Rise in In State Talent

#27
#27
Aesius said:
We need 7-8 high quality instate "locks" every year.
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Yep. And they need to recruit NC better than they have this year. Not complaining... but NC has 17 4* or better players this year. Getting involved there is important. It is the first time I can remember NC having more elite players than SC.
 
#28
#28
knoxvols11 said:
I don't think it's increasing. There have always been a few and just a slightly higher than half of them have always gone out of state to play. Everybody mentions Cobb but what about that reciever a decade or so ago that went to USC?
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Well, you'd be wrong.


247 on Tennessee Recruits for 2015-

From 247.....
"Early Look- With a double digit number of prospects rated four-stars or higher this early in the 2015 cycle, it’s safe to say that this could be one of the best classes on paper in the history of recruiting in the Volunteer State. The Nashville area in particular is up.

Off the Board- Four-star defensive back Donovan Sheffield of Nashville Ensworth has committed to Vanderbilt. Tennessee has commitments from offensive linemen Zach Stewart of Coalfield and Jack Jones of Murfreesboro Oakland, along with Lenoir City athlete Jaylond Woods- all three stars.

Best Available- Rico McGraw, CB, Nashville Ensworth; Drew Richmond, OT, Memphis University School; Kyle Phillips, DE, Nashville Hillsboro; Jauan Jennings, DQB/ATH Murfreesboro Blackman; Van Jefferson, WR, Brentwood Ravenwood?

?The Buzz- McGraw, an early selection for the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, is one of the best defensive backs in the country for his cycle and it’s an excellent, deep cycle at both cornerback (where he projects) and safety. Alabama is the early pick as to where he will end up, but watch out for the Vols and others. Richmond has good size, footwork and has a slew of offers. Tennessee and Ohio State are two early suitors with staying power. Phillips’ mother is the AD at Tennessee State University in Nashville and is a Vanderbilt graduate, so the hometown Commodores look good early. Phillips is a dominant pass rusher that is already 6-foot-4, 250 pounds. Jennings is 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and has verbal offers from the likes of Ohio State and others. The only question- is he a quarterback in college? Like Phillips, Jefferson has good bloodlines. His father is Tennessee Titans receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, who played in two Super Bowls and had more than 7,000 career receiving yards in the NFL. Ohio State and others have offered Jefferson, a great route runner, early.

Potential Sleeper(s)- Defensive end Dylan Jackson of Maryville impressed at the Atlanta VTO Combine this past spring and has great size and athleticism at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds. He could end up being a tight end or even an offensive tackle in college, but he’s got excellent potential. Also- quarterback Nick Tiano of the Baylor School in Chattanooga is 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and has a good arm. Expect his stock to rise moving forward.

Trending- Up. During the modern era of recruiting coverage (starting at the turn of the century/millennium), there has never been, on paper, the deep number of legitimate, High-FBS level prospects spread across the state of Tennessee as there is for 2015. That’s good news for Butch Jones, who is trying to rebuild the Vols. That’s good news for James Franklin, who has made in-state recruiting a point of emphasis during his time at Vanderbilt and it’s good news for other programs who recruit the state. Perhaps the most rare thing about the 2015 cycle besides the talent depth is the fact that the players are not all concentrated in the west (Memphis). Nashville has most of the talent and there are quite a few in eastern Tennessee as well.??"
 
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#30
#30
brianlsanders said:
Trending- Up. During the modern era of recruiting coverage (starting at the turn of the century/millennium), there has never been, on paper, the deep number of legitimate, High-FBS level prospects spread across the state of Tennessee as there is for 2015. That’s good news for Butch Jones, who is trying to rebuild the Vols. That’s good news for James Franklin, who has made in-state recruiting a point of emphasis during his time at Vanderbilt and it’s good news for other programs who recruit the state. Perhaps the most rare thing about the 2015 cycle besides the talent depth is the fact that the players are not all concentrated in the west (Memphis). Nashville has most of the talent and there are quite a few in eastern Tennessee as well.??"
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Thanks for posting. Just wanted to highlight the last paragraph, too.
 
