Tennessee Vols HC Josh Heupel makes public recruiting pitch
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel made a public recruiting pitch on Sunday evening during an appearance on The Nation. Heupel was asked about the momentum that Tennessee has built on the recruiting trail over the last couple of years. The Vols' third-year head coach explained that Tennessee's been able to build some momentum because […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel made a public recruiting pitch on Sunday evening during an appearance on The Nation.
Heupel was asked about the momentum that Tennessee has built on the recruiting trail over the last couple of years.
The Vols' third-year head coach explained that Tennessee's been able to build some momentum because the things that UT's coaches were selling on the recruiting trail two years ago are now coming to fruition.
“Two years ago, you were trying to say what it was going to look like on the field," explained Heupel. "And you were telling them what it was going to be in coming years that we could compete with anybody and have a chance to play for championships. You tried to tell them what the culture was like inside of the building. Now, they have tangible evidence. They can feel that energy, and watch those games as our guys get recognized as some of the best players in America. The NFL Draft, the style of play, and how aggressive we are in all three phases of the game. And when they come here, they can tell the culture is real and genuine, and people have a lot of fun being around each other and competing every day."
"You put all of that together with what Knoxville is, what the game day environment is, and what this this University is doing right now, it allows us to get into every room and put that in front of people," continued Heupel. "The traffic we have during the live recruiting times on the calendar right now is unlike anything I have experienced — and I say that in a really positive way. It has been a lot of fun getting a lot of elite players here on campus.”
Tennessee's 2024 recruiting class, which has 19 commits, is currently No. 7 in the nation (per On3).
The Vols are hoping to compete for championships on an annual basis moving forward under Heupel. These recruiting classes (the 2023 class that's already in Knoxville and the 2024/2025 classes) are the foundation of what could be the beginning of a special era of Tennessee football.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK