

 

[thebjd]

Yes, yes you are ignorant when it comes to the facts.

Getting accepted and producing are two different things.

Also, there are a number of states where if you took the 10th best players at every position and put them up against Tennessee's best player at every position, the game would still be embarrassing.

The only thing you have down to a T is being a jerk more often than not. Go back to fudging your numbers, armchair QB. You're so miserable that even a message board doesn't see you fit to be a "guru". Surely no competent program would either. I wish there was a handle to flush you back to the MLB forum where you'll whine and cry about the Cardinals as you make the entire fanbase look horrible. Which, they are horrible. The city is made up of Boston wannabes without the accolades in sports.

The Cardinals and their fans in no way "wannabe" like Boston. Accolades? Only the Yankees have more World Series titles than the Cards.

Back to rationalizing our suckage and the "in state" talent argument.

 

[jps2194]

What sickens me is when we let great players leave. Dooley did a piss poor job of recruiting in state.

Look at Alabama, they got Barrett Jones from Brentwood who became one of the most decorated offensive lineman ever. I've heard Gordonsville has two lineman that committed to Alabama that we didn't recruit.

Last year, Powell had DyShawn Mobley who broke state records and was never recruited by TN. Vandy and Kentucky wanted him and he went to Kentucky. We should build a wall around the state and get every kid possible and hire someone who can recruit strong in FL, SC and GA as well.

 

[82_VOL_83]

The myth that it's hard to recruit to UT always makes me laugh. The reality is that UT is a regional and national recruiting school. Draw a 200 mile circle around Knoxville and look at the annual talent that enters D1 programs.
When I hear "experts" and fans alike talk about the difficulties in UT recruiting and the lack of in state talent that tells me immediately that the person talking is ignorant of facts.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

Damn I hate to agree with you but I do. Given the fact that you can get here from basically anywhere via Interstate and the myth that you can't get home in a decent amount of time disappears. Mama and Daddy can come see you play, etc. etc. I would say expand your radius to about 300 to 350 miles, something you can drive in 5 hours or so.

Beef, I think that you have been one of the ones talking about the academic side of the house affecting recruiting. Can you or someone else elaborate on that. What exactly do we do differently here that they don't do at FL or Bama that affects the recruiting? I know we took the bonehead that couldn't get into FL last summer (although that didn't turn out well).

 

[82_VOL_83]

I would argue that we don't produce as much talent per capita as states that can play ball year round outside. We played 3 seasons of baseball in FL and it was an event when the parents had to dress for the cold. I think that we have as much talent per capita as any state with the same weather limitations. We just don't have the capita.......(sarcasm).

 

[82_VOL_83]

What sickens me is when we let great players leave. Dooley did a piss poor job of recruiting in state.

Look at Alabama, they got Barrett Jones from Brentwood who became one of the most decorated offensive lineman ever. I've heard Gordonsville has two lineman that committed to Alabama that we didn't recruit.

Last year, Powell had DyShawn Mobley who broke state records and was never recruited by TN. Vandy and Kentucky wanted him and he went to Kentucky. We should build a wall around the state and get every kid possible and hire someone who can recruit strong in FL, SC and GA as well.

Can you say (hope I spell this right) Dante Hightower?

 

[UTBuff37]

sometimes a kid dont get a offer due to their high school coach not sending out tapes(MT JULIET COACH PERRY IS ONE THAT DONT)

This is very true. Because the state of Tennessee high school football is considered one of the weaker states in high school football, the coaches don't take the time to advertise their players, therefore, the coaches at the college level don't learn anything about them and they go under the radar. However, the state is becoming better and better every year and that trend is beginning to change. I know of atleast 3 high school coaches that had decent players and 1 or 2 every year that could of played at the college level, but the coaches didn't take the time to help out the players in recruiting, with film, phone calls, and such. I feel like we do have good players in this state and we have to get the best ones. CBJ is taking great steps in this direction and I'm very optimistic.

 

[UTBuff37]

I'm very optimistic with how CBJ is so proud of this state, University, former players and lettermen, and our traditions. I'm loving it.

 

[orangelo]

What sickens me is when we let great players leave. Dooley did a piss poor job of recruiting in state.