#31
#31
Rifleman said:
You are right. Nashville will continue to grow and Coach Jones will have an easier job recruiting than past coaches here. Since he is probably the best recruiter we've had, this will mean great class after great class.

The wealth of OL and DL talent is an especially glaring difference from decades past.

Interesting article:

Football talent in Tennessee has spiked
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Good read on this article. My how things have changed under Butch!!! If we get Mosley, I believe we'll have 7 out of the top 8 players in the state!
 
#32
#32
I think TSSAA and/or the state doesn't allow booster clubs to supplement coaching salaries like Texas, Georgia, & Florida does. That would help attract coaches & would improve hs programs IMO.
 
#34
#34
40Cap said:
East Tn has also greatly improved, due in large part to some really good coaches currently in the area.
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This and those in the Knoxville vicinity/greater area are finally getting looked at again. I think a lot of it has to do with the recruits/families/coaches themselves and the opportunities they have to catch a services attention. You don't have to sit back and wait anymore hoping to be 'discovered' if you're at a small school. Now you can publish your highlights online and attend big regional camps. That opens things up.
 
#35
#35
Ensworth gets a lot of talent... some from out of state and the rumor is that they are going to leave the TSSAA and begin building dorms for some added out of state talent...
 
#36
#36
volboy81 said:
Good read on this article. My how things have changed under Butch!!! If we get Mosley, I believe we'll have 7 out of the top 8 players in the state!
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How things have changed under CBJ? He was the one that boosted the talent level in the HS ranks over the last half decade or so??? The guy is coming in at a great time that UT coaches before him didn't have the ability to take advantage of thats for sure.

People also have to keep in mind that many of these kids might want to go back to the original states their families had to move away from. Their parents aren't UT fans nor are they, so they aren't automatic locks. With this we may start seeing a higher # of TN players being poached by out of state coaches that normally don't come to TN. Pretty much what UT has been doing forever.
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#38
#38
If Dooley was still coaching, wouldn't the high school talent suck...kind of a natural balance?
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#39
#39
Oskie Volum said:
How things have changed under CBJ? He was the one that boosted the talent level in the HS ranks over the last half decade or so??? The guy is coming in at a great time that UT coaches before him didn't have the ability to take advantage of thats for sure.

People also have to keep in mind that many of these kids might want to go back to the original states their families had to move away from. Their parents aren't UT fans nor are they, so they aren't automatic locks. With this we may start seeing a higher # of TN players being poached by out of state coaches that normally don't come to TN. Pretty much what UT has been doing forever.
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The funny thing about UT's location is that it literally makes us the ideal spot to recruit all along the South East as well as into parts of the Midwest and East Coast due to distance. However, that very same location that makes most everything East of the Mississippi easy to reach makes Memphis farther away from campus than BOTH Indianapolis, IN and Columbus, Ohio.

West, TN is always going to be more vulnerable to other schools, especially Ole Miss, as a recruitment zone than either East, TN or Middle, TN. You can still sell playing for your state but you can't sell the benefit of distance.

While I want all of Tennessee on lockdown, the growth of talent in Middle and East, TN is the best thing that could happen for us in selling proximity and that's a factor for many recruits and their parents. It may not be a deal-breaker but it's certainly a bonus.
 
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#40
#40
Bubba Miller, Scott Wells, Jason Laymen, Jeff Smith, Eric Still, Patrick Lenoir, Charles McRae(just a few)... All from Tennessee. We could go on and on. Talent has always been here folks. Hell lets start on Defense with Al Wilson...
 
#41
#41
MSCE09 said:
The talent jump in the Nashville area Probably partially explained by the following:

Nashville has hit a phase of rapid growth over the last decade = more kids

The NFL came to town 16 years ago = better camps

Retired professional players helping coach = higher level coaching
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I have heard this quoted as being a huge part of the growth of in state talent. More Pros live here, coach after retirement, and contribute to camps.
 
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