Why a quiet Orange Carpet Day could prove to be an actual success story

Sometimes in recruiting, none is better than a ton.

Last year on ‘Orange Carpet Day,’ Tennessee had a tidal wave of commits, as one after another, eight different prospects stood up during the festivities and said, “I want to be a Vol!”

It was like an Oprah car giveaway — only for UT’s scholarship spots.

While a flurry of commitments vaulted the Vols up the recruiting rankings, the feel-good vibes and summer steam quickly fizzled. The Vols faced a numbers crunch that plagued them throughout the rest of the cycle, and ultimately, three of the seven 2017 ‘Orange Carpet Day’ commits ended up elsewhere.

That’s why Saturday was different. There was no faux-mo.

Tennessee once again held its summer staple event, but when all the prospects trickled out of Neyland Stadium yesterday afternoon, not a single recruit had publicly pledged to the Vols.

And that’s ok.

Last year’s ‘Orange Carpet Day’ generated headlines. Saturday’s event could lead to future wins.

Tennessee hosted roughly 45 prospects in 2016, many of whom were lower on board. Sure, 5-stars like Cam Akers and Jedrick Willis were in attendance, but again, Saturday was different.

'OCD 2017' doubled in size — and everywhere you turned there was another 4-star prospect was leaving the stadium.

In all, more than 30 blue-chip recruits were in attendance this year, and Tennessee’s staff — from the coaches on down to player personnel director Bob Welton — did an excellent job managing, organizing and implementing a relaxed and fun family atmosphere.

Nearly every recruit who spoke afterward talked about the “positive vibes,” saying Saturday felt more like a BBQ hangout than a recruiting event. The putt-putt challenge and home run derby are nothing new, but Tennessee’s approach this year changed.

“They didn't do to much recruiting today,” said 4-star corner Jaycee Horn, one of Tennessee’s top targets in the 2018 class. “It was just hanging out as a family atmosphere. It's always good to chill and hang out with the coaches. It was all fun.”

With so many top targets in town, Tennessee focused on simply building better relationships with players and their families. The coaches didn’t push for pledges, and UT's current commits maintained a similar causal, carefree attitude, too. That resonated with plenty of kids — especially guys like top target Greg Emerson.

“It was great hanging out with the commits and all because they don’t try and pressure you to be a commitment,” the Top 50 prospect said Saturday.

“They just show you how good the state is itself, the city, all that. They’re chill. They don’t ever just bring up, ‘Aw, Greg, you need to commit.’ Or anything like that. They just tell you how it is. … We just chill. We’re Tennessee boys, so we all stick together.”

And there you go.

Instead of taking questionable commits just for a bang, the Vols built on momentum with priority targets like Emerson, Horn and Jerome Carvin. They also sparked significant interest from guys like Jordan Davis (an Alabama commit) and Jamarcus Chatman (a former LSU commit who immediately reopened his recruitment on the heels of Saturday’s visit). Furthermore, they made key impressions on notable visitors like Al Blades Jr. and Leonard Taylor, and a slew of 2019 targets like Jackson Lampley, Wesley Walker and Lance Whilhoite.

Tennessee certainly won’t land everyone who visited Saturday, but it didn’t grab a bunch of reaches, either. In due time, the day's "positive vibes" will lead to a few summer splashes.

Unlike the petered-out pizzazz from last year's commitment barrage, Saturday's supposed "quiet day" could prove to be an actual success story.