Can UT Vols' football recruiting keep getting better?

 No one should have great expectations for recruiting amid a coaching change. If you do well, it’s a bonus; if you don’t, you have a built-in excuse.

That's why the work of new Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt and his staff has been so impressive.

The Vols had fallen out of the top 50 in 247Sports' composite team rankings after the firing of coach Butch Jones and the four-week search for his replacement, which ended with the hiring of Pruitt, Alabama's defensive coordinator.

The drop-off contradicted my theory that UT football basically recruits itself, and that no matter what happens in terms of winning and losing or the firing and hiring of coaches, Tennessee still will assemble a top-25 class.

But it didn't take long for UT to regain its recruiting momentum even though Pruitt was basically doing two other jobs at the same time: assembling his new staff while ramrodding Alabama's defense on the Tide's way to another national championship.

Despite the extra workload, Pruitt's recruiting class is now ranked 16th. How's that for playing catchup?

More:Jeremy Pruitt, Vols on recruiting trail to 'build a championship team'

He also has proved that UT doesn't  have a problem extending its reach, having added players from Arizona and California junior colleges. Tennessee is still pursuing other players out West.

California prospects didn't embrace the early signing date in December as readily as other recruits. Seven California players rated among 247Sports' top 150 players haven't signed or committed to a college.

Some of Florida's top players haven't chosen a college, either. Six top-150 players from that state haven't signed or committed.

Based on UT's track record, it might end up signing some of those recruits. The Vols always have recruited regionally and nationally, and they have the budget for it

But Tennessee also needs to do a better job of recruiting the area and the state.  Pruitt emphasized that at his introductory press conference.

However, there’s a big difference in talking about it and actually doing it.

Former coach Butch Jones talked about it. But in 2017, he couldn’t deliver two of the area’s most sought-after players – wide receiver Amari Rodgers of Knoxville Catholic and wide receiver Tee Higgins of Oak Ridge. Both signed with Clemson.

The Vols also couldn’t land Catholic’s Cade Mays, one of the nation’s most highly rated offensive linemen. He signed with Georgia in November during the early signing period.

Bad enough to lose the area’s premier players to Clemson, but losing out to SEC East rival Georgia is even worse.

More:Cade Mays has chance to play early for Georgia Bulldogs, Sam Pittman says

Perhaps such losses won’t continue now that Pruitt is in charge of Tennessee football. As a former high school coach, he knows the importance of establishing a bond between the state university and high schools. He also knows how to do it.

That connection is a big part of recruiting well in the area and the state. And it could be a significant step as Tennessee tries to move up even higher in future recruiting rankings. 

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: Twitter.com/johnadamskns.