Most Encouraging Things About Pruitt's Recruiting

#1
DiderotsGhost

DiderotsGhost

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#1
I don't want to read too much into what is basically a hurried-up partial-year class for the new staff, but there are two things that really stand out to me.


We're doing well on positions of need. If you asked me to rank our needs when Pruitt was hired, I'd say (1) WRs / TEs, (2) O-line, (3) backup QB, and (4) D-line. We had one SEC-caliber WR last season (Callaway) after JJ went down; we desperately need help there. O-line is an obvious position of need, as well. With the coaching change, our class may still be ranked relatively low (#26 on 247), but the staff has been very good at filling the most high-priority needs with guys like Alontae Taylor (WR), Dominick Wood-Anderson (TE), and Jerome Carvin (OL).

We're recruiting nationally again. Butch Jones was a pretty good recruiter, even if he was terrible at player development and coaching. Yet, he wasn't an elite recruiter. He was good at getting Tennessee recruits and recruits from neighboring states, but he was never able to recruit nationally. The last coach we had that could was Phil Fulmer. It's very interesting to see that Pruitt and staff have been getting West Coast kids. To me, that's a promising sign for the future. While the state of Tennessee has been producing more blue-chip talent in recent years, and we can aways get some recruits from Atlanta, North Carolina, and Virginia, to be able to consistently land top 5 classes, you have to recruit nationally. It's difficult to remember the last time we had a serious chance at so many recruits in California.


I refuse to get too optimistic, as we've already seen that recruiting is just the first step to contending in the SEC and the other steps are even more critical. But I am encouraged by our sudden ability to recruit nationally again. With Tennessee's brand name and facilities, there's no reason we can't pull a few blue-chips out of California, Texas, and /or Florida every year.
 
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#5
#5
Volfan76 said:
I'll have to see some elite linebackers before I can comment on filling needs.
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It'd be nice to get some LBs, but it's honestly not the biggest position of need for 2018. We have Kirkland, Bituli, Sapp, and Ignont. If we were to run 3-4 (and I don't think we will in 2018), could also move Darrell Taylor to OLB. I'd love to land a top LB, but in terms of high-priority needs, I'd say it's down the list, especially if our new coaching staff can actually coach the LBs we already have.
 
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#6
#6
DiderotsGhost said:
It'd be nice to get some LBs, but it's honestly not the biggest position of need for 2018. We have Kirkland, Bituli, Sapp, and Ignont. If we were to run 3-4 (and I don't think we will in 2018), could also move Darrell Taylor to OLB. I'd love to land a top LB, but in terms of high-priority needs, I'd say it's down the list, especially if our new coaching staff can actually coach the LBs we already have.
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I am just ready to see some player development.
 
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#7
#7
Volfan76 said:
I'll have to see some elite linebackers before I can comment on filling needs.
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JJ peterson would be a good start, and i think he's going to wind up in Knoxville. and i wouldn't rule out a couple of guys making a position switch...some of these DE's, maybe RB's, could find themselves as OLB's in our 3-4.

and there's still some other quality guys on the board.

all in all, i agree with DG.

i think we'll all be pleasantl surprised with what comes on board in Feb.

and i have zero dobut that the 2019 class will be very good.
 
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#8
#8
I like the fact that he hits on who he wants.

Banks, Wood-Anderson, and Shrout all came to campus for the first time on Friday and signed on Wednesday. That’s nuts.
 
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#9
#9
DiderotsGhost said:
I don't want to read too much into what is basically a hurried-up partial-year class for the new staff, but there are two things that really stand out to me.


We're doing well on positions of need. If you asked me to rank our needs when Pruitt was hired, I'd say (1) WRs / TEs, (2) O-line, (3) backup QB, and (4) D-line. We had one SEC-caliber WR last season (Callaway) after JJ went down; we desperately need help there. O-line is an obvious position of need, as well. With the coaching change, our class may still be ranked relatively low (#26 on 247), but the staff has been very good at filling the most high-priority needs with guys like Alontae Taylor (WR), Dominick Wood-Anderson (TE), and Jerome Carvin (OL).

We're recruiting nationally again. Butch Jones was a pretty good recruiter, even if he was terrible at player development and coaching. Yet, he wasn't an elite recruiter. He was good at getting Tennessee recruits and recruits from neighboring states, but he was never able to recruit nationally. The last coach we had that could was Phil Fulmer. It's very interesting to see that Pruitt and staff have been getting West Coast kids. To me, that's a promising sign for the future. While the state of Tennessee has been producing more blue-chip talent in recent years, and we can aways get some recruits from Atlanta, North Carolina, and Virginia, to be able to consistently land top 5 classes, you have to recruit nationally. It's difficult to remember the last time we had a serious chance at so many recruits in California.


I refuse to get too optimistic, as we've already seen that recruiting is just the first step to contending in the SEC and the other steps are even more critical. But I am encouraged by our sudden ability to recruit nationally again. With Tennessee's brand name and facilities, there's no reason we can't pull a few blue-chips out of California, Texas, and /or Florida every year.
Click to expand...

