Volunteer State Podcast: What Josh Heupel's recruiting hot streak means for Tennessee football
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- Can we put to bed the narrative that Josh Heupel is an average recruiter?
That was one of the knocks on Heupel when Tennessee hired him in 2021. Since then, though, he’s been a steady recruiter - NIL helps - and he’s assembling his best class ever.
The Vols are on a recruiting hot streak. Their 2025 recruiting class is positioned for a top-10 national finish. Also, Heupel continues to be a dynamite recruiter of quarterbacks. Tennessee beat out Alabama and LSU to earn a commitment from five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, the nation’s top-ranked prospect in the 2026 recruiting class.
On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams examine the Vols’ recruiting heater and what it means for Heupel’s reputation on the trail.
Also, what will Tennessee’s quarterback depth charts look like in 2025 and ’26? The Vols will be stacked at the position in 2025, when Nico Iamaleava should remain the headliner, but will a transfer or two affect the depth chart in ’26?
If Iamaleava and Brandon are as good as advertised, Tennessee is well-positioned for the future.
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Go vols Go
Heupel’s recruiting classes plus what we’ve added from the portal brings in plenty of talent. Another big thing with Heupel is retaining players they want to keep. Butch had a lot of transfers out before the portal was an option. Pruitt you can’t really say recruited better when he was cheating to do it. Heupel has obviously put a priority on certain positions (QB, DE/pass rushers, OT/OL, skill players like WR’s, TE and RB, DT, etc.). Those first 3 seem to have the highest level of emphasis as QB play is the position that has the biggest impact on most games/seasons. For the QB to play to his max potential they need to be protected hence an elite LT and very good OL at all 5 positions with depth. On defense it all starts up front. Can you get the QB with the pass rush without having to blitz and can you stop the run? If your DL can win the line of scrimmage then it automatically makes everyone behind them better and their job easier. Same with the OL as the running backs can pick up positive yards 2-3 before getting to a defender and RB’s usually if given a little room can make people miss and break tackles much better. An OL that provides good pass protection allows the QB to make throws with good technique stepping into his throws and get into rhythm. If the QB is constantly avoiding the pass rush it messes with the timing of the routes and he’s more improvising and there is a much higher risk of making a costly mistake, throwing an incomplete pass that costs you a first down. I understand and fully agree with Heupel and this staffs decision to put a priority on those 3 positions.
Point is Heupel has done very well at those positions and the other positions seem to be constantly improving with their talent and depth. There is a 2 or 3 position groups I would like to see us recruit better but it’s not like we’re doing terrible at those, we could just do better. Still to think where Heupel started here and where he is now it’s very impressive. Not many would’ve thought he would have TN as a popular pick to make the playoffs.
Take into consideration national rankings don't matter. Every time a great player commits to Tennessee they slide in the rankings. Tennessee could have a truly elite class and it would never be recognized as elite nationally. We're the red headed step child. Heupel is evaluating and recruiting perfectly.
I believe in Dave Hooker
1.5x
This dude doesnt know recruiting, just saying