Look at Alabama, they got Barrett Jones from ECS who became one of the most decorated offensive lineman ever. I've heard Gordonsville has two lineman that committed to Alabama that we didn't recruit.

Last year, Powell had DyShawn Mobley who broke state records and was never recruited by TN. Vandy and Kentucky wanted him and he went to Kentucky. We should build a wall around the state and get every kid possible and hire someone who can recruit strong in FL, SC and GA as well.

FYP... with that being said recruiting private schools in Memphis will continue to be an uphill battle.

 

[GetEmVols]

sometimes a kid dont get a offer due to their high school coach not sending out tapes(MT JULIET COACH PERRY IS ONE THAT DONT)

How do schools out of state seem to find footage but we can't

 

[Maximum Jack]

I don't know about other states with comparable population as TN, but I'm a high school tennis coach and I see something that is hurting our athletic talent in all sports. Namely, private Christian Academies and, to a lesser extent, home schooling. I live in Chattanooga, and there are at least six private Christian Academies in our area (Notre Dame, Boyd Buchanon, Chattanooga Christian, Grace, Silverdale, Collegedale). All of these schools play in small districts-- some of them have to play up, but only Chattanooga Christian is even in 3A (for football).

All of those schools steal players from the traditional public schools in our area. I'm not talking illegally, either. Just middle class parents that want to send their kids to mostly white, Christian schools. They stay in the smaller districts and win lots of championships in lots of different sports, but those titles are pretty meaningless.

Red Bank, for instance was hovering around 1400-1500 students when I was there: it is now smaller than 800. Part of this has to do with a new school on Signal Mountain, but SM is essentially a small, white, affluent academy as well-- lets face it, if you can afford to live on the Mountain . . .

At any rate, the best athletes are not practicing every day with the best athletes. Again, I don't care what sport we're talking, this is the case. If all those PCA's would go away, you'd have much more competition in the public schools, we'd have more schools in the biggest classifications, and we'd have much better talent in Tennessee in all sports.

 

[volboy81]

I don't know about other states with comparable population as TN, but I'm a high school tennis coach and I see something that is hurting our athletic talent in all sports. Namely, private Christian Academies and, to a lesser extent, home schooling. I live in Chattanooga, and there are at least six private Christian Academies in our area (Notre Dame, Boyd Buchanon, Chattanooga Christian, Grace, Silverdale, Collegedale). All of these schools play in small districts-- some of them have to play up, but only Chattanooga Christian is even in 3A (for football).

All of those schools steal players from the traditional public schools in our area. I'm not talking illegally, either. Just middle class parents that want to send their kids to mostly white, Christian schools. They stay in the smaller districts and win lots of championships in lots of different sports, but those titles are pretty meaningless.

Red Bank, for instance was hovering around 1400-1500 students when I was there: it is now smaller than 800. Part of this has to do with a new school on Signal Mountain, but SM is essentially a small, white, affluent academy as well-- lets face it, if you can afford to live on the Mountain . . .

At any rate, the best athletes are not practicing every day with the best athletes. Again, I don't care what sport we're talking, this is the case. If all those PCA's would go away, you'd have much more competition in the public schools, we'd have more schools in the biggest classifications, and we'd have much better talent in Tennessee in all sports.

I dont have a thing against the small private Christian schools, but they wouldn't be there in the first place if our public schools weren't such a piece of crap!

 

[hmanvolfan]

What sickens me is when we let great players leave. Dooley did a piss poor job of recruiting in state.

Look at Alabama, they got Barrett Jones from Brentwood who became one of the most decorated offensive lineman ever. I've heard Gordonsville has two lineman that committed to Alabama that we didn't recruit.

Last year, Powell had DyShawn Mobley who broke state records and was never recruited by TN. Vandy and Kentucky wanted him and he went to Kentucky. We should build a wall around the state and get every kid possible and hire someone who can recruit strong in FL, SC and GA as well.

Barrett Jones' father and grandfather went to Alabama.

 

[Boca Vol]

The top talent in TN is good. It looks like Jones is trying to secure the border which is very good. When a Harrison Smith goes to ND (and I don't know why he did or if UT recruited him hard) but he left and was a 1st round draft pick. There are kids that will give their all for UT. Go get 'em, Jones.

