‘They completely stopped talking to me’ – Former Vols commit doesn’t hold back while explaining why he didn’t sign with Tennessee

In the world of college football recruiting, commitments and decommits are an inevitable part of the process, but the reasons behind a player’s decision to back out of a verbal commitment often remain shrouded in ambiguity. However, for one former Tennessee Vols commit, the reasons for his decision to part ways with the program are crystal clear—and they aren’t what anyone might expect.

In an exclusive interview, the player in question—who had been one of the top recruits for Tennessee in his class—opened up about his recruitment experience, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes dynamics that ultimately led him to not sign with the Vols. His story reveals much about the complexities and emotions that come with the college recruitment process, as well as the pressure placed on young athletes to make life-changing decisions. But perhaps most striking of all, it paints a picture of a once-promising relationship between player and program that unraveled due to a lack of communication and, ultimately, trust.

The former commit—who chose to remain anonymous for this interview—expressed frustration and disappointment in his recruitment experience with Tennessee, claiming that the lack of consistent communication and attention from the Vols’ coaching staff played a significant role in his decision to decommit and ultimately choose a different school. His decision to speak out not only provides insight into his personal journey but also offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a major college football program’s recruitment process.

The Early Promise and the Vols’ Strong Push

When the former recruit first started to receive attention from college programs, Tennessee was one of the schools that made the most significant early impression. A highly-touted prospect at his position, he had numerous offers from top-tier schools, but Tennessee’s staff, led by head coach Josh Heupel, was particularly aggressive in their pursuit.

Tennessee was coming off a tumultuous period with a coaching change, but Heupel’s high-powered offense and vision for rebuilding the program seemed to resonate with recruits like this young player. As one of the rising stars in his recruiting class, he was flattered by Tennessee’s early interest and the promise of being part of a team on the rise.

He spoke about how the Vols’ staff made a concerted effort to stay in touch with him during the early stages of his recruitment. The consistent communication, visits from coaches, and their overall enthusiasm gave him the feeling that Tennessee truly wanted him in their program. The relationship with the staff seemed genuine, and he felt welcomed, not just as a recruit, but as someone who could contribute immediately to Tennessee’s rebuilding efforts.

As is often the case, recruits tend to commit to the school that makes them feel the most valued. The attention Tennessee was giving him made him believe that the Vols could be the place where he could develop, thrive, and eventually make an impact. He verbally committed to the program, excited about the future and the potential of playing for a team with such a passionate fanbase and a rapidly growing reputation under Heupel.

The Shift: From Constant Communication to Silence

However, as the months passed and the recruiting process continued, the relationship between the former commit and Tennessee began to deteriorate. What once felt like a promising partnership started to fade as the coaching staff’s communication with him grew sparse. The frequency of phone calls and texts dwindled, and he began to notice that his place in the program didn’t seem as secure as it once had.

“I just felt like they stopped caring,” he said. “It’s hard to explain, but it felt like I wasn’t important to them anymore. They completely stopped talking to me. I’d reach out, but it felt like I was being ignored. It was like they moved on without me.”

For a young recruit, the loss of that consistent contact and attention is disheartening. The excitement that had once surrounded the idea of playing for Tennessee began to wear off as he questioned whether he was still a priority for the coaching staff. His anxiety and uncertainty grew as the months passed, and the lack of communication only compounded those feelings.

The former recruit described feeling abandoned by Tennessee at a time when he needed guidance and reassurance. The recruiting process is stressful for any high school athlete, and when a player is left hanging in terms of communication, it can have a profound effect on their confidence and trust in the program. For this player, the silence was deafening.

“I had put my trust in them, but then they stopped answering my calls. I started to wonder if I made the right choice,” he reflected. “At first, I thought it was just a phase, but as time went on, I realized it was something bigger. They weren’t treating me like a priority anymore.”

While recruits understand that coaching staffs are busy, especially during the season, the lack of outreach, especially after he had made a commitment, felt like a breach of the trust that had initially been established. This wasn’t just a minor lapse in communication—it was a consistent pattern that left the recruit feeling like a second-tier option, and the longer it went on, the more frustrated he became.

The Breaking Point: Why He Walked Away

After several months of diminished communication, the final straw came when the former commit had a conversation with a coach that further highlighted the disconnect between him and the Tennessee program. During the conversation, he felt as though the staff was no longer invested in his development or his future with the team. The words that were said—or, more importantly, the lack of words—confirmed his growing sense of disillusionment.

“They told me that they had other guys on their radar, and that they were looking at different players for the same position,” he said. “It felt like they had already moved on, even though I had committed to them.”

In the world of college recruiting, it’s not uncommon for programs to recruit multiple players for the same position, but to hear a coach openly express this to a recruit, especially after a verbal commitment, can be devastating. For this former Vols commit, the message was clear: he wasn’t as important to the program as he had once thought. It felt like he had been put on the backburner in favor of other prospects.

That conversation was the tipping point. His dream of playing for Tennessee had been built on trust, but after feeling discarded and ignored, he knew it was time to reconsider his options. He knew that in order to have the best college experience and achieve his full potential, he needed to find a program where he would be truly valued—one that saw his commitment as more than just a promise on paper, but as an essential part of their future.

“Once I realized they had moved on from me, it felt like it was time to move on from them,” he explained. “I couldn’t keep investing in something that wasn’t going to invest back in me.”

The decision to decommit was not an easy one. He had built relationships with players and had already begun to imagine his future in Knoxville. But ultimately, he had to put his trust in a program that showed him that he was a priority, and he couldn’t stay somewhere where the communication had broken down so completely.

Moving On: The Decision to Choose Another School

After decommitting from Tennessee, the former recruit received interest from several other programs, but it was a different school, one that had consistently maintained communication with him throughout the recruiting process, that ultimately won him over. This school’s staff made it clear from the start that they valued him not only as a player but as an individual. They prioritized building a relationship with him that went beyond just football, and that personal touch made all the difference.

“I felt like they actually cared about me as a person, not just a player,” he said. “That’s something I didn’t get from Tennessee. It wasn’t just about football for them; they were invested in me as a whole, and that’s something I didn’t feel at Tennessee anymore.”

The transition to his new program was smoother than expected. From day one, he felt like he was a part of something bigger, and the open lines of communication provided the reassurance he needed. He could now focus on developing his skills and preparing for the challenges ahead without the uncertainty and frustration that came with his experience at Tennessee.

Reflections on Tennessee’s Recruiting Process

In hindsight, the former recruit’s story serves as a cautionary tale for other college football programs, especially those with high-profile programs like Tennessee. Recruiting is not just about collecting commitments; it’s about building relationships with young athletes who are putting their trust in you. Players want to feel valued, respected, and supported, especially when they are committing to a program with the hopes of having a bright future.

While recruiting is a high-pressure, fast-moving process, it’s crucial for coaching staffs to recognize that recruits are not just statistics—they are individuals who need to feel heard, appreciated, and part of the family. The former recruit’s experience with Tennessee shows that when a program stops investing in its recruits, it risks losing them, even if they’ve already verbally committed.

Tennessee, under head coach Josh Heupel, has done a lot to rebuild the program and develop a high-powered offense, but this experience serves as a reminder that the recruiting process is about more than just landing the next big star—it’s about maintaining relationships and building trust over time.