Today On Rocky Top: How Vols Can Own In-State Recruiting

Apr 20, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones signs a helmet for a fan before the spring Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

From Bleacher Report

"Even before James Franklin bolted from Vanderbilt for Penn State, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones had placed a big orange padlock on in-state recruiting.According to 247Sports, the Volunteers already had secured six of the state’s top 10 players prior to Franklin’s departure, and when Jashon Robertson flipped to UT from the Commodores last week, that number swelled to seven.With the Vols riding the wave of momentum from having a top national recruiting class and new VU coach Derek Mason scrambling to get started, they have a golden opportunity to keep control of state recruiting in a big way."

From The Tennessean

"Jordan McRae made sure Arkansas continued its recent history of road frustration.McRae scored Tennessee’s last 13 points of the game and finished with 34 as the Vols erased an eight-point, second-half deficit Wednesday in an 81-74 victory over Arkansas. McRae’s 3-pointer with 2:46 remaining put Tennessee ahead for good.“This is a game I didn’t want to lose,” McRae said. “We didn’t want to lose it at home. … We needed this win.”"

From WBIR

"One look at University of Tennessee defensive tackle Daniel McCullers tells you he’s an NFL prospect.In Senior Bowl practices this week, however, the 6-foot-8, 351-pounder is trying to prove he’s more than just another big body.“I know technique is a big thing in the NFL,” McCullers said. “There’s lot of big guys in the NFL, but you have to have technique to compete with them every day. My defensive line coach here has been telling me to work the edges more. I can bull-rush real good, but in the NFL, I’m going to have to find some more moves.”"