 

[thebjd]

I don't know about other states with comparable population as TN, but I'm a high school tennis coach and I see something that is hurting our athletic talent in all sports. Namely, private Christian Academies and, to a lesser extent, home schooling. I live in Chattanooga, and there are at least six private Christian Academies in our area (Notre Dame, Boyd Buchanon, Chattanooga Christian, Grace, Silverdale, Collegedale). All of these schools play in small districts-- some of them have to play up, but only Chattanooga Christian is even in 3A (for football).

All of those schools steal players from the traditional public schools in our area. I'm not talking illegally, either. Just middle class parents that want to send their kids to mostly white, Christian schools. They stay in the smaller districts and win lots of championships in lots of different sports, but those titles are pretty meaningless.

Red Bank, for instance was hovering around 1400-1500 students when I was there: it is now smaller than 800. Part of this has to do with a new school on Signal Mountain, but SM is essentially a small, white, affluent academy as well-- lets face it, if you can afford to live on the Mountain . . .

At any rate, the best athletes are not practicing every day with the best athletes. Again, I don't care what sport we're talking, this is the case. If all those PCA's would go away, you'd have much more competition in the public schools, we'd have more schools in the biggest classifications, and we'd have much better talent in Tennessee in all sports.

I grew up in Tennessee and the difference in youth sports in Georgia (where I live now) and what is in Tennessee is night and day. This goes for all sports.

 

[Boca Vol]

I grew up in Tennessee and the difference in youth sports in Georgia (where I live now) and what is in Tennessee is night and day. This goes for all sports.

Move to FL. 24/7/365.

 

[Bluetic]

It's ****in nauseating to hear Tennesseans running around saying Roll Tide. Everytime one of those little twats in highschool did it I wanted to slap the sh** out of em.

Thats the spirit!!!

 

[jps2194]

Barrett Jones' father and grandfather went to Alabama.

I did not know that, thanks for pointing that out.

 

[GAVol]

Move to FL. 24/7/365.

Once you get to Atlanta and south, it's pretty much that way here too. There probably aren't more than 20 days a year where anything other than rain and occasional extreme heat will slow you down.

 

[Boca Vol]

I'll never forget when my nephew was 9 or 10 my brother took him to sign up for baseball in Sarasota. He tried out and the coach spoke with my brother after practice and told him my nephew had some ability but he wasn't good enough to make the team. He suggested a few hitting coaches to take him to so he'd be better prepared the next year if he wanted to try again.

In Lenoir City in the 80's, we barely had enough kids to fill 4 teams. Much less turning a kid down because he wasn't good enough.

It is that competitive in FL even at an early age.

 

[Rockytop1018]

I'll never forget when my nephew was 9 or 10 my brother took him to sign up for baseball in Sarasota. He tried out and the coach spoke with my brother after practice and told him my nephew had some ability but he wasn't good enough to make the team. He suggested a few hitting coaches to take him to so he'd be better prepared the next year if he wanted to try again.

In Lenoir City in the 80's, we barely had enough kids to fill 4 teams. Much less turning a kid down because he wasn't good enough.

It is that competitive in FL even at an early age.

I've lived all over the South, and from what I've observed, the competitiveness in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky is just not as intense as in other Southern states. In every state from Texas on over to Florida, football is a religion. It's 24/7 devotion to the sport, and practices are Hell. It's a real life Friday Night Lights.

 

[jps2194]

I've lived all over the South, and from what I've observed, the competitiveness in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky is just not as intense as in other Southern states. In every state from Texas on over to Florida, football is a religion. It's 24/7 devotion to the sport, and practices are Hell. It's a real life Friday Night Lights.

I grew up in Longwood, FL (outside of Orlando) and for our local school, we have 3-4 teams every year. One was basically an all-star team where we traveled out of state to play. We played teams from Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, etc. Our running back was the punt, pass and kick champion for his age group. The coaches and teams were unbelievable.

Then I moved to TN when I was in the 8th grade and couldn't believe the difference. Now that I have kids, I've coached football from age 5 through 8th grade and the talent and interest is nowhere near where it was in FL in the late 70's. I'm sure it has only intensified since I left.