Tennessee coach Butch Jones inherited a mess when he was hired on Dec. 7.

The Vols had just finished their third straight losing season and fourth in the last five years. At the same time, Tennessee’s 2013 class was hanging around the bottom half of the SEC while its top rivals in the league were preparing to bring in more championship-caliber players.

So it’s no surprise Jones and his staff made the 2014 class a priority before the 2013 class was even signed.

“Recruiting is a relationship business, and you’re trying to work as fast as you can to build those relationships,” Jones said on signing day on Feb. 6.

Jones has had to work even harder because of the damaged relationships between in-state high schools and the previous coaching staff at Tennessee, led by former head coach Derek Dooley.

The Vols failed to sign one of the top five players in the state in 2013. Top-rated prospect Jalen Ramsey (Florida State signee) from Brentwood visited Tennessee but never strongly considered the Vols. Chattanooga safety Vonn Bell signed with Ohio State because Dooley didn’t built a relationship with Bell, according to his father.

Other Tennessee high school coaches claim to have never met Dooley. But they’ve met Jones, and his effort appears to be paying off.

Tennessee received commitments from Webb School of Knoxville safety Todd Kelly Jr. on Sunday and followed that up on Thursday with a pledge from Beech (Hendersonville) High School running back Jalen Hurd, the state’s top-ranked player and the No. 15 overall prospect for the 2014 class, according to Rivals.

Both Hurd and Kelly took closer looks at Tennessee, which has five commitments for 2014, after the coaching change. In fact, the Vols were barely on Hurd’s radar less than four months ago.

“I didn’t have much of a relationship with Coach Dooley or his staff,” Hurd told the Chattanooga Times Free-Press in November.

Jones made sure that changed, letting Hurd know he was a priority shortly after taking over at Tennessee. Another boost for the Vols came on Christmas Day when athlete Vic Wharton from Independence High School in Nashville, Tenn., became Tennessee’s first commitment for the 2014 class.

Wharton has since focused on spreading the word about Tennessee to recruits throughout the state and nation. He’s done so with his twitter account, which is filled with messages promoting the program.

Do you wanna #RiseToTheTop or get Left at the Bottom!? The decision is obvious! #VOLS

— Victor LaRoy Wharton (@VWharton5) March 15, 2013

Hurd and Kelly have gotten into the mix as well. Kelly said Monday he would call several prospects to help recruit them to Tennessee. Hurd was one of them.

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1. Tennessee coach Butch Jones has landed a big one.  Five-star running back Jalen Heard took to Twitter this morning to announce that he’s committing to the Vols.  The Hendersonville, TN back becomes the fifth player in Tennessee’s 2014 class – the fourth in the last week.

2. New Orleans running back Leonard Fournette, considered the top back in the country, is paying a quick visit to Alabama and he’s bringing a few teammates with him  Cornerback Jermaine Roberts and lineman Joseph Paul both have offers from several programs.

3. Carrollton, Texas 2015 offensive line prospect Zach Rogers visited Arkansas over the weekend and came away impressed with new coach Bret Bielema.  ”He was a lot different than I thought he would be. I was more impressed than I thought I would be…”I could definitely see myself playing for him one day.”  Rogers also has offers from Texas Tech and UCLA. Razorbacks will have some prospects in attendance at football practice.

4. Kingsland, Georgia cornerback Kalvaraz Bessent is an Alabama commitment.  He grew up a Florida fan, so the move surprised a lot of people, including his high school coach. Jeff Herron.  ”I thought he would commit to Florida. He’d been a Florida fan all his life and was really leaning that way. But he went to Alabama for a junior day and was so impressed by every part of it.”

5. Opelika, Alabama cornerback Stephen Roberts has Alabama as his leader, with Auburn at No.2 on his list.

6. Georgia has 13 recruits that have enrolled early this spring.  Don’t expect this trend to go away anytime soon. Getting a jumpstart on a college career is an advantage that coach Mark Richt likes his athletes to have.   “We’ve never really had any kid come in at midyear and say that was a mistake for them.”

