Tennessee Vols: Why the small details matter when it comes to recruiting
Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt's recruiting pitches are probably pretty straightforward these days — come to UT to play early and get prepared for a potential NFL career. But that's the same pitch that a lot of other programs are giving recruits, which means the Vols have to find a way to stand out […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt's recruiting pitches are probably pretty straightforward these days — come to UT to play early and get prepared for a potential NFL career.
But that's the same pitch that a lot of other programs are giving recruits, which means the Vols have to find a way to stand out among elite talent.
That's where the small details come into play.
Little things that seem insignificant to fans can often play a big part in a recruit's decision.
Uniforms, for example, can be a big deal to recruits.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr, a three-star athlete who is committed to Mississippi State, recently told VolQuest that despite his commitment to the Bulldogs, he's still interested in Tennessee.
His reasoning?
The Vols' colors.
Forbes, who plans to take an official visit to Tennessee, told VolQuest that he always liked UT growing up, saying "I just liked them growing up. I liked the colors."
There are a lot of factors that go into landing a recruit. And uniform combinations and the availability of team issued gear (which is probably more important than the uniforms, because that's what players are wearing every day), likely aren't at the top of a recruit's list of concerns.
But those things can absolutely help a recruit choose one program over another in a close recruiting battle.
It's important that Tennessee uses the small details to separate themselves from other SEC programs as much as possible — especially coming off a 5-7 season.
Fans might think things like shoe color and practice apparel are silly, but a lot of recruits don't.
And recruiting is the lifeblood of every college football program, so why shouldn't Pruitt and his staff put their best foot forward and use the small details to their advantage?
Even if it helps the Vols only win over one recruit, it's worth it.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
