Coach Ruschell was working for the last few years to have a huge team this year. They went after a lot of kids, but focused on bringing guys back to Tennessee. Had things gone to plan I think the lineup would've been something like
125- Cooper Flynn
133 - Blake Boarman (Purdue)
141 - Hunter Mason
149 - Isiah Powe (Iowa Central)
157 - Landon Desselle (Ohio St)
165 - Cody Chittum (MIA)
174 - Mason Reiniche
184 - Kamdyn Munroe
197 - Logan Webster
285 - Carter Neves
I doubt they contacted Flynn, Mason, Chittum or Reiniche until they had announced they were leaving. Nor have I ever heard they had. Likewise, I doubt once Desselle got to Ohio St they recruited him any further but they did recruit him pretty heavily out of high school. I think the plan all along was for this to be the squad this year. Which would've been nuts. Absolutely nuts. Don't get me wrong, the team they will have this upcoming year will be the best they've had in YEARS. But there will still be a "what could've been"...