Vols newcomer confirms other programs are using UT's offense to negatively recruit against Tennessee
We've suspected for a while that rival programs are recruiting negatively against the Tennessee Vols by slamming Josh Heupel's high-powered up-tempo offense. The assumption is that other programs are telling recruits that Tennessee's offense won't prepare players for the NFL. On Wednesday, during a media session with reporters, Vols newcomer Dont'e Thornton, a wide receiver […]
We've suspected for a while that rival programs are recruiting negatively against the Tennessee Vols by slamming Josh Heupel's high-powered up-tempo offense.
The assumption is that other programs are telling recruits that Tennessee's offense won't prepare players for the NFL.
On Wednesday, during a media session with reporters, Vols newcomer Dont'e Thornton, a wide receiver who transferred to Tennessee from Oregon, confirmed that other programs would criticize UT's offense during his recruitment (while he was in the NCAA transfer portal).
"I would definitely say teams did try to downplay it," said Thornton. "Saying that it don't translate to the NFL style. But if you can get open, you can do that at the college level and at the NFL level."
"People are going to say whatever they want to say," added Thornton. "But if you can't go out there and stop anyone, it works. Why stop it?"
It's unclear which programs Thornton is referring to, but it's worth pointing out that he took visits to Arkansas, Auburn, and Miami before committing to Tennessee. It almost certainly wasn't Arkansas, however, because Kendall Briles, the son of Art Briles (who ran a similar offense as Heupel), was still the Razorbacks' offensive coordinator at the time. It's also possible (and likely) that Thornton spoke to programs that he didn't also visit.
Regardless, the negative recruiting pitches didn't hurt the Vols in their pursuit of Thornton (he was Tennessee's top wide receiver target during the offseason) — which is a sign that the negative recruiting against UT's offense is just a futile attempt to slow down Heupel's progress in Knoxville.
If players from Tennessee continue to excel at the next level, it won't be long before the negative recruiting against UT's offense ends for good.
Quote from Vols teammate makes Nico Iamaleava sound like Patrick Mahomes
A quote from a Tennessee Vols true freshman on Thursday made QB Nico Iamaleava sound a lot like Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
