Tennessee football: 5 strengths with Vols revamped staff heading into 2019

3. Recruiting prowess

When it comes to recruiting connections and actual recruiting successes, Tennessee football all of a sudden is loaded with talent on its staff. Their new staff brings more connections to Georgia, Alabama and California.

The guy who is the connection to all three and the best overall recruiter when it comes to results is Tee Martin. He grew up in Alabama, coached high school ball and at Morehouse in Georgia and spent seven years with the USC Trojans. Add in his success on Rocky Top as a national championship winning quarterback, and he you can’t get a better recruiter for the Vols.

Martin twice won the 247Sports recruiter of the year for USC. He was the primary or secondary recruiter for 11 five-stars and 26 four-stars on 247Sports during his career. Simply put, he is a recruiting superstar.

Beyond Martin, though, Derrick Ansley has a history of recruiting in the SEC. He cut his teeth in Alabama as well, being from there and playing with the Troy Trojans before coaching with the Alabama Crimson Tide. But like Martin, Ansley also brings connections into Kentucky, for whatever they’re worth, after two years as an assistant there.

Finally, Ansley spent a year in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders. As a result, while Martin brings the Southern California connections, Ansley now can help with Northern California. And his NFL coaching experience is also helpful.

Then there’s Jim Chaney. Not known as an elite recruiter, Chaney can at least build more connections. And he now has a reputation in the state of Georgia. As a result, he helps to shore up Jeremy Pruitt’s pipeline down there. So together, Chaney, Martin and Ansley bring a ton to the table when it comes to recruiting.