Hafta disagree w/ your assessment of our WR Corp... Brandon Johnson is a great WR, good speed, reliable hands, crisp route runner... Tyler Bird was underutilized... could we use more help there absolutely, are we as abysmal there as you’re making it sound... No.
 
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#10
#10
Tennessee's talent level is on the rise and it's going to grow now that "tax reform" has passed. Migration from high tax states to lower tax states will bring more families into Tennessee, producing more homegrown talent. But they must be taught never to utter the words alabama or georgia.
 
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#11
#11
DiderotsGhost said:
It'd be nice to get some LBs, but it's honestly not the biggest position of need for 2018. We have Kirkland, Bituli, Sapp, and Ignont. If we were to run 3-4 (and I don't think we will in 2018), could also move Darrell Taylor to OLB. I'd love to land a top LB, but in terms of high-priority needs, I'd say it's down the list, especially if our new coaching staff can actually coach the LBs we already have.
Click to expand...

You must have watched different games than me this year.
 
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#12
#12
Pruitt tripled the number of our recruiting targets two days after he was hired, we signed twelve players Wed including five who weren't verbally committed before submitting their national letter. This class will only get better when CJP is able to focus on completing the '18 class. We're gonna run the ball and play defense.
 
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#14
#14
orangeluvr said:
Kirkland and Bituli can start for any team in the SEC, we currently have only a few players who could do that. Gotta felling that's gonna change soon.
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Maybe. Kirkland needs to get healthy and play a full season. Bituli seemed out of position some last year but he is definitely aggressive.
 
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#15
#15
DrTNT said:
Hafta disagree w/ your assessment of our WR Corp... Brandon Johnson is a great WR, good speed, reliable hands, crisp route runner... Tyler Bird was underutilized... could we use more help there absolutely, are we as abysmal there as you’re making it sound... No.
Click to expand...

Definitely agree on Tyler Bird
 
#16
#16
DrTNT said:
Hafta disagree w/ your assessment of our WR Corp... Brandon Johnson is a great WR, good speed, reliable hands, crisp route runner... Tyler Bird was underutilized... could we use more help there absolutely, are we as abysmal there as you’re making it sound... No.
Click to expand...

Don’t know who Bird is, but Byrd will continue to be underutilized at WR...since he’s moving to corner. :)
 
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#19
#19
We’re actually offering the best players in the nation instead of refusing to try! Gosh he can’t do any worst than Jones. Jones is a very smart and brilliant man(blue font)
 
#20
#20
orangeluvr said:
Tennessee's talent level is on the rise and it's going to grow now that "tax reform" has passed. Migration from high tax states to lower tax states will bring more families into Tennessee, producing more homegrown talent. But they must be taught never to utter the words alabama or georgia.
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Good to know. Future Vols have no interest in things like roads, schools, culture, you know that kind of stuff they take for granted in those "high tax states". While you're at it, might as well toss a college diploma that is any more valuable than one from, say, the University of Phoenix, Corinthian College, or Trump U. Jeez!
 
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#22
#22
DiderotsGhost said:
It'd be nice to get some LBs, but it's honestly not the biggest position of need for 2018. We have Kirkland, Bituli, Sapp, and Ignont. If we were to run 3-4 (and I don't think we will in 2018), could also move Darrell Taylor to OLB. I'd love to land a top LB, but in terms of high-priority needs, I'd say it's down the list, especially if our new coaching staff can actually coach the LBs we already have.
Click to expand...

As for LBer's, seems we have about 2 injured just about every game the past 2 years and the back-ups have a steep drop-off talent wise. With the starting linemen tiring too early in games due to a poor offense the LBer's were put on the spot and needless to say, simply didn't get the job done. DKjr's injuries have hurt the past 2 years.

I'm not even gonna look at the stats concerning how bad we were against the rush but I know it's embarrasing. We will be using hybird type edge rushers in an ideal defense which is a combination DE and LBer. Maybe that's why Pruitt appears to be so selective in getting the kind of players he would like to have. Jordan Allen will be a big help and JJ Peterson has said UT is the current leader in his recruiting. Of course Q.Walker would be a dynamic get but that isn't gonna be easy but we'll get a couple of LBer's in Feb.
 
#23
#23
arkyvol said:
Good to know. Future Vols have no interest in things like roads, schools, culture, you know that kind of stuff they take for granted in those "high tax states". While you're at it, might as well toss a college diploma that is any more valuable than one from, say, the University of Phoenix, Corinthian College, or Trump U. Jeez!
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I live in one of those high tax states. The roads are some of the worst in the country with potholes, disrepair and generally poorly designed. The schools as a whole are failing and some have even gone bankrupt. And the culture...Detroit and Flint...look them up. Your ridiculous statements show the depth of elitism you carry along with a severe lack of knowledge.
 
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#25
#25
Grudenator said:
We’re actually offering the best players in the nation instead of refusing to try! Gosh he can’t do any worst than Jones. Jones is a very smart and brilliant man(blue font)
Click to expand...

I wonder what football powerhouse our former mentor is waiting for an opening to become available? May take a while for him to be re-employed:cray:
 
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