Whatever the 2018 Tennessee recruiting class ends up being ranked, the number should not be the main factor in judging it good or bad.

When Jeremy Pruitt took over the program, UT’s class was being decimated by decommitments in the wake of Butch Jones’s firing. However, those players may not have met Pruitt’s vision for the direction of the program anyway.

Jones stockpiled 25 or more recruits in four of his five signing classes at Tennessee. Pruitt is taking a different approach, paring down the number and seeking players he can use soon if not immediately.

Athletics director Phillip Fulmer addressed the recruiting process on the SEC Network and mentioned that Pruitt tripled the number of players who were on the UT recruiting board within two days of his arrival. Fulmer also mentioned that the Vols were aiming to sign 10-12 players on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.

The Vols had the 27th-ranked 2018 recruiting class when Pruitt took over, with 15 verbal commitments, according to 247Sports. After decommitments, the number dropped to 10. Pruitt and his staff worked the final weekend before the signing period trying to add some gems for the upcoming season.

As of late Wednesday afternoon, UT had 10 players signed and four others considered hard commits in a class ranked 33rd nationally.

Top player

Alontae Taylor, WR, 118th, (Manchester, TN)

https://twitter.com/TaeTaylor6/status/940970869920280579

Taylor decomitted from Tennessee on Nov. 12 and then recommitted to the Vols on Dec. 13 — Pruitt’s first official verbal commit as UT head coach. The 6-foot Tennessee native brings vision, footwork and the ability to go up and get a ball.

The wide receiver prospect has not officially put pen to the paper just yet, but he has been going around supporting his future teammates on early signing day. Taylor is expected to sign on Friday.

https://twitter.com/TaeTaylor6/status/943557406327431168

How we’ll remember this class

The 2018 class for Tennessee will be remembered as Pruitt establishing what he wants as far as personnel as he places initial pieces together in building his program.

Going out and handing out offers to numerous players gives Tennessee the chance of having its historic name brought back into the limelight as a program that once again can complete at a high level. That is what this year’s recruiting effort led by Pruitt and Fulmer will be remembered for and judged on.

Biggest need filled

After moving on from quarterbacks Adrian Martinez and Michael Penix, Pruitt and his staff needed to take at least one quarterback for roster purposes.

This follows a model that Nick Saban has used at Alabama — stockpiling as many talented quarterbacks as possible and not worrying about attrition down the road. Jarrett Guarantano and Will McBride have game experience, and if Quinten Dormady recovers from a shoulder injury and stays with the program, Pruitt and offensive coordinator Tyson Helton will have plenty of options for the short term.

The Vols hosted then-California commit JT Shrout last weekend and were able to lure him to UT. Shrout committed on Wednesday. The Vols will also bring in a preferred walk-on pro-style quarterback in 6-foot-4, 210-pound Bart Harris from Missouri.

Still need …

The offensive line is the biggest unit to fill. In the SEC, you can never have enough quality players upfront.

Three in-state offensive linemen committed Wednesday morning to the Vols: 6-4, 285-pound Ollie Lane (Corryton); 6-4, 330-pound Jerome Carvin (Cordova); and 6-5, 260-pound Tanner Antonutti (Nashville) will bring needed depth to the unit.

Tennessee will need to seek additional help on the unit as the recruiting process continues leading up to the regular signing period that runs Feb. 7-April 1.

Overall early class grade: B

So far, so good for Pruitt and his staff. They were able to gain interest from some players who did not have Tennessee on their radar when Jones and his staff were still in place.

Pruitt obviously did not have much time to recruit, but he and his staff made the best of the situation and were able to lure in some good pieces. That should work as a springboard to February, when they can sign more players. For now, Pruitt gets a B considering the circumstances.