7. What do recruits think about proposed rules that would deregulate the process? ”The crazy thing is the nonstop text messages they can send you any time of the day. That is going to blow a lot of phones up.”

1. Four star cornerback Kalvaraz Bessent says he wants to play for the Crimson Tide. ”Alabama has the coaching staff, academics, weight room and history that I am looking for. Pretty much all-around it is a great school.” The Camdeon County (GA) player had Alabama and Florida in his top two before committing to the Tide on Tuesday. He becomes Alabama’s second commitment of the 2014 class.

2. Here’s what Bessent told AJC.com: “Me and my dad talked last night, and we decided that I definitely needed to go ahead and commit to a school. It was because my head coach (at Camden) was leaving and we didn’t know what kind of coach is coming in, and if it would change anything. Also, spring practice is coming up, and, in case I get injured, I need to be committed to a school.”

3. Fort-Worth, Texas running back Daniel Gresham is a Texas commitment but has an offer from Alabama.  With Longhorns coach Mack Brown imposing a “no-visit” policy for committed prospects, Gresham faces a decision and so, perhaps, does Brown if the Texas prospect decides to check out Alabama.  As Mike Herndon notes: “If you’re going to draw a line in the sand, you have to be prepared to stick to your guns when someone crosses it. Otherwise, the line means nothing. ”

4. He’s 6-feet-7, 345 pounds and the son of a former NFL tackle. Orlando Brown, Jr. has reportedly narrowed his list to seven schools, including Alabama. “Coach (Nick) Saban is a great coach and great recruiter and I am into winning championships.” The Sewanee, Ga. lineman’s list also includes South Carolina and Arkansas.

5. Auburn high school cornerback Antreal Allen was named the MVP among the defensive backs at the VTO Sports Prep 100 over the weekend. While he currently has just one offer (Arkansas State), he says he’s receiving interest from SEC schools, including Alabama and Auburn.

6. GoUpstate.com summarizes the incoming defensive end and offensive line class headed to South Carolina this fall.

7. Big weekend for Tennessee.  Vols land three 2014 commitments, including two Tennessee legacies.  Defensive back Todd Kelly, Jr is the son of former defensive end Todd Kelly and receiver Neiko Creamer is the son of former cornerback Andre Creamer.  Tennessee now has four commitments in its 2014 class.

8. Baylor commitment Davion Hall visited Arkansas over the weekend and came away impressed. ”I saw a lot of people tripping out at a baseball game I’ve never seen that before. At the track meet that was the first time to hear the pig sooie thing. I thought it was pretty cool.” Hall’s cousin is on the Arkansas track team.

Leonard Fournette looks like an SEC football player.

That’s why the 6-foot-1, 225-pound running back from St. Augustine High School in New Orleans has offers from schools throughout the country, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Texas A&M, Florida State, Michigan and Texas.

Hometown folks will try to convince Fournette to choose in-state LSU. The Tigers have made a strong push for Fournette, who’s already visited the Baton Rouge campus.

But Fournette can take his time with the recruiting process if he so desires. His next trip will be to Alabama, which has also offered a scholarship to St. Augustine defensive back Jermaine Roberts. He’ll accompany Fournette to Alabama this weekend.

“I am looking for somewhere that I feel at home at and that I am comfortable with, Fournette told 247Sports this week. “I want a school with a good atmosphere and good people. I will just know when the feeling is right.”

Fournette, who’s ranked the nation’s No. 1 running back 247Sports, seems like a good fit at Alabama. The Crimson Tide has made it a habit to recruit highly-touted running backs (Trent Richardson, T.J. Yeldon, now Derrick Henry) and immediately turn them into stars in the SEC.

Of course, Alabama signed not only Henry at the running back position last month but Tyren Jones, Alvin Kamara and Altee Tenpenny. And highly-touted running back Bo Scarbrough from Tuscaloosa, Ala., has already committed to Alabama’s 2014 class.

LSU will certainly mention that to Fournette, although he’s yet to hint at a fear of competition. And LSU typically has its own crowded backfield, more so than Alabama at times.

