If it's been said once, it's been said a thousand times — recruiting is all about building relationships.

And no one understands that better than Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt.

When genuine relationships are built between recruits and coaches, football doesn't become the main thing anymore. Sure, football is a major part of the relationship, but it doesn't define the relationship.

That's why it shouldn't come as a surprise that Pruitt is more concerned about recruits' futures than he is about how long they'll possibly play at Tennessee.

2021 three-star defensive back De'Shawn Rucker recently visited Tennessee and told Rivals that UT's coaching staff told him he could be a player who leaves school early for the NFL.

Rucker told VolQuest on Saturday "They said they thought I could be a 31 guy. That’s three years and leave."

I'm sure it means a lot to a recruit when a coach sees NFL potential in them and wants the player to reach the next level as quickly as possible.

It shows that Tennessee's coaches, while they want to recruit elite players to win as many games as possible, are still, at their core, primarily concerned with making a positive impact in the lives of recruits.

Uncovering a hidden gem

Rucker, a speedy defensive back, was kind of "discovered" by Tennessee. The Vols were the first major offer for the Tallahassee, FL native. Shortly after Tennessee offered, other major programs followed suit, including Virginia Tech, Maryland, Florida State and LSU.

It's odd that Florida State seemingly didn't notice Rucker when he was in their own back yard.

Perhaps the fact that Tennessee offered him before his hometown school will carry a lot of weight moving forward.

Then again, a lot will change between now and the 2021 signing period. Rucker has plenty of time to build significant relationships with other schools.

But it's clear that Tennessee has his attention.

Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports/Rivals