ESPN's view of the Tennessee Vols' 2023 recruiting class will have UT fans angry
The Tennessee Vols are putting the finishing touches on their 2023 signing class on Wednesday — the first day of the early signing period. According to 247Sports, the Vols have the No. 9 2023 recruiting class in the nation. If Tennessee is going to consistently compete for national championships, they'll need at least top 10 […]
The Tennessee Vols are putting the finishing touches on their 2023 signing class on Wednesday — the first day of the early signing period.
According to 247Sports, the Vols have the No. 9 2023 recruiting class in the nation.
If Tennessee is going to consistently compete for national championships, they'll need at least top 10 classes each year. Top five is preferable, but we saw this season that Josh Heupel and the Vols can compete without top five talent.
ESPN, for whatever reason, doesn't have the same positive view of the Vols' 2023 recruiting class.
They have Tennessee's class ranked at No. 13 in the nation.
The Volunteers were able to score a big, early win on the recruiting trail with the commitment of ESPN 300 QB Iamaleava. Among the top QBs in the country, he is a talented passer who also moves well. WR Cameron Seldon could develop into a favorite target, as he is a thickly built and powerful runner with strong hands. The top-rated player in the state, Caleb Herring, an edge defender who can be a sideline-to-sideline presence, was another key addition for this rebuilding program. Bradley also is a big addition to the Vols' defensive class, as he is a lengthy edge player with physical upside who possesses excellent first-step quickness and good body control to develop into a disruptive pass-rusher. ESPN 300 CB Jordan Matthews was a nice win over Texas on the recruiting trail and gives Tennessee a lengthy, agile cover corner.
One of the reasons that ESPN has the Vols' class rated lower is because they have five-star QB Nico Iamaleava rated as the No. 32 overall recruit in the 2023 class. 247Sports, meanwhile, has Nico rated as the No. 2 overall player.
Rivals, by the way, has Tennessee with the No. 10 class.
It seems like it's always ESPN slighting the Vols. The good news for Tennessee fans, though, is that ESPN is far from the authority on college football recruiting.
Featured image via USA TODAY Sports
