Tennessee was walloped by Missouri in Columbia on Nov. 2, 2013. It was their fifth loss of the season, three of which came by at least 28 points. Two days later, Evan Berry, a four-star recruit and younger brother of former Tennessee safety Eric Berry, committed to Tennessee, picking the Vols over Auburn, Clemson, Georgia and other programs not seeking to avoid a third straight sub-.500 season.
Berry kept his word and signed with Tennessee the following February, joining a loaded class that included 16 four-star recruits and ranked seventh nationally and fifth in the SEC (247Sports). Five years later, highly rated prospects are still committing to Tennessee, and while the Vols are just two years removed from back-to-back nine-win seasons, they're once again seeking to avoid a third straight sub-.500 season.
And, once again, despite the on-field issues, highly rated prospects are still committing to Tennessee.
As of Sunday, one day after the Vols' season-opening loss to Georgia State, Jeremy Pruitt has the nation's No. 21 recruiting class for 2020. While it would be the lowest-ranked class since 2013 and one of only two classes outside the top 20 since 2009, it still features eight four-star commits, including the nation's fifth-ranked safety Keshawn Lawrence and fourth-ranked pro-style quarterback Harrison Bailey. And they're in pursuit of several four- and five-star prospects, including guard Chris Morris, a top-100 recruit from West Memphis, Ark.
PRUITT: Staff Did "Good Job" vs. Georgia State
Since 2008, Tennessee has a record of 67-71. They haven't won 10 games since 2007, haven't sniffed an SEC Championship and have seven sub-.500 season. That's mediocrity.
That on-field mediocrity, however, isn't translating to the recruiting trail, which makes the sustained mediocrity — or downright sucking in some cases — much more troubling.
