Recruiting Football Talk VIII

[volbeast33]

Materially tied for 5th now. Coming up near a 92 average. Typical Bama-uga-osu only territory.

View attachment 668322

That makes me smile, but this also warms my heart.

 

[Jr_Vol#]

They going to have this during games or is this just a one time thing?

 

[LoudOrange]

That makes me smile, but this also warms my heart.
View attachment 668334

Lane is killin' it.

 

[jakez4ut]

I think we can put the heupel recruiting stuff to bed.

 

[Tennessee Golfer]

If we go by highest rating on any recruiting site:

OFFENSE

5* NC OT David Sanders
5* NV OL Douglas Utu
4* TN QB George MacIntyre
4* GA WR Travis Smith
4* KS TE Da’Saahn Brame
4* TN WR Radarious Jackson
4* TX TE Jack VanDorselaer
4* TN OL Nic Moore
3* OK OG Antoni Ogumoro
3* GA RB Justin Baker
3* TN WR Joakim Dodson


DEFENSE

4* GA S Lagonza Howard
4* TN DL Ethan Utley
4* IN SDE Marion Dye
4* NJ SDE Jayden Loftin
4* GA LB Christian Gass
4* GA LB Jaedon Harmon
4* NC DL Charles House
4* WI CB Tre Poteat
3* AL S Sidney Walton
3* MD DL Darion Smith
3* GA S Tyler Redmond
3* GA CB Dylan Lewis

That’s 16 out of 23 4/5* (70%). Soon to add one more 4* later this week. That gives us multiple 4/5* at every position except QB and RB.

 

[tnvols72]

 

[Tennessee Golfer]

That makes me smile, but this also warms my heart.
View attachment 668334

 

[EasternVol]

Ha. Case was dismissed.

James sued the cop.

That's good. Did he win the lawsuit?

 

[volbeast33]

I think we can put the heupel recruiting stuff to bed.
View attachment 668335

I do feel that recruiting is Heup’s biggest weakness…This is what happens when you have things rolling from the top of the administration to the bottom of our athletic programs. The decade of the Vols is upon us… LFG!!!!

 

[volbeast33]

If we go by highest rating on any recruiting site:

OFFENSE

5* NC OT David Sanders
5* NV OL Douglas Utu
4* TN QB George MacIntyre
4* GA WR Travis Smith
4* KS TE Da’Saahn Brame
4* TN WR Radarious Jackson
4* TX TE Jack VanDorselaer
4* TN OL Nic Moore
3* OK OG Antoni Ogumoro
3* GA RB Justin Baker
3* TN WR Joakim Dodson


DEFENSE

4* GA S Lagonza Howard
4* TN DL Ethan Utley
4* IN SDE Marion Dye
4* NJ SDE Jayden Loftin
4* GA LB Christian Gass
4* GA LB Jaedon Harmon
4* NC DL Charles House
4* WI CB Tre Poteat
3* AL S Sidney Walton
3* MD DL Darion Smith
3* GA S Tyler Redmond
3* GA CB Dylan Lewis

That’s 16 out of 23 4/5* (70%). Soon to add one more 4* later this week. That gives us multiple 4/5* at every position except QB and RB.

Championships soon to follow!!!

 

[gainesvol82]

Tennessee Football Finding Consistent Success Recruiting State Of North Carolina | Rocky Top Insider

Landing five-star offensive tackle David Sanders is the latest win for Tennessee football recruiting in the state of North Carolina.

www.rockytopinsider.com

The Vols have landed five highly touted players in the state of North Carolina starting with the 2022 recruiting class all the way to the 2026 recruiting class.

It started in 2022 when Tennessee landed James Pearce Jr. who was the No. 6 player in the Tar Heel State according to 247sports. Tennessee’s success continued into the 2023 recruiting class when they landed defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs, the top player in the state, as well as Nathan Leacock— the No. 3 player in the state.

The Vols didn’t land any players in North Carolina in the 2024 recruiting class before picking back up in the 2025 class with Sanders. Heupel and his staff are already ahead of the curve in the 2026 recruiting cycle having already landed quarterback Faizon Brandon— the top player in the state of North Carolina.

