5. The smaller class should help the 2017 class
If you’re only going to be satisfied with a top-10 class, then 2017 will likely be the year for you. A lot can change in the course of a year, but the 2017 in-state class looks absolutely loaded and the Vols are off to a good start with highly-ranked receiver Tee Higgins already in the fold. Tennessee should have playing time to sell with a lot of guys expected to move on after 2016. And if the Vols live up to just some of their hype, they’ll be coming off their best season in awhile. The fact that this class isn’t overstuffed with blueshirts and grayshirts should free up more space in 2017 – a class that very well might look more like what Tennessee fans got used to in 2014 and 2015.