Don’t be surprised to see Fournette take his time with his recruitment.

“I haven’t even started to narrow things down,” he said.

And why should he? Unless he decides to stay close to home and commit to LSU, Fournette has plenty of top offers to consider with more on the way.

The best fit for Fournette might be a pro-style offense that relies on more than one running back. Alabama and LSU aren’t the only SEC schools that offer that option. Here’s a portion of ESPN RecruitingNation‘s evaluation of Fournette:

“Fournette is a  college ready back with excellent measurables. He runs hard and seems to get stronger with more carries. He’s very impressive from a physical standpoint and defines the term “load back.”

Fournette has already started to load up on offers. More attention will follow.

More size is on the way

One reason Alabama’s defense has been so successful in recent years is it’s play at the nose tackle position. And Alabama is always in search of the next Terrence Cody and Jesse Williams.

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SEC Football

1. Biggest negative recruiting weapon to be employed against Georgia? Probably defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, argues Michael Carvell at AJC.com.  The reason?  He has a track record, valuable NFL experience and because he’s a hot name in coaching circles, questions are being raised about how long he’ll be in Athens.  Coach Mark Richt: “We will always have great assistants here at Georgia. You know, we can’t control what everybody is going to do but neither can any other program sit around and promise they’re not going to have an assistant coach have an opportunity that he might take.”

2. The latest 300-pound behemoth to get an offer from Alabama?  6-foot-7, 310 pound Roderick Johnson from suburban St. Louis, MO.  ”All I have to say is it’s Alabama. It’s Alabama baby. The last three years they have run the SEC.” Johnson is now the fifth 300-pound + lineman that Alabama has offered since Mario Cristobal became the offensive line coach.

3. Five-star defensive back Tony Brown wants to play two sports – football and track.  The Beaumont, Texas star is tied for the fastest 60-meter hurdle this year at 7.76 seconds. He has offers from than 20 schools, including LSU.

4. Joliet, Illinois linebacker Clifton Garrett is a top target of Ole Miss for 2014. Rivals rates him the 53rd best player in the country.  Garrett is expected to visit Oxford later this spring. Here’s what his high school coach had to say: “I know that he likes (Ole Miss). To what extent he’s interested? That I couldn’t tell you.”

5. The Ole Miss 2014 class is up to six players with the commitment of Greenwood, Mississippi wide receiver Sammie Epps.

6. One of the  nation’s top wide receiver prospects has an offer from Auburn.  Homestead, Florida wide receiver Ermon Lane said recently he prefers a pro-style offense ”because that’s what most of the NFL teams run.”  Lane’s cousin is a former Miami linebacker.  In addition to Miami, Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, and LSU are all thought to have a shot.

7. Texas A&M’s 2014 class is up to 10 commitments, seven on the defensive side.  Defensive back commitment Cedric Collins: “The excitement around A&M right now is well deserved for the year we had. The win over Alabama was just the beginning. The goal is not just to win the SEC, but a (national) championship, and Johnny winning the Heisman was just a great way to start with our first year in the SEC.”

8. Charleston, Arkansas quarterback Ty Storey threw for almost 4,400 yards his sophomore year.  He visited Arkansas over the weekend. Storey likes Bret Bielema’s offense: “I like it because it’s more like a pro-style offense so it gets you ready for the next level and hopefully I can be there one day.” Gus Malzahn offered Storey a scholarship when he was at Arkansas State.

SEC Basketball

9. Little Rock, Arkansas guard Anton Beard decommitted from Missouri in February.  He now has a new top four and three of them are in the SEC.  Beard tweeted this morning: “Narrow my list to 4- Umass, Arkansas , LSU , Tennessee …”

1. New Orleans running back Leonard Fournette,  widely considered the premier running back of the class of 2014, is expected to take an unofficial visit Alabama this weekend. Fournette has already taken unofficial visits to LSU and Florida State. “I want a school with a good atmosphere and good people. I will just know when the feeling is right.” Fournette’s teammate, four-star cornerback Jermaine Roberts, who also has an offer from Alabama.

