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Quinton Coples got an up-close look at his No. 1 school on Thursday.
The defensive end from Hargrave Military Academy was on Tennessee’s campus as the Virginia-based prep school played the Vols’ junior varsity squad at Neyland Stadium on Thursday night. The JV Vols won 37-20.
The 6-foot-7, 235-pound Coples said UT is his leader ahead of Florida, Florida State, North Carolina State, North Carolina and Michigan.
Coples said he spent time Wednesday looking at UT’s campus. He finished the tour impressed.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “The people here are generous and nice. The coaching staff is good. It’s the most you can ask for.”
Coples said he spoke with UT coach Phillip Fulmer Wednesday night. Coples said his conversation with Fulmer was a familiar one.
“We talk all the time,” Coples said. “He calls before games and we just talk on the phone.
“We have a great relationship. He’s a great guy. He’s positive minded and you couldn’t ask for a better man.”
Coples said UT’s coaches have asked him to look at the Vols’ defensive line. They pointed to the team’s need for an end that can rush the passer.
“They told me they’re struggling as far as the defensive line,” Coples said. “It’d be a big move for me. It’s a big adjustment.”
It’s an adjustment Coples wants to make. He said being able to make an early contribution increases his interest level in UT.
“It’s a big factor to me to have a chance to come here and play under the lights and be with the Big Orange,” he said. “Hey, it’s good.”
Coples said his experience against UT’s JV team showed him he still has work to do to be ready to play Division I football. He said UT’s offensive line is better than what he’s used to facing.
“I saw bigger tackles that know the technique,” he said. “I just can’t run all over them. It helps me a lot.”
Coples, who transferred to Hargrave from Kinston (N.C.) High School during the summer, is actually a high school senior.
He said he chose to attend Hargrave to improve himself on and off the field.
“Just to get better as a player and get experiences like this and become a better man,” he said.
Coples said he hasn’t scheduled any official visits but plans to take trips to UT and LSU. He said he won’t begin taking visits until November.
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu on September 28, 2007 at 1:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sorry but I really don't see the point of SEC football players playing a game against a high school. This is supposed to make us better??
Posted by smith7206 on September 28, 2007 at 2:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This article gives a couple of clues why the staff think's it worth while:
http://www.hargrave.edu/news/news_det...
Some excerpts:
"Hargrave Military Academy’s Post-Graduate football program...."
"Rivals.com recently compiled a Top 50 list... ...seven out of the top ten players enrolled at Hargrave, with the top five players being Hargrave Cadets."
"27 of the 50 players named are currently on the Hargrave team..."
Posted by mtnvol on September 28, 2007 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hargrave may be a prep school, but look at the players UT went up against. This is from the Tennessean newspaper this AM.
"Top competition: The Vols got a firsthand look at several high-profile recruits playing for Hargrave.
Wide receivers Deangelo Benton (committed to LSU) and Dwight Jones (North Carolina) are five-star prospects according to Rivals.com. Another five-star recruit, running back Enrique Davis (Auburn), was held out with an injury.
Offensive lineman Jermaine Johnson (Auburn), defensive tackle Kerry Murphy (Alabama), linebacker Quillie Odom (Virginia Tech), tight end Devonte Campbell (Maryland) and offensive lineman Sam Jones (N.C. State) are rated four-star prospects by Rivals.com."
So yes, this is supposed to make us better!
Posted by marc_ash on September 28, 2007 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NO NO NO, you have it all wrong guys. Forget about making us better or it having anything to do with the progression of current UT players. If this was the case, coaches would have been more involved in the game itself.
What this is about is exposure. Think about it...smith7206 eluded to it in his post. 27 of the top 50 players being at Hargrave. And...they get to come to Neyland Stadium of "visits". They get to tour the campus (as written in this article), they get to see the facilities, they get to experience what is may be like to play at UT.
This is GENIUS! This game exposes players to UT that may have never considered coming to play here. What a great marketing move. If we even get 1 of these recruits from another school because of this game, it was worth it. And I'll project we will from just playing this game.
Brilliant.
Posted by eanderson on September 28, 2007 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
marc_ash - excellent point!
Posted by VOLinDAWGland on September 28, 2007 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TN has to be creative in recruiting given their built in recruiting/talent disadvantage compared to GA, LSU, and FL. I like it and also agree with marc_ash.