Also, take into account that our stud RB last year was a NC kid. UT can field consistent playoff teams by recruiting in a 5 hour-ish radius. NC, SC, GA, AL, TN (Nashville & Memphis w/a couple of Knoxville's finest) and the occasional KY, VA or WV kid is a hell of a recruiting base.

Plus we typically expand out a little to include FL, LA, TX, MS, Ohio, DMV area and strategically go after West Coast kids as especially CA has been very good to UT throughout our history, with several recent examples from HS and portal.

We also have a great portal philosophy and retention percentage of wanted players. Video call by internet and N.I.L. money have made close to home less of a big deal except for the kids like David Sanders who are likely staying close to home if thère is a competent level school nearby.

Recruiting is crazy right now because we are in a period where big brands sell/attract and UT has never stopped having an incredibly strong brand. Now we have the right people leading, marketing, coaching and representing our brand and all sports as winners that garner attention. It affects everything from revenue to enrollment to city revenue and regional/national recognition. But then we have a coaching staff that prioritizes family which stands out in this N.I.L. business period. Great recipe for success and fun times ahead!

 

[volbeast33]

I love flipping recruits from Alabama!!

 

[peaygolf]

That's good. Did he win the lawsuit?

I have no idea?

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

View attachment 668330

That is insane when you realize the nuked wasteland he took over here.

 

[Devo182]

I love Charleston too, but I love its "uglier step-sister" Savannah more. Both are great, but I just prefer Savannah.

Seconded. Savannah is bit more for most folks. And a real party town, for sure. Charleston is nice, but just a bit...stuffy.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

I do feel that recruiting is Heup’s biggest weakness…This is what happens when you have things rolling from the top of the administration to the bottom of our athletic programs. The decade of the Vols is upon us… LFG!!!!

You're never going to drop that stupid are you?

 

[butchna]

Ha. Case was dismissed.

James sued the cop.

Racism and targeting weren’t political catch points in that era. They happened and didn’t get called out. Still happens but not accepted by anybody that matters.

 

[Devo182]

View attachment 668330

#7 amongst P5 HCs and only one of 2 with just 3 seasons under their belt...and Lanning has a way easier schedule and walked into a great situation.

 

[Devo182]

I do feel that recruiting is Heup’s biggest weakness…This is what happens when you have things rolling from the top of the administration to the bottom of our athletic programs. The decade of the Vols is upon us… LFG!!!!

His biggest weakness is just being so damn good looking. He makes Tony V feel bad about himself.

 

[luthervol]

I am unwell.

Are you feeling any better?

 

[volbeast33]

You're never going to drop that stupid are you?

I don’t know what I have said in the past…. its really not that deep…. plus it’s a good thing and not a negative.

 

[Smokey123]

Idk why ozuna isn’t getting any talk of a possible MVP… he’s a serious threat to win the triple crown which hasn’t been done by an NL player in almost 100 years

 

[jakez4ut]

I do feel that recruiting is Heup’s biggest weakness…This is what happens when you have things rolling from the top of the administration to the bottom of our athletic programs. The decade of the Vols is upon us… LFG!!!!

While I won't disagree with the premise about the athletic department in general, I don't think kids play football here without a) believing in what the football program had to offer in all areas and b) if there's not a track record to lean on both on and off the field.

So not only will I not ignore the current status of the athletic program as a huge benefit for recruiting (in all programs), I will also still give credit to this staff for now getting guys across the finish line now, where they weren't necessarily in previous years.

Bottom line guys like David Sanders and Faizan Brandon aren't coming here solely because of the condition of the athletic department.

Does it help that things are so aligned? Absolutely. The way things are right now overall is the type of alignment most of us have been clamoring for, for more than a decade. I would argue it's probably better than we imagined it could be.

But somebody still has to close in football.

 

[gainesvol82]

Hell yes. Can't wait to see Travis in Orange.

 

[jave36]

#7 amongst P5 HCs and only one of 2 with just 3 seasons under their belt...and Lanning has a way easier schedule and walked into a great situation.

I think it includes ucf.