2. How strong is Auburn 2014 running back commitment Kamryn Pettway?  Strong enough to reporteldy squat 605 pounds. Says his high-school coach, ”Everything he does agility-wise is unreal for a kid his size.”

3. Mansfield, Texas safety Brandon Simmons likes Bret Bielema’s move from Wisconsin to Arkansas. “He went to the SEC so that’s the premier conference in NCAA football. Arkansas has been down for a couple of years but they’ve always been a great contender in the SEC.” Arkansas is one of 41 schools that has offered Simmons but as now, he only has one visit planned and that’s to Stanford.

4. Tennessee basketball appears to have interest in several players in the state of Kentucky.  Tennessee has watched 2013 guard Dominique Hawkins (so has Alabama and Purdue). Kentucky coach John Calipari and staff watched him play last night.  Tennessee has offered 2014 prospect 6-foot-8 power forward Shane Hall from Johnson Central and 2015 guard Camron Justice from Knott Central.

1. Running back Kamryn Pettway “always wanted to play in the SEC.” He plans to at Auburn.

2. Alabama is the leader for lineman Charles Mosley from Brighton, Tenn.

3. We should see some Alabama-LSU battles for some of Louisiana’s top prospects.

4. Auburn might be the hometown leader for LB Rashaan Evans, but he has plenty of options.

5. Auburn has shown interest in WR Bingo Morton (great name) from Fairburn, Ga.

6. Florida CB commit Duke Dawson is being trained by a former Gator/NFL player.

7. Hoops prospect Julius Randle will announce his choice on March 20. Florida and Kentucky are in the running.

8. Offensive lineman Orlando Brown Jr. from Duluth, Ga., is considering three SEC schools.

9. South Florida coach Willie Taggart has made a hire to help in-state recruiting.

Why is Julius Randle so highly rated (No. 3 overall, ESPNU)? Watch these highlights below.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJqaMioXegU&w=560&h=315]

Last month, Georgia signee Davin Bellamy tweeted that during one of his last in-home visits from a coaching staff, “a school spent an hour and (a) half telling me why I shouldn’t go to Georgia.”

Michael Carvell of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution caught up with a number of SEC coaches, including UGA’s Mark Richt to get their take on negative recruiting.  A sampling:

“…If you hear me talking about another school, if I’m you, I’m not going to listen much to what I have to say.  but when I tell you about Georgia and the reality of what’s going on at Georgia, then I want you to believe what I’m telling you.  We try to make sure that we’re going about it (in) a very positive way, and talkinga bout great things at Georgia.”

– Mark Richt, Georgia

“There were a lot of false accusations they (rival coaches) were using against the University of Tennessee in the recruiting process.  All I can speak of is what we’re going to do here at the University of Tennessee, and we’re going to do nothing but sell our football program and present the fact to prospective student-athletes.”

– Butch Jones, Tennessee

“It’s all over the place.  We hear it consistently from a lot of different angles.  I think when you have a really good product to sell, you can focuse on your product.”

– James Franklin, Vanderbilt

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Recruiting Headline News…

1. Florida State’s loss is Auburn’s gain as the Tigers land  their  first commitment in the class of 2014. Prattville, Alabama  running back Kamryn Pettway, rated a 4-star recruit  by Rivals, made the decision Sunday morning after a visit with coach Gus Malzahn. “I always wanted to play in the SEC. I like the spirit of Auburn.”

2. Prichard, Alabama defensive end Justin Thornton has a new top five that now includes Texas A&M. In addition to the Aggies, Thornton lists Florida, Auburn, LSU and Southern Cal as his favorite schools.  His offer from A&M booted Florida State out of his top five.

3. Texas A&M has picked up three recruits in its 2014 class.  The Dallas Morning News says West Mesquite safety Dylan Sumner-Gardner, Nederland defensive tackle DeShawn Washington andNorth Forney athlete Armani Watts all gave oral commitments on Saturday.

