How Josh Heupel turned around Vols football recruiting in Tennessee by doing more than winning

Although he's a football guy, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel may lead the nation in rebounding.

At least that's the case when it comes to recruiting, particularly in his home state.

After being scrutinized for not landing much of the state's top talent in the 2022 class, Heupel has rebounded in a big way with his 2023 and 2024 classes.

Of 247Sports Composite's top 25 prospects in Tennessee in the 2022 class, the Vols signed just two. They included Heupel's first commitment, Riverdale linebacker Elijah Herring (No. 23) and MAHS safety Cameron Miller (No. 15).

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The Kentucky coup was a real stinger. The Wildcats swooped into Tennessee and signed Summit twins Keaten and Destin Wade, who were both 6A Mr. Football finalists — Destin won the award — as well as Pearl-Cohn speedster Barion Brown. Brown has already made a big impact with the Wildcats.

Some of the top prospects were going to some of the nation's top programs in Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State. But Heupel lost a handful to other SEC rivals Kentucky, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State and in-state rival Memphis.

In fairness, Heupel had the deck stacked against him in year one.

COVID-19 made it difficult to meet and build relationships with prospects and their families face-to-face. Tennessee was facing potential sanctions and other fallout (including an exodus of players to the transfer portal) from the Jeremy Pruitt era.

"There was a lot of uncertainty with the program," said Mt. Juliet offensive lineman Ayden Bussell, who signed with the Vols on Wednesday.

No sophomore slump

Enter year two of Heupel's recruitment and it's been a completely different story.

Going 10-2 and playing in the Orange Bowl (vs. Clemson on Dec. 30) will do wonders for in-state recruiting.

But winning isn't the only thing Heupel has done to turn the tables.

"There was something different about how he approached recruiting (this year)," Bussell said. "There was more of a family feel to it. With other coaches and school, it looked more like a persona they put on... feeling like they were acting."

Heupel landed the state's top two players in the 2023 class, Riverdale edge rusher Caleb Herring and Smyrna linebacker Arion Carter. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Carter, the 2022 Class 6A Mr. Football, seemed a lock to go to Alabama, but chose the Vols last week and the early enrollee arrived on campus the next day.

Heupel landed five of the state's top 27 prospects in 2023. Throw in quarterback Nicholaus Iamaleava, the nation's No. 4 overall prospect, and Heupel is quickly changing the future outlook for Tennessee fans.

He's already landed a 2024 commitment from the nation's No. 28 prospect, IMG Academy athlete Jonathan Echols and is a favorite to get the nation's No. 14 prospect in wide receiver Ryan Wingo from St. Louis.

As for protecting his home state, Heupel has a commitment from Lipscomb Academy's Kaleb Beasley, the state's No. 2 prospect, while he is favored to land the No. 1 prospect in Lipscomb Academy linebacker Edwin Spillman. Spillman's brother Nate signed with the Vols on Wednesday. He also has a commitment from Baylor defensive lineman Carson Gentle (No. 18)

And he's among the favorites to land Tennessee's No. 5 prospect Boo Carter of Chattanooga Brainerd along with No. 10, Bradley Central athlete Marcus Goree.

"It's crazy, how much of a difference he's made ... how he's changed the program in just two years," Caleb Herring said. "He's really made in-state a big priority. He's just been building from that. I like what he's doing now."

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Josh Heupel revives Vols football recruiting in Tennessee high schools