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Tennessee closed strong on National Signing Day, moving up to No. 14 according to the 247Sports composite as of 4 p.m. ET Wednesday.
A tired but pleased Butch Jones described the class to the media. After leading the SEC in games played by first-year guys the last two seasons, Tennessee may not have as much early playing time available.
But Jones insists he’s still selling Vols recruits on the opportunity to see the field early, and perhaps it’s a false assumption to assume strong 2014 and 2015 classes will make it tough for this class to contribute immediately.
Jones didn’t draw many intriguing conclusions, but overall depicted a glowing characterization of this smallish class, which includes 21 players. Here’s what he said:
“We wanted to get players that could be multi-positional and players that brought great special teams value, and we feel that we were able to accomplish that,” Jones told Paul Finebaum.
“We’re in a relationship business. You look at the addition of Bob Shoop, first of all, his reputation speaks for itself, so it’s instant credibility when he sits in the living room with these recruits.”
https://twitter.com/Volquest_Paul/status/694981819092041728
https://twitter.com/Volquest_Paul/status/694983506351558657
Butch says he woke up cautiously confident on Kongbo. Trusted the relationships JK had built with Gillespie and multiple current players.
— Patrick Brown (@pbrown247) February 3, 2016
Butch 'We have other states (besides TN) that we view as home territory…it's a challenge to have to go into enemy territory and recruit.'
— Rob Lewis (@Volquest_Rob) February 3, 2016
Butch on the offensive line class: "We felt we needed tackle-type bodies." Wanted guys with long frames.
— Patrick Brown (@pbrown247) February 3, 2016
Butch: "We always promise the opportunity for early playing time."
— Patrick Brown (@pbrown247) February 3, 2016
Butch Jones: “Alvin (Kamara) gets the recruiter of the year award."
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) February 3, 2016
Butch Jones: "To get a quarterback early was big for us. Guarantano could have went anywhere in the country."
— Dan Harralson (@danharralson) February 3, 2016
Butch Jones: "Our challenge was to finish strong. We were going to try and get the best players that fit our profile."
— Dan Harralson (@danharralson) February 3, 2016
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
