re: Who else thinks Tennessee will botch this hire

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Tell me why this is such a hot job?

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1. ELITE INSTATE TALENT BASE - The state of Tennessee is turning into a recruiting hotbed. In 2017, it had the 6th most players of any state sign scholarships with FBS teams. The highest rated player in the 2017 class according to ESPN (composite 5-star OT Trey Smith) was from Tennessee, he signed with the Vols. The top rated player in Clemson's great 2017 class (composite 5-star WR Tee Higgins) was from Tennessee. And the top rated player in LSU's great 2017 class (composite 5-star ATH Jacoby Stevens) was from Tennessee. That's 3 composite 5-stars all from the state of Tennessee in 2017. And that wasn't just a one year aberration. The 2018 class was similarly talented. Maybe not in terms of top-end talent, there was only 1 composite 5-star in the state of Tennessee in 2018 (OT Cade Mays). But there was more depth. Tennessee currently has a consensus top 10 recruiting class in 2018 and 6 of the top 10 ranked players from the class are from the state of Tennessee. So contrary to what people typically think about Tennessee needing out of state players to make up the majority of their top end talent, the 2018 class proves that you can have a consensus top 10 class at Tennessee that is made up mostly of instate players. Especially at the very top. And as great as the 2017 and 2018 instate classes were at Tennessee, the 2019 and 2020 classes blow them outta the water. The 2019 class currently has 20 players projected as composite 4-stars by 247sports. That 5th most in the nation after Florida, Texas, Georgia, and California. And in the 2020 class, the state of Tennessee currently has more players rated in the top 109 according to 247sports than every other state in the country except for Florida, Texas, Georgia, and California. According to the 2019 and 2020 recruiting classes, Tennessee is now a top 5 producers of elite college football talent. That is a major reason why Tennessee is now back to being a GOLD STANDARD JOB in college football.

2. CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OTHER TALENT LADEN RECRUITING BASES - Knoxville is less than 3 hours from 3 huge metropolises that produce tons of talent each year (Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville). The rise in population in Nashville is a big reason for the explosion in talent across the state of Tennessee. Middle Tennessee is producing a lot of the elite players from Tennessee that are now playing all across college football. But beyond Nashville, Knoxville is a short 3 half car ride from Atlanta. That has always been a place Tennessee has recruited talent. And Tennessee is also 3 hours from Charlotte. Another huge metropolis which produces a good number of power 5 caliber players each year. These 3 cities form a nice recruiting base that is just 3 hours from campus. You can build a national title contender with players just from these 3 cities and they never need to get on a plane to visit campus.

3. ELITE FACILITIES - Everyone knows that Tennessee has as good a facilities as anyone in the country. Neyland Stadium is as impressive as any stadium in the country. And the athletic facilities are as good as it gets. Players who come to Tennessee will never feel short changed that there is something they could get elsewhere that they can't get at Tennessee.


Tennessee in 2017 is in far better position to build a consistent winner than Alabama was in 2006 when Saban arrived. Tennessee currently has more talent on the team. There is also more instate talent in the state of Tennessee moving forward than there was in Alabama. And the SEC East is weaker in 2017 than the SEC West was in 2006. The right coach could make Tennessee into a dominant force in college football rather easily. Everything you need is already there.