4. Winter Park, Florida defensive end Trent Harris got an offer from Florida on Friday.  On Saturday, Alabama offered Harris. Crimson Tide defensive line coach Chris Rumph made the offer. ”It’s a big shock. I just feel blessed and thankful.  I give all the glory to God.” Harris, who has offers from Florida State, Georgia, Boston College and Kentucky, is scheduled to visit South Carolina later this month.

5. A recruiting analyst tells a Baton Rouge columnist that scholarship offers like the one 14-year old Dylan Moses has received from both Alabama and LSU  may become the norm for top-level recruits. “Look at the Ed Paris commitment,” said 247 recruiting analyst Shea Dixon.  “LSU offered him coming out of his ninth-grade year.”

6. AL.com reports that the top two overall performers at the Nike Sparq Combine in Atlanta  were Knoxville, Tennessee  running back Daryl Rollins, and Ponte Vedra (Fla.) linebacker Dillon Bates.  Bates is the son of former Tennessee Vol and Dallas Cowboys star Bill Bates. He holds early offers from Florida, Miami, Notre Dame and Ohio State and has received interest from Alabama.

7. Missouri made a recruiting splash last year when it landed Dorial Green-Beckham. Now Beckham’s younger brother will be joining him in Columbia. Beckham’s father and high school coach confirmed the news Saturday night. Darnell Green-Beckham, like his older brother, is a wide receiver. Missouri also got a commitment from Columbia tight end Grant Jones.  He’s the son of Mizzou running backs coach Brian Jones. The Tigers now have three commitments for the class of 2014.

8. Here’s a list of recruits that visited Arkansas this weekend.

SEC Football

1. Florida signed two players in its 2013 class – running back Kelvin Taylor and Marcell Harris – whose fathers played with the Gators back in the 1990′s. Here’s how some other father-son duos have fared at Florida.

2. Winter Park, Florida defensive end Trent Harris got an offer from the Gators this morning. Georgia, Kentucky, Florida State and Boston College have already offered.  “I was born a Gator fan,” Harris tells the Orlando Sentinel.

3. Arkansas made some inroads in the state of Florida in its 2013 class. That caught the attention of lineman and current Miami commitment Trevor Darling.  ”I would like to visit Arkansas officially. Louisville too.”

4. Allen, Texas linebacker Christian Sam is expected to visit Arkansas this weekend.  Current Razorbacks running back Jonathan Williams is from the same high school. “He said the fans are crazy. He always talks up the fans. I really like that.”

5. Butler High School (North Carolina) quarterback Riley Ferguson committed to Tennessee when Derek Dooley was the coach and stuck to the commitment when signing day rolled around. ”I was committed to Tennessee because of the university. I wasn’t committed just because of the coaching staff. I liked Coach Dooley, but things happen and you have to move forward and make things work with what you’ve got, and that’s how I’ve looked at it.”

6. In addition to Ferguson, the Vols signed Alparetta, Georgia quarterback Josh Dobbs and gave Knoxville quarterback Charlie High a preferred walk-on spot. In the SEC, history shows two-quarterback signing classes often leads to a transfer for one of them.

7. A geographical breakdown of Tennessee’s 2013 signing class and their distance from Neyland Stadium.

8, LSU signed seven defensive linemen in its 2013 class.  Tigers expected to sign four in the class of 2014.

9. Are high school 40-yard dash times bogus?

SEC Basketball

10. Rochester, Michigan basketball coach on Kentucky basketball signee James Young: “I have seen nothing like him since (former Michigan star) Chris Webber, and that’s been about 25 years ago now. Chris is the only guy in Michigan who can dominate games like James has. He’s really phenomenal.”  The 6’6″ is scheduled to play alongside four other UK signees at the McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago in April.

11. Huntington Prep’s Andrew Wiggins took an official visit to Kentucky this week. Wiggins, considered the No. 1 recruit in the country, says he won’t talk about his college plans until his official visits are complete.  In addition to Kentucky, he’s considering Florida State, North Carolina and Kansas.  His high school coach tells the Lexington Herald-Leader, “He’s not going to give up much. You guys know him well enough.”