The Tennessee Vols are becoming a thorn in Alabama and Auburn's side when it comes to recruiting.

Under previous head coach Butch Jones, Alabama and Auburn didn't really have to be concerned about Tennessee. The Vols simply didn't recruit the same players as the Crimson Tide and Tigers (for the most part).

But that's changing under Jeremy Pruitt. Tennessee recruits the state of Alabama a lot harder now. And they're chasing after many of the same players as Alabama and Auburn.

In fact, the Vols have already won a couple of recruiting battles against the giants in the SEC West (most notably linebacker Henry To'o To'o, who has already proved to be a difference maker).

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Alabama and Auburn don't want players they're recruiting to take visits to Tennessee.

2021 three-star defensive end Trinity Bell, an Alabama and Auburn recruiting target, took a visit to Knoxville this past weekend. Bell told Rivals that Alabama and Auburn weren't fond of him taking the trip, saying "They didn't really want me to come to Tennessee".

Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn know from experience that Pruitt is a tenacious recruiter who knows how to land elite talent.

Pruitt has helped secure plenty of talent for Saban, much to the dismay of Malzahn.

Saban and Malzahn also know that Tennessee has the resources and facilities to compete with Alabama and Auburn.

The Vols are already a big threat to Alabama and Auburn when it comes to recruiting.

And in the next couple of years, they're just going to become a bigger threat.

Saban is still the king of the college football world. And he's still the favorite to land elite recruits.

But it's obvious that Saban, along with Malzahn, are concerned with the rise of Tennessee.

Featured image via Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports