'24 MO DL Williams Nwaneri (Mizzou commit)

[JCVol00]

Tweener anyway.

Is he a SDE or DT??

Go Vols!

Doesnt matter, he’s not coming here unfortunately

 

[OrangeVolMan]

So went from leading to not making his final 3…..dang

We never really lead, we were just in the mix.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

So went from leading to not making his final 3…..dang

He probably called Heupel up and told him

"Sorry coach, you didn't make my top three...it's just...you can't recruit! I'm sorry, but you just aren't recruiting at the level of Geogia and Bama! And sadly... I don't think you can win a title without recruiting like them."

*click*

 

[volinokc]

Once in a while it is helpful to kind of back off and notice how these things work themselves out. Even recently, UT has seemed to be in a strong place then fade. Often it goes back and forth with a recruit. Maybe the Vols are out. Maybe they're down the list right now. But that could change in a day for a million different reasons.

He likes UT obviously and is trying to work through the most difficult decision he's made to this point in his young life.


I hope (and expect) UT to continue to recruit the kid in the right way. If he signs elsewhere then there may be a day when he decides to use the portal and will remember who recruited him with class and integrity.


PS- Oklahoma City was the worst place I've ever been for a significant amount of time. I worked in OKC just a few miles north of Norman for 3 months in the spring a few years back. Everyone jokes about experiencing all 4 seasons in a day... it was literally a common occurrence there. It is always dusty. You could have 2" of rain in the morning and mud everywhere then dust so thick you could hardly believe by the end of the day. More important than that to me was that it just isn't a very friendly place. The restaurants weren't friendly. Hotel staff weren't particularly friendly. Real estate agents were even disinterested. Tulsa was better but OKC was miserable.

Of the places he's considering, UT is by far the best to "live".

OKC is horrible, and everyone here is tired of me reminding them. You were in the worst area though. Moore is absolute suburban dustbowl hell.
I worked/taught at OU, and I just can’t fathom how they recruit to that place. There is nothing outside of my son that could keep me here.
If Nwaneri is seeking advice, send him my way!

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Once in a while it is helpful to kind of back off and notice how these things work themselves out. Even recently, UT has seemed to be in a strong place then fade. Often it goes back and forth with a recruit. Maybe the Vols are out. Maybe they're down the list right now. But that could change in a day for a million different reasons.

He likes UT obviously and is trying to work through the most difficult decision he's made to this point in his young life.


I hope (and expect) UT to continue to recruit the kid in the right way. If he signs elsewhere then there may be a day when he decides to use the portal and will remember who recruited him with class and integrity.


PS- Oklahoma City was the worst place I've ever been for a significant amount of time. I worked in OKC just a few miles north of Norman for 3 months in the spring a few years back. Everyone jokes about experiencing all 4 seasons in a day... it was literally a common occurrence there. It is always dusty. You could have 2" of rain in the morning and mud everywhere then dust so thick you could hardly believe by the end of the day. More important than that to me was that it just isn't a very friendly place. The restaurants weren't friendly. Hotel staff weren't particularly friendly. Real estate agents were even disinterested. Tulsa was better but OKC was miserable.

Of the places he's considering, UT is by far the best to "live".

How the season shakes out for everyone will also bring a few traits nationally with some. It almost always does. GBO!

 

[BleedingOrangeInChatt]

One thing we learned from Pruitt. Worry about the ones we get and don't worry about the ones we don't! Gbo!

We also learned that he liked cornbread...

 

[VolForLife83]

We also learned that he liked cornbread...View attachment 562372

And everyone here loved that he loved cornbread

 

[bray2milton]

And everyone here loved that he loved cornbread

I love cornbread.

 

[volinbama256]

What happened to all the momentum in the midwest/Mizz area in the spring?

 

[VolForLife83]

I love cornbread.

Me too. I could live off of cornbread and pintos.

 

[volamite86]

He probably called Heupel up and told him

"Sorry coach, you didn't make my top three...it's just...you can't recruit! I'm sorry, but you just aren't recruiting at the level of Geogia and Bama! And sadly... I don't think you can win a title without recruiting like them."

*click*

I can’t tell if this is a jab at my statement or what, but that last sentence isn’t wrong.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

What happened to all the momentum in the midwest/Mizz area in the spring?

Right? I truly believed we were likely going to land Nwerni, Wingo, the tight end whos name escapes me, and possibly swing back to their four star receiver (McClellan?) if wanted to.

Now we could whiff on all of them.

Recruiting is fluid. And pointless to follow, really.

 

[BADGER_VOL]

Once in a while it is helpful to kind of back off and notice how these things work themselves out. Even recently, UT has seemed to be in a strong place then fade. Often it goes back and forth with a recruit. Maybe the Vols are out. Maybe they're down the list right now. But that could change in a day for a million different reasons.

He likes UT obviously and is trying to work through the most difficult decision he's made to this point in his young life.


I hope (and expect) UT to continue to recruit the kid in the right way. If he signs elsewhere then there may be a day when he decides to use the portal and will remember who recruited him with class and integrity.