Posted by DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu on September 28, 2007 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay, if you're right, Mr. Ash, and this does indeed yield a top recruit or two changing his commitment, then I agree that it's worthwhile.
Posted by utvols1 on September 28, 2007 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
MA is correct. Even if you get one 4 or 5 star kid it's great exposure for the program. Great move.
Posted by vol4good on September 28, 2007 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Plus, none of these guys loose any offical visits from thier normal list. The TN visit is a freebie.
Posted by bigbluevol on September 28, 2007 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hargrave typically protects the commitments of the players there. The recruiting we were doing comes with the other players who have not made a commitment (Coples, Mackey). The fact that these commitments are typically honored is why we send a lot of players there (Hefney, Myers, Bolden, Vinson, etc.) Any commits we get will be from undeclared players. It was still a good move to play the game. We got those guys on campus, we've strengthened the relationship with Hargrave and we got players like Rogan, Martin and Cooper more game experience.
Posted by marc_ash on September 28, 2007 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bigbluevol,
I like your point about strengthening the relationship with Hargrave. That is huge.
Not only that but consider the hype value in this game. First off, this is en vogue. To my knowledge, this is the first time this has taken place. Consider a player that is undeclared that is on the cusp of deciding where to go. He has visited a few campus' but has been able to actually play at UT if just for a scrimmage.
My ex sells billboards space for Fairway Outdoor. Her most popular sales pitch was that billboards are the best form of advertising because it exposes a large group of folks to your product. Its doesn't sell the product itself, it just gets them to your door. I think this game was one hell of a billboard.
Posted by chrisw2967 on September 28, 2007 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If Tn gets a 4 star player like this and by the time Fulmer and Chavis get through with him he wont even be a 1 star , they will ruin this kid and every other 4 or 5 star all americans that they have got or had but if they work like heck and get back to basics and they can find someone that can tech them how to play then maybe they can get into the rotation.
It looks to me that Fulmer is trying everything he can try to recruit now cause the sell pitch he has been using for the past 100 years doesnt work anymore , he cant tell a recruit look what we have done since 98 cause they havent done anything except become the laughing stock of NCAA football.
Posted by utnutt on September 28, 2007 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HEY THESE GUYS PUT 20 POINTS UP AGAINST US. IT LOOKS LIKE OUR BACK UP PLAYERS ON D ARE NOT ANY BETTER THAN OUR STARTERS.
Posted by sjt18 on September 28, 2007 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If UT turns it around... big IF...
Auburn could be moving Tuberville out if things continue to go south. Maryland can't be satisfied with their lack of progress. If Nutt is gone then Butch Davis is almost sure to move to Arkansas (he has an out clause to do so).
D Jones and possibly Campbell were recruited by UT. UT was on Jones' short list.
This was a very good move and shoring up the relationship can't hurt... especially after the gaffe during August. Some of the coaches said publicly that Vinson had to be untaught much of what he learned at Hargrave... not a good PR move.
Posted by bigbluevol on September 28, 2007 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
chris- you can hate Fulmer all you want, but one major recruiting tool he'll still have is the number of players that have gone on to "the league." In this day and age, that's a huge one. SJT- you made a great point about those players. Hargrave doesn't promote de-commiting, but losing the coach they commited would be big and having been on UT's campus could be a huge plus.
Posted by RocketVol on September 28, 2007 at 11:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wouldn't call that a recruiting tool. If I were Urban Meyer or other, I'd point to that very fact and then ask the recruit why he thinks Tennessee isn't ranked. I rest my case!
Posted by dfreeman on September 29, 2007 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey marc_ash where was your ex from??
Posted by zbbb10 on October 1, 2007 at 6:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ROCKY TOP YOU'LL ALWAYS BE...
Posted by zbbb10 on October 2, 2007 at 9:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ROCKY TOP YOU'LL ALWAYS BE...
Posted by tractoronthepole on October 4, 2007 at 4:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to say winning starts in the weight strength and conditionion room. When Tommy Moffitt was looked over for the position he left and went to Miami, who won a national championship. Then he left for LSU and guess what they won a national championship. Guess where he is now, LSU. Check in to see what happens. Oh by the way he is from Springfield Tennessee.
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