Vols Football: The Tables Are Turning In Recruiting

Remember a few years ago, when Tennessee was forced to sign the players that Alabama didn’t have room to sign?

It wasn’t very often that Bama fans were seeking out recruits on social media, frustrated by them picking Tennessee over Alabama.

In fact, I’m not sure that ever happened.

Oh how the times have changed.

Now I’m not suggesting that Tennessee is out-recruiting Alabama. Nick Saban is still one of the best recruiters in college football.

But it certainly seems like the Vols are drawing closer in the recruiting battle.

The Vols’ 2015 commitment list resembles what Alabama’s has looked like over the past several years. Tennessee currently has three five-star commits and eight four-star commits.

It wasn’t that long ago that Tennessee was struggling to just land any four-star players (In 2013 the Vols signed four four-star players and one of those, Jason Carr, is no longer with the team).

The Vols have leveled the playing field with an expert recruiter in Butch Jones. Tennessee now has commits that Bama fans covet.

Check out this exchange between an Alabama fan and 2015 five-star Vol commit Kahlil McKenzie.

After years of seeing the top talent in the nation head to Tuscaloosa, it has to feel good for Vol fans to finally land elite talent that is coveted by their biggest rival.

Championships are won through recruiting. You can certainly find a few diamonds in the rough, and Butch Jones has proved he can, but ultimately you have to land elite talent to be able to consistently compete in the SEC.

That’s how Alabama has built their dynasty. That’s how Auburn quickly rejoined the national title conversation. That’s how Ole Miss jumped into the national title conversation.

And that’s how Tennessee is going to continue to their ascent to the top of the SEC East.

Vol fans have gone from feeling like they were going to lose each recruiting battle they were in, to feeling like they could win any of them.

That’s what a close-knit coaching staff that’s able to make personal connections can do.

What’s amazing is that over the past 5 years, Tennessee is a sub .500 program.

Imagine what recruiting will be like when the Vols are competing for championships.