Reaching a bowl game, especially after the poor start to the 2019 season, is a massive accomplishment for the Tennessee Vols.

Playing in a bowl game is a sign of progress for a program that's struggled the last few years.

It's also a big deal for developmental purposes. The Vols get 15 extra practices because they're playing in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Those practices are extremely important for any program. But they're even more important for a young program that's hoping to make some major noise in the SEC over the next several years.

Recruiting, however, is more important.

The early signing period begins on December 18, which means the Vols have a lot of work to do this weekend (they have a slew of recruits making official and unofficial visits this weekend).

Tight ends coach Brian Niedermeyer reportedly wasn't with the team for their first bowl practice on Friday. Instead, he was out on the road recruiting, before returning for Tennessee's big recruiting weekend (and the rest of bowl prep).

It's not often that coaches miss practice. But recruiting is the one thing that takes precedence over practice (at least this time of year).

Niedermeyer is one of the Vols' best recruiters. So it makes sense that he was the coach who was absent from Tennessee's practice on Friday.

The Vols aren't going anywhere if they don't start landing elite recruits. The program has a lot of momentum right now thanks to their current five game winning streak. They need to do whatever they can to take advantage of that momentum.

It's clear from Pruitt's decision to send Niedermeyer on the recruiting trail during Tennessee's first practice since late November that he understands how important the week before the early signing period is for the Vols.

Tennessee currently has the No. 19 recruiting class in the nation. With a few additions, which are expected, they should easily finish with a top 15 class.

If they land a couple of their big targets (four-star OL Tate Ratledge, a Georgia commit who appears to be delaying his signing into February, for example), then there's a legitimate chance the Vols could finish with a top ten class.

After the horrid start to the 2019 season, landing a top 10-15 class would be an incredible feat for Pruitt and his staff.

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