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Tennessee football: What went right and what went wrong on National Signing Day 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Clemson football Head Coach Dabo Swinney speaks during National Signing Day press conference in Clemson, S.C. Wednesday, February 2, 2022.Clemson National Signing Day Feb 2
Clemson football Head Coach Dabo Swinney speaks during National Signing Day press conference in Clemson, S.C. Wednesday, February 2, 2022.Clemson National Signing Day Feb 2 /

What went wrong No. 2: Other teams surpassed the Vols in rankings

Entering the day, Tennessee football had a top 15 class on Rivals, On3 and 247Sports. They were in the top 25 on ESPN. Most notably, they were fourth in the SEC on Rivals, sixth on 247Sports and On3 and ninth on ESPN. However, movement by other teams on National Signing Day cost them their rankings to a degree.

What really hurt them was the Clemson Tigers signing three new guys. Dabo Swinney proved he’s still got it despite losing his coordinators, and that doesn’t bode well for the Vols long term. Clemson leapfrogged them on Rivals, 247Sports and On3.

Worse yet for UT was the LSU Tigers, as they are in the SEC. Brian Kelly didn’t get everybody he wanted on this day, but he did add two more elite commitments. That was enough for the Tigers to leapfrog the Vols in 247Sports and On3. Finally, the Miami Hurricanes added four players, allowing them to leapfrog the Vols in 247Sports and On 3 as well.

Taking this into account, Tennessee football fell to No. 16 on 247Sports and On3 and No. 12 on Rivals. They are still No. 22 on ESPN. That drop, though, can prove costly, as LSU faces them next year, and they need Clemson to fall off to load up on more recruits for the future.

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