Josh Heupel discusses new challenges in recruiting

High school recruiting has never been more volatile in the age of NIL. Programs have been swooping in last minute with deals 18 year olds can’t refuse, tearing down months upon years of recruiting efforts with a single offer.

Add in the fact that the transfer portal makes roster retention almost impossible to manage. Programs like Tennessee have been doing their best to hold on to the talent they’ve worked hard gain commitments from. This is night and day to the recruiting philosophies of old, Vols head coach Josh Heupel explained.

“The dynamics are different in that your roster has an opportunity to leave at the end of the year, as they look for the right place, right time, right fit for themselves,” Heupel said during early signing day. “I think you look at our ability to retain a majority of our roster. You look at the guys that chose to come back for another year, a lot of veteran guys. Some of ’em had opportunities to move on to the next level. And feel like, you know, the culture, the energy, the ability to develop here, that it was right for them to come back for another year, too.”

Just like any Power Five school, Tennessee has lost nearly a dozen players from this season’s roster to the transfer portal alone. This adds an entire extra layer of recruiting on Heupel’s plate than it otherwise would have — and there’s no guarantee he will know where his positional needs will end up being.

“I think the hardest thing in today’s landscape is the uncertainty of the numbers,” Heupel continued. “That can be with your entire roster. It can be with position groups. Because of the portal, the recruitment of these guys, and I’m talking about, you know, the fact the kids will still be going into the portal here [at the] end of January, you’re constantly evaluating your roster, where you’re at, what are the needs that you have?

“You’re looking for athletic traits. At times you feel like you need experience. At times you feel like, you know, those guys that are on campus that you need to develop and get them ready to play by the time you kick off next year.”

Overall, Heupel and Tennessee wrapped up the nation’s No. 13 overall recruiting class headlined by five-star wide receiver Mike Matthews. Huepel expects to add a few more names out of high school and the transfer portal in the coming months as well.