Tennessee’s ability to be a strong player in the Carnell Tate sweepstakes has shown how far the Vols have come since coach Josh Heupel was hired.
It’s easy to say that someone may just be throwing around NIL money. However, that’s a bit too simplistic. Tate, who is scheduled to announce his college decision on Monday at 1 p.m., can get NIL payments anywhere. He sees more than just green by donning orange. He sees a program evolving into a championship contender.
Alabama coach Nick Saban likes to say that such significant evolutions are a “process”. Well, this has been a quick one. Tennessee certainly wasn’t in a position to land a prospect like Tate this time last year. The Vols were still just trying to figure out what first-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel’s offense was all about. After all, he was just hired 17 months ago. Things move fast.
Think the Vols would have been in a good to position land one of the top receivers in the nation last year at this time? Think the Vols could have dipped down into Florida for an elite prospect at the elite IMG Academy? I think not.
Let’s go back a year.
The Vols certainly didn’t have the fanatic fan support they have now. Why should they? The Vols have been beat up year after year in about every way imaginable. What if Heupel was just another Butch? Well, he isn’t and that’s why Tate is in the picture. No one knew that was the case last spring.
The timing wasn’t great for the Vols’ rebuilding efforts now that recruiting has become a summer-time sport. Tennessee and Heupel had to be patient and prove their product would attract top prospects. They have done that.
Tennessee now has the recruiting advantage they relied on for some many years: a fervent fan base. Tennessee’s fans are all in, partly because of a an offense that is the fastest in the nation and has presented itself as a welcome landing spot for any skill-position player who likes to go fast, score and then repeat – like Tate. That wasn’t a known commodity just a year ago. That was just a promise. Those have proven hollow before. Not with Heupel.
This time last year, the Vols also didn’t have a five-star quarterback that was out on the football camp circuit recruiting for Tennessee. The Vols have that now with Nico Iamaleava from Long Beach Poly (Calif.) who is openly trying to convince players to join him in Knoxville.
Tennessee suddenly looks much different for a player like Tate’s stature than it did a year ago. There’s stability, excitement and a high-flying offense that has been proven to work in the SEC.
Tate, who is from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., would be ideal for that offense. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound wideout is the No. 28 prospect in the nation, the No. 3 receiver in the country and the No. 7 player from Florida.
He listed Tennessee, Ohio State, Notre Dame and LSU in his final four via social media. However, the Vols and Buckeyes are thought to be primary contenders.
There’s no second place in recruiting. However, there is reason to think that the Vols are trending the right way considering how many highly touted players are on their board and within striking distance. Tate, who is set to announce his decision at 1 p.m., is just one of them.
