John Adams: No. 17 in recruiting rankings is a bad number by Tennessee standards
If you take recruiting rankings as gospel, you would conclude Tennessee coach Butch Jones and his staff are losing momentum.
His second and third classes at Tennessee ranked sixth and fourth, respectively. Wednesday’s signing class is ranked 17th and follows up last year’s No. 14 status, according to 247Sports composite rankings.
By Tennessee recruiting standards, No. 17 is a bad number - no matter how hard you try to spin it (Jones said he probably never had to turn away so many talented players as this year). This season’s drop-off was more glaring because of what happened on signing day.
What happened? Not much from a Tennessee perspective.
For Butch Jones, 'least drama we have had on signing day' at Tennessee
Although Jones said he appreciated the lack of signing-day drama, Florida coach Jim McElwain probably embraced Wednesday’s suspense.
For months, with the Gators languishing outside the top 20, there had been speculation about McElwain’s recruiting shortcomings. But a closing-day charge left Florida No. 10, according to 247Sports.
That also left Tennessee seventh in the SEC and third in the East behind Florida and No. 3 Georgia.
Many programs would celebrate a top-20 ranking. But Tennessee’s history of recruiting success raises expectations dramatically.
Even the worst of Tennessee times aren’t reflected in the recruiting rankings.
Phillip Fulmer was fired after going 5-7 in 2008. In came Lane Kiffin, who assembled the nation’s eighth-ranked class.
The situation worsened after Kiffin fled the scene following the 2009 season. But the 2010 class that was first recruited by Kiffin and completed by his successor, Derek Dooley, still ranked ninth nationally.
Never mind that Dooley didn’t have a winning season in three tries at UT. His three recruiting classes ranked ninth, 12th and 20th.
Based on the recruiting rankings, the Vols never should have suffered through a seven-loss season. Instead, they had five from 2008 through 2013.
Jones has upgraded the Vols since his first season, leading them to a 7-6 record in 2014 and 9-4 records the past two seasons. But those records don’t match the recruiting rankings, which included those top-six classes in 2014 and 2015.
Recruiting classes are best judged several years later. That’s especially true at UT, which has been plagued by player attrition during Jones’ four years. Player development also has been an issue.
John Adams: Tennessee's 2014 recruiting class marked by attrition
Only two players signed by Jones have made first-team All-SEC. Defensive end Derek Barnett also made first-team All-American this past season, as did kick returner Evan Berry in 2015.
In Jones’ defense, quarterback Joshua Dobbs probably should have made first-team All-SEC this past season. Also, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin might have been so honored if he hadn’t been injured as a senior.
Maybe there are All-SEC players in this current class. The most highly rated is offensive tackle Trey Smith, regarded as one of the best high school players in the country. If his advance billing is on target, he should start as a freshman.
The Vols will need other freshmen to contribute right away, because this is a crucial year for Jones and his revamped coaching staff after the last two teams missed great opportunities to win the SEC East.
If this freshman class helps the Vols accomplish what their last two teams couldn’t, the No. 17 won’t matter in December.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @johnadamsKNS