Peyton and his recruitment

[knoxvols11]

We all know the story of his official visit here and it was snowing in the dead of winter. Besides Ole Miss, who did he have offers from? Also, was there any chance of Eli coming here?

 

[BearCat204]

Most of the self-appointed "recruiting gurus" were still in diapers when Peyton was being recruited. There wasn't a chance that Eli would have come to UT unless Cut was still here.

 

[knoxvols11]

I always figured the Cutt to Ole Miss deal was to ensure Eli went there.

 

[VFL21]

He was the top recruit in the nation and also Gatorade National Player of the Year. He could've went almost anywhere he wanted

 

[BearCat204]

It's speculated that he would have gone to Ole Miss had it not been heavily rumored that they were about to get hit with sanctions.

 

[knoxvols11]

I didn't know he was that good in H.S.

 

[BearCat204]

I didn't know he was that good in H.S.

He and Cooper were pretty boss together

 

[Notorious B.E.N]

I didn't know he was that good in H.S.

Yep

 

[Rock33]

Did nobody watch "The Book of Manning" ??? P could have gone to play at any school in America and a half dozen Pro-Teams !!!

 

[VFL21]

I didn't know he was that good in H.S.

Plus being the son of Archie Manning helped out a lot with national attention.

 

[wtorange]

I always figured the Cutt to Ole Miss deal was to ensure Eli went there.

Correct, Eli used to sign UT bound on autographs in HS. the family was so impressed by the way Payton developed under Cutcliffe that Eli would have gone wherever he was.

 

[Boston Vol]

We all know the story of his official visit here and it was snowing in the dead of winter. Besides Ole Miss, who did he have offers from? Also, was there any chance of Eli coming here?

Besides Ole Miss, Tennessee's main competition for Peyton was Florida and Texas A&M.

 

[volboy81]

A lot of people forget that Peyton's decision pretty-much came down to Tennessee & Florida! WHEW!!

 

[Rock33]

Always felt Eli was damned either way, go to TN and walk in tall shoes, but with better talent around him. Or, go revive the Manning Legacy at Ole Miss, with less talent, but with Cut, which meant honing his skills for the League... It's been tough on Eli, glad he has 2 SB Rings !

 

[vol-un-tear]

He took a trip to the Lap during his recruiting visit. Brent Smith was taking him around the strip etc...I remember him coming to the Lap. It's was cool!

 

[knoxvols11]

Seems that Brandon Stewart was ranked ahead by the recruiting services of that time/era. I remember their freshman year actually thinking he was better and thought Archie pulled strings. Now though, Peyton ended up being Tennessee football.

 

[vol-un-tear]

Seems that Brandon Stewart was ranked ahead by the recruiting services of that time/era. I remember their freshman year actually thinking he was better and thought Archie pulled strings. Now though, Peyton ended up being Tennessee football.

Stewart actually came in the UCLA game before Manning after Colquitt and Helton got hurt. Manning was the 4th QB in.

 

[knoxvols11]

A lot of people forget that Peyton's decision pretty-much came down to Tennessee & Florida! WHEW!!

He ever say why he chose us over Fla. In one of the VCR tapes (from the old days) Cutt commented "because we just had success with a quarterback-assuming Shular.

 

[knoxvols11]

Stewart actually came in the UCLA game before Manning after Colquitt and Helton got hurt. Manning was the 4th QB in.

Keith Jackson-"get used to it"!

 

[tennrich1]

It's speculated that he would have gone to Ole Miss had it not been heavily rumored that they were about to get hit with sanctions.

That was just one of many factors as I understand it .

 

[tennesseeduke]

I didn't know he was that good in H.S.

It was rumored that some of the saints players he hung out with his dad with, said he would throw some at their practices and could play in the NFL coming out of HS. Dude was righteous in HS, College and Pros! Would love for him to win another Super Bowl. Doesn't matter to me, as he is one of the best of all time. Top 5!

:loco:

Tennesseeduke

 

[orangeluvr]

Archie received death threats after Peyton signed with UT. That statement was made in the doc.

 

[Daloth]

That was just one of many factors as I understand it .

I think Peyton flat said, if Cooper had still been playing he would've went to Ole Miss. It really was a perfect storm of bad things that got him to UT.

 

[Ducreux]

I've followed the Vols as far back as Dewey Warren and Bobby Scott but the real 'good ole days' were with Peyton....we will never see a better quarterback or representative of the university than Peyton...

 

[NashVOL93]

A lot of people forget that Peyton's decision pretty-much came down to Tennessee & Florida! WHEW!!

I can't begin to wrap my mind around the football destruction Peyton and the Ole Ball Coach would have wreaked upon the SEC together. Glad we got him.