Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt proving he can recruit offense as well as defense

The most surprising aspect of Jeremy Pruitt’s recruiting isn’t his early success. It’s the balance.

Half of the 2019 commitments to the first-year UT football coach are on offense. That’s impressive for a defensive coach.

Adams:Why Tennessee Vols still could land a top quarterback in 2019 class

Pruitt’s football reputation stems mainly from his work as a defensive coordinator. He coordinated the defense for national champion Florida State in 2013 and national champion Alabama last season.

So, you can see why defensive players might buy what Pruitt is selling as a first-time head coach.

But offensive players also have been receptive, which speaks well for his salesmanship.

Those offensive recruits have never seen a Pruitt offense. He can tell them. He can’t show them.

However, he can show them what Alabama does offensively. And he can show them what Southern California did last season with UT offensive coordinator Tyson Helton as its quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.

UT Vols:What made John Ward special? 'He understood what Tennessee fans wanted.'

Nonetheless, nothing beats firsthand viewing. That’s why UT should gain more recruiting momentum once recruits can see Pruitt’s plan come to life in orange and white. 

Tennessee is 19th in the 247Sports composite rankings. Five of the players are on offense — two offensive linemen, two tight ends and a wide receiver.

The Vols should climb further in the rankings once the season starts.

Never mind if they don’t flourish right away on either side of the ball. Recruits will view that as an opportunity for immediate playing time.

Because the expectations for Tennessee are so low, its new coaching staff likely will be credited for whatever success the team does have. And anything above last season’s school-record eight-loss season will constitute progress.

Vols:What Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt says is the secret to recruiting well

Something else in Tennessee’s favor: The newness of it all.

Young people often are open to adventure. So, the possibility of being a part of a shiny, new program can be appealing.

Obviously, you’re better off peddling a national championship program like Alabama’s because it offers such easy access to the NFL.

But last season, Georgia came within a pass of winning a national championship in coach Kirby Smart’s second year as head coach. And it did that by challenging Alabama’s dynasty head-on in the national championship game.

Video from that game is worth showing to Tennessee recruits. Not only was Pruitt managing Alabama’s national championship defense, he was Georgia’s defensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015. He helped recruit players to the two programs that played for the 2017 national title.

Pruitt's recruiting:Vols football lands Anthony Harris, a 2019 safety from North Carolina

And Pruitt didn’t just recruit defensive players.

He played a key role in Georgia's recruitment of Mecole Hardman, whose speed has made him a threat as both a wide receiver and kick returner. Hardman was a five-star recruit.

Pruitt also recruited Georgia defensive back Dominick Sanders, a three-star recruit who became a four-year starter at safety for the Bulldogs.

No doubt, Pruitt’s reputation as a recruiter was a factor in his getting the head-coaching job at UT. Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer was regarded as one of the nation’s premier recruiters in the country when he built Tennessee’s 1998 national championship team.

Although Fulmer was an offensive coach as an assistant, he helped recruit a championship-caliber defense in the 1990s.

And so far, Pruitt also has proved he can recruit to both sides of the ball.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: Twitter.com/johnadamskns.