The CheckerBoard

If you get tired of hearing it don't listen. We want players who want to play here and not show boat like some we had last year. I think or I know we'll be a whole lot better next year by just reading what the players are saying. Everyone so far is looking forward to coming and playing for Tenn. Get on board, we had 4 and 5 stars in the past and they didn't work out. I believe Coach Davis is getting players that UT will be proud of and who is a team player.

How'd all those 5 stars work out for USC this year? The coaches are going to recruit players to fit and are catered to the offensive and defensive scheme Coach Jones, Bajakian, and Jancek are installing in Knoxville. That may mean an undersized LB that can bring more speed off the end, or it could mean a 350 lb. nose tackle to clog up the middle. As previously mentioned Manziel wasn't as highly recruited as other QB's but he picked the right system, and just so happened caught lightning in a bottle with Coach Sumlin at A&M. Their evaluations and selections, along with their actual coaching of players is what will make or break their time in Knoxville, not the opinions and star ratings of recruiting websites.

I have always felt like this: More times than not, a team with more 4-5* recruits will play hard and be successful only as long as the coaching can corral and mature them quickly. If not it looks like Florida did the past 2 seasons. Sloppy, inconsistent, egotistical, and over rated. Muschamp does not appear to have control of his players, and Gators have no cohesiveness as a team as was showed against Louisville. Alabama on the other hand, shows the opposite...well coached, alot of maturity, with less ego, and very few prima donas on the team. LSU sits right in the middle. Les Miles loses more games for them than the team does, but still shaky inconsistent play all year regardless of the record. Bowl game shows that. USC and Lane Kiffin are a PERFECT example, all talent, and no coaching! Look at Louisville, lost a couple through the season, but was co-champs of their conference, came in well coached, mature, played with unity, and rose above the naysayers. Which players played at a 4-5* star level????? The team made up of primarily all 3* athletes did! If the coach with the best talent in the world doesn't coach, then they won't be champions. No doubt we need some high level recruits, but I am happy with strong 3* recruits who can be mature and play at a higher level if coached properly, have unity, and cohesiveness, with energy and attitude without the egos. Will that work with CBJ's system? I think so as shown in Cincy's past seasons. Will it win UT conference titles, and championships? Maybe. National Titles? maybe not. But keep in mind.....all it takes is a team full of 3* recruits to play like Lousiville did to prove themselves as a serious program to get the higher level recruits attention. Show unity on the field, maturity, and class, and you will win recruits over! CBJ & Staff have their work cut out for them no doubt, but if they prove all the naysayers wrong this season, next recruiting class will be huge for them and UT. GBO!!!!!!!!

Well said. I too like the 3 star guys, they've got enough talent to be recognized, yet they still feel like they have something to prove since not being rewarded with 4 or 5 stars. They are constantly out prove others wrong for not recognizing their talents. I feel a lot of these 2 - 3 star guys have 5 star heart and that's something I also sense about Coach Jones. The point about a lot of the pre madonnas and the loss of control is very evident at some places and it really shows on television games. The over reacting to plays that are expected to be made is sickening to watch. Coach Saban does not tolerate those things at Alabama and the players respond. They can pick through the 4 - 5 stars because they are winning. When we return to winning 8+ games a year recruiting gets easier, but it will require the expectations with values and character remain.
I believe Coach Jones will instill the winning values and restore Tennessee with raised expectations. Involving the lettermen and rallying around the history helps build those expectations and reinforces the team aspects. Each team member must take on the role of personal accountability to get better each day and that will make the team better. A lot of the 4 - 5 star players feel they are already there and can't deal with the corrections and concept thy can do better. The coaches who can corral the egos of these guys are few and far between, but I believe those you can made their initial starts with less talented guys, but drew in the better talent because they wanted to be with a winner and understand it will be on he coach's terms and no their own.

Solid commit from a very solid HS program. Welcome to Rocky Top.