When it comes to college football recruiting, much of the conversation centers around NIL deals. 

But when it comes to what's actually best for a recruit, the conversation should center around development. 

That's why a recent comment about the Tennessee Vols from one of the top 2026 recruits in the nation should be an eye-opener for other recruits. 

2026 five-star edge rusher Anthony Jones, who is set to visit Tennessee later this month (he previously visited for the Vols' win against Alabama in 2024), is the No. 1 edge rusher in the nation and the No. 8 overall player in the nation. 

The Alabama native recently spoke to On3 about his recruitment and he explained that the way Tennessee develops players is one of the main reasons why he's considering the Vols. 

“How they develop players gets my attention,” said Jones to On3. “To see someone like James Pearce succeed how he has and become a likely first round draft pick, that shows it.” 

Pearce was rated as the No. 202 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class. He's expected to be a first round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft (Pearce hasn't officially declared for the draft yet, but it would be a surprise if he doesn't soon). No one thought Pearce was a first round pick when he was coming out of high school in Charlotte. And now he's poised to hear his name called on day one of the draft thanks in part to his decision to sign with Tennessee. 

Players can chase money and make a nice living by taking the biggest payday. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But if a player has dreams of playing in the NFL, then the best longterm investment they can make in themselves is to sign with the program that they believe offers the best chance for development. 

Jones is one of the most coveted recruits in the nation. There isn't a single program that wouldn't love to have him on their roster. If he's saying that Tennessee's development is catching his eye, then other recruits should probably take notice of what the Vols are doing. 

There are obviously other programs that do a great job when it comes to development (it's hard to argue against what teams like Ohio State and Georgia have done in recent years). But Tennessee is right there with the top schools in the country when it comes to development, at least in the eyes of Jones. 

And by the way, if players play at a high level in college, the NIL money will be plentiful. 

A fat NIL deal coming out of high school might bring instant gratification, but developing into an elite player can bring longterm wealth. Seems like an easy choice to me. 

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