Tennessee coach Josh Heupel prides himself in saying very little during press conferences. He’s more about filling time than filling people in. However, he offered some real insight as to his goals in recruiting after the Vols ended the first day of the early signing period with a top-10 national ranking.
“You want all the physical attributes, but it’s the mental makeup, the passion and purpose that they have within them that dictates their climb at this level, and the longer we’ve been here, it’s still like we continue to recruit to the culture of our program and the guys that fit in within the competitive makeup of it,” Heupel said. “Couldn’t be more excited about the group we have coming in.”
Frankly, that would have sounded like loser talk before the recent renovation of college football. Any coach that bragged about “mental makeup” would have made one think that a coach was trying to salvage the image of a class that didn’t have the athleticism to stack up. However, Heupel is far from a loser.
A top-10 signing class – and the work isn’t done – ranks seventh in the SEC this year. That would have been considered woefully low and cause for concern if not for the fact that Heupel has mastered a new way to get things done when it comes to assembling a roster.
From the beginning of his Tennessee career in 2021, Heupel has used various methods of building his roster. Doling out scholarships in high school recruiting may be the biggest part of the equation, but it’s not nearly as big as you might think. Heupel has deftly utilized the transfer portal and implemented walk-ons to put together a team that is well placed in the College Football Playoff this year after a 10-2 record.
The transfer portal has been pure gold for Heupel. Just look at who he landed before last season. The Vols brought in key pieces like defensive tackle Jaxson Moi, offensive tackle Lance Heard, tight end Miles Kitselman, receiver Chris Brazzell II and tight end Holden Staes. All played big parts for the Vols as they prepare for a likely trip to Ohio State in the first round of the inaugural, 12-team College Football Playoff. However, that’s just part of the proof behind Heupel’s Big Orange pudding.
Tennessee completely overhauled its secondary with transfers such as cornerback Jermod McCoy, safeties Jalen McMurray and Jakobe Thomas in last year’s class. Secondaries must have chemistry. The Vols certainly had that as they ranked second in the SEC in pass defense. In other words, those Vols came in with the right mindset to play a higher level of college football with just a few months of preparation.
I’m not sure if Heupel could land a top-three high school signing class if he were intent on it, and we’ll probably never find out. That’s fine. Heupel has a championship-level roster built his way, which I’d take a long look at if I’m a college coach elsewhere.
College coaches scout opposing offenses and defenses to make themselves and their programs better. There are some coaches that should be scouting Heupel and how he builds his roster.
A top-10 ranking would have been something that was just “okay” before the transfer portal and NIL. Now, it’s something to brag about under Heupel – and something that will almost assuredly lead to more national championship runs.
