Tennessee Vols: Why Josh Heupel doesn't promise playing time to recruits
The Tennessee Vols had an outstanding recruiting day on Wednesday. At the close of business on Wednesday, the Vols had the No. 13 recruiting class in the nation (247Sports composite). That's far better than I expected this season. I felt like if Heupel had the Vols in the top 25 then his first class would […]
The Tennessee Vols had an outstanding recruiting day on Wednesday.
At the close of business on Wednesday, the Vols had the No. 13 recruiting class in the nation (247Sports composite).
That's far better than I expected this season. I felt like if Heupel had the Vols in the top 25 then his first class would be a success. Getting in the top 15 is extremely impressive — especially considering all the negative recruiting against Tennessee that's been happening behind the scenes the last 10-12 months (due to the NCAA investigation into previous UT head coach Jeremy Pruitt's recruiting methods).
So how has Heupel done it?
Tennessee's strong recruiting class has mainly happened because of the genuine relationships that Heupel and his staff have built with recruits. There are no fake promises or car-salesman-like pitches — Heupel knows recruits see through that stuff.
"To me, if you’re promising a kid he’s going to be your starter, if I’m a recruit, I’d be on the lookout," said Heupel on Wednesday afternoon. "What did he promise the guy in front of me? What did he promise the guy behind me?"
Heupel is spot on with his statement. Recruits are smart. They've heard all the sales pitches. They just want a strong relationship and a program that's going to prepare them for the next level.
If a player wants a starting job promised to him at an SEC school, that player probably isn't going to find much success at this level. The desire to compete has to be there to be successful in the SEC.
Former Vols head coach Butch Jones made a lot of promises to players he couldn't keep and that's what ultimately doomed him at Tennessee.
Vol fans, fortunately, don't have to worry about that with Heupel. He's building something in Knoxville that's sustainable. And that's why I think he'll be the most successful UT head coach since Phillip Fulmer.
Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
