Tennessee Vols: Best sign yet that Jeremy Pruitt will be an elite recruiter in the SEC
Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt has long held a reputation for being an elite recruiter. But that was as an assistant coach. Pruitt essentially has to re-prove that he's an elite recruiter as a head coach. So far, Pruitt is doing a good job when it comes to recruiting as a head coach. Landing […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt has long held a reputation for being an elite recruiter.
But that was as an assistant coach. Pruitt essentially has to re-prove that he's an elite recruiter as a head coach.
So far, Pruitt is doing a good job when it comes to recruiting as a head coach. Landing a top 10 class during the 2020 recruiting cycle was impressive (especially after UT's disastrous start to the 2019 season). But if the Vols are going to compete for national championships, Pruitt and his staff will have to recruit at an even higher level.
This week, I saw the best sign yet that Pruitt can be among the top two or three recruiters in the SEC.
2021 four-star wide receiver Julian Nixon, 6-foot-4/217 lbs from Roswell, GA, recently told Rivals that Tennessee is leading in his recruitment.
That alone isn't a huge deal. The Vols lead for several highly touted recruits. It's what Nixon said about his recruitment that I thought was a great sign for the future of Tennessee football.
Nixon told Rivals he grew up a huge Auburn fan.
"I am an Auburn fan, and I always will be a fan", said Nixon.
Rivals reported that many close to Nixon felt he would end up playing for the Tigers. However, the trust Nixon has in Pruitt, and his relationship with Vols wide receivers coach Tee Martin, has made Tennessee the frontrunner for the dynamic wide receiver.
"Tennessee is the school for me right now…..I would say Tennessee is ahead by a lot right now."
Hearing an admitted huge Auburn fan, who happens to be the No. 36 rated wide receiver in the nation, say those words speaks volumes about Pruitt's ability to recruit.
(By the way, Nixon has an offer from Auburn visited the Tigers last fall.)
The Vols haven't finished ahead of Auburn in recruiting rankings since 2015. In fact, 2015 was the only year last decade that Tennessee finished ahead of the Tigers in recruiting.
With Pruitt at the helm, I have a feeling that will be changing on a consistent basis in the coming years.
Featured image via Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports/247Sports