PS- Oklahoma City was the worst place I've ever been for a significant amount of time. I worked in OKC just a few miles north of Norman for 3 months in the spring a few years back. Everyone jokes about experiencing all 4 seasons in a day... it was literally a common occurrence there. It is always dusty. You could have 2" of rain in the morning and mud everywhere then dust so thick you could hardly believe by the end of the day. More important than that to me was that it just isn't a very friendly place. The restaurants weren't friendly. Hotel staff weren't particularly friendly. Real estate agents were even disinterested. Tulsa was better but OKC was miserable.

Of the places he's considering, UT is by far the best to "live".

That’s wild to me. My son toured over 25 Bug D1 schools and chose Oklahoma. I had never been there before, our tour was amazing. The school was better than anything we saw anywhere (not by tons but better). We spent two days there and went around Oklahoma City and Norman and everyone was so nice. Crazy how people can have such different experiences of the same place.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

I had gotten to where I didn’t follow recruiting as much just because it had gotten to where it was clear we weren’t going to win these battles, but this past season kind of got me back into it. It’s funny to me how recruiting hardly ever seems “fluid” for Georgia, Bama, and Ohio State.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Folks that live with every twist and turn in recruiting will stay stressed. Until they have a date set there is really no reason to worry. The ones that are waiting to December or even late fall expect many twist. I don’t know that I would be too excited to be leading for anybody that is waiting to till late season or December to announce. When the games start and players fill out the vibes of how the season is going for other teams things will change with some players. It almost always happens. GBO!

 

[wmcovol]

I can’t tell if this is a jab at my statement or what, but that last sentence isn’t wrong.

Vol fans are expecting too much too fast. Todays hs athletes have seen 1 good Tennessee team in the time they’ve watched sports vs annual CFP appearances by both Ala & Ga. It’s a process and progress IS being made.

 

[buckfama]

I had gotten to where I didn’t follow recruiting as much just because it had gotten to where it was clear we weren’t going to win these battles, but this past season kind of got me back into it. It’s funny to me how recruiting hardly ever seems “fluid” for Georgia, Bama, and Ohio State.

We aren't perceived as good long term as those teams yet... note the yet.

If UT can consistently get into the playoffs and get kids into the league, then recruiting will be less "fluid" for us.

 

[AllVol11717]

Right? I truly believed we were likely going to land Nwerni, Wingo, the tight end whos name escapes me, and possibly swing back to their four star receiver (McClellan?) if wanted to.

Now we could whiff on all of them.

Recruiting is fluid. And pointless to follow, really.

Well recruits are pretty much PR coached nowadays to say the same copy and paste ad lib about every school so as to not burn bridges or show their hand.

Occasionally you’ll see a guy that just says what he thinks, but most of these AP, Hubbs, etc. articles are useless lip service to keep them in business during the offseason.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Well recruits are pretty much PR coached nowadays to say the same copy and paste ad lib about every school so as to not burn bridges or show their hand.

Occasionally you’ll see a guy that just says what he thinks, but most of these AP, Hubbs, etc. articles are useless lip service to keep them in business during the offseason.

Pretty much agree. I don't even read the post visit write ups. Like you said, they're all pretty much variations of the same key words and phrases. Staff prioritizing me. Feels like family. Heupel keeps it real. Etc etc etc

The kids definitely say what they say to pander to the fan bases and garner likes/follows etc.

 

[UTK]

What happened to all the momentum in the midwest/Mizz area in the spring?

Still there. Wingo. We will see how it turns out though.

 

[Christian Lowe]

Well recruits are pretty much PR coached nowadays to say the same copy and paste ad lib about every school so as to not burn bridges or show their hand.

Occasionally you’ll see a guy that just says what he thinks, but most of these AP, Hubbs, etc. articles are useless lip service to keep them in business during the offseason.

The portal has ruined high school kids keeping it real. Quotes used to be hilarious, and so did the hijinks. You’ll never see a Preston Williams going to auburn on a visit decked in UT gear again. Their agents will remind them that they might transfer there if they aren’t happy in a year or two.

I know he transferred regardless, but it was under the old system.

 

[LouderVol]

I had gotten to where I didn’t follow recruiting as much just because it had gotten to where it was clear we weren’t going to win these battles, but this past season kind of got me back into it. It’s funny to me how recruiting hardly ever seems “fluid” for Georgia, Bama, and Ohio State.

its a confirmation bias thing. We aren't in on all the guys they are in on, so we don't see those twists and turns.

Florida has been stealing a couple from Georgia this year, Bama is still in the waiting phase at #14 just like they are most years, Ohio State is battling plenty. We just took one of their top instate OL, and Michigan has the other, and they only have 3 of the top 12. If their fans prioritize instate like we do that would be ruffling plenty of feathers.

 

[Augustus McRae]

Something happened in this recruitment. You don't just go from at or near the top to completely out. Either the player or our coaches saw something on his visit that immediately turned it off. Wonder what it was.

 

[LouderVol]

Something happened in this recruitment. You don't just go from at or near the top to completely out. Either the player or our coaches saw something on his visit that immediately turned it off. Wonder what it was.

could be wanting to much NIL and we backed out, could be he didn't fit the culture and the player's know like Warren talked about.

 

[Augustus McRae]

could be wanting to much NIL and we backed out, could be he didn't fit the culture and the player's know like Warren talked about.

Yeah. I wasn't thinking NIL as much as I was thinking your culture comment, but NIL angle is definitely valid. I tend to lean a current player/coach saw something they didn't like. Anyway, on to the next.