Recruiting success is nothing new in Knoxville; Phillip Fulmer was known for bringing in top talent during his heyday on Rocky Top. But if we're looking at just the last five years, the Vols can't be ignored as a team on the rise. Things bottomed out in Knoxville in 2012, with the team failing to finish the season over .500 for the fifth time in six seasons. With things going slow on the recruiting trail as well, Tennessee hired Butch Jones, who quickly gave the Volunteers momentum.
During the class of 2013 cycle Jones closed on several top targets, including 12 of the 22 players Tennessee signed. With a full year on the recruiting trail in 2014, Jones and his staff stepped it up a notch. Tennessee brought in a monster class of 31 signees, including in-state five-stars Jalen Hurd and Josh Malone. Both players have turned into starters and big-time contributors for the Vols this season, as have fellow Rivals250 signees Todd Kelly and Derek Barnett, who are also Tennessee natives. The combination of Jones' success in-state and ability to land prospects from Georgia and Florida gave the Vols the highest class ranking (No. 5) since the 2007 class, which finished No. 3 overall.
This year things have kept rolling for Jones in company, as Tennessee currently sits at No. 5 again, with commitments from 26 prospects including five-star defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie and Rivals100 prospects Shy Tuttle and Preston Williams. If Jones can continue to show progress on the field, it's easy to see Tennessee become a fixture in the top 10 for years to come.
