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Tennessee football: Five things promoting Kelsey Pope to WR coach means for Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 2, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) celebrates with wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) after scoring a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) celebrates with wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) after scoring a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee Herd Coach Josh Heupel at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Kns Tennessee Purdue
Tennessee Herd Coach Josh Heupel at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Kns Tennessee Purdue /

2. In-state recruiting beefed up

He was born in Alabama and went to school there, but recently, Kelsey Pope has been able to develop some ties within the state of Tennessee. Obviously, coaching Tennessee Tech is going to do that, and you have to think that was a factor in Josh Heupel making this move.

In 2021, Tennessee football did not do as well as it needed to do within the state on the recruiting trail. The Vols signed just two in-state players, Elijah Herring out of Murfreesboro and Cameron Miller out of Memphis. Most notably, they missed out on local five-star defensive lineman Walter Nolen, who had ties all over the state.

Heupel will obviously want to avoid that in the future, and Pope has at least spent the past two years within the state. With Tennessee Tech being in Cookeville, Tenn., between Nashville and Knoxville, East Tennessee ties will be beefed up slightly, which could be a huge help.

Of course, Pope’s year at Gardner-Webb could also help when it comes to recruiting the Carolinas, as that school is located just outside of Charlotte. His resume also helps with pipelines into Ohio and Georgia, and he can help with Alabama. However, the biggest deal is he’s at least one more player with in-state ties.

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