A major difference between Jeremy Pruitt and Butch Jones is why Tennessee will be successful
One of the biggest issues that plagued former Tennessee Vols head coach Butch Jones was his inability to properly use talented players. Sometimes Jones got it right. Moving Jauan Jennings, who signed with Tennessee as a quarterback, to wide receiver was obviously the right move. But there have been plenty of times throughout Jones' coaching […]
One of the biggest issues that plagued former Tennessee Vols head coach Butch Jones was his inability to properly use talented players.
Sometimes Jones got it right. Moving Jauan Jennings, who signed with Tennessee as a quarterback, to wide receiver was obviously the right move.
But there have been plenty of times throughout Jones' coaching career that he neglected to use talented players in the correct way.
Jones tried to play JJ Watt at Central Michigan as a tight end/offensive tackle. Watt transferred to Wisconsin as a walk on and played defensive end. The rest is history.
At Tennessee, Jones kept Kahlil McKenzie on the defensive side of the ball, when he could've made a bigger impact on the offensive side of the ball (McKenzie went to the NFL as an offensive lineman). Then there are players like Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara, who scoffed at the way they were used by Jones (Hurd transferred because of the way he was used in Jones' offense).
This isn't a problem that will be present with Jeremy Pruitt.
And recruits are well aware.
Pruitt is constantly trying to find the best ways to use his players. And he refuses to put a player at a position where they don't want to be.
Recruits believe in Pruitt's approach. Junior Colson, a four-star linebacker from Brentwood, TN, recently told VolQuest that he loves Pruitt as a coach, saying "He’s been doing it a long time. He knows what he is doing, and you can tell it works."
Jones was able to land some top recruits because he basically schmoozed them into signing with Tennessee. Pruitt is able to land recruits because of his ability to develop football players.
The way Jones landed players wasn't sustainable. Pruitt's method, however, is incredibly sustainable.
Reputations mean everything. And fortunately for the Vols, Pruitt has one of the best reputations in college football.
Featured image via Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports/
