It has been more than a quarter-century since a team from the Volunteer State last won college footballās national championship. Phillip Fulmerās Tennessee Volunteers team from 1998 did so after going 13-0 and winning the Fiesta Bowl.
Tennessee CFB teams have been short on titles this century, but the stateās blue-chip prospect pipeline is still quite active. With that in mind, BetTennessee.com ā your source for the best Tennessee sportsbook promos ā broke down which states have the highest number of blue-chip prospects from 2014 to 2024, with the Volunteer State ranking near the top nationally.
Most Blue Chip Recruits By State Since 2014
Rank | State | Blue Chippers |
1. | Texas | 540 |
2. | Florida | 504 |
3. | California | 490 |
4. | Georgia | 364 |
5. | Louisiana | 168 |
6. | Ohio | 165 |
7. | North Carolina | 159 |
8. | Alabama | 158 |
9. | Virginia | 112 |
10. | Tennessee | 108 |
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Three of Tennesseeās four FBS programs have posted at least one double-digit win season since UT won that 1998 national title. The Vols did so in 2001 (11-2), 2003 and 2004 (10-3 each), 2007 (10-4) and 2022 (11-2). Down the road in Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State posted a single 10-win campaign in 2009, and the Memphis Tigers went 12-2 in 2019 and had 10-3 seasons in 2014, 2017 and 2023.
This year, the oddsmakers at Bet365 Tennessee Sportsbook list the Vols as the most likely team among the stateās four FBS programs to win the 12-team CFP, at +3000 (12th nationally). Memphis and Vanderbilt who are listed at +150000 apiece while MTSU comes in at +300000.
Where Tennessee Ranks Nationally
Across America, Tennesseeās blue-chip total of 108 ranked 10th overall. Thatās directly behind No. 9 Virginia (112 prospects) and ahead of No. 11 Maryland (105). The blue-chip prospect leaderboard was headed up by Texas (540 prospects), Florida (504), California (490), Georgia (364) and Louisiana (168).
Throw in states like Ohio (165 prospects), North Carolina (159), Alabama (158) and Virginia and you have the full rundown of the states that have produced more blue-chip prospects than Tennessee since 2014.
At BetMGM Tennessee Sportsbook, the Vols have +1200 odds to win the SEC this season, tied for fifth with Texas A&M. Vandy is last at +100000 while Georgia (+200) is the favorite.
At the other end of the scale, seven states have produced zero five-star or four-star football players: Alaska, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Vermont and Wyoming. North Dakota and Rhode Island each had one while two came out of Delaware.
Tennessee prep football is alive and well, with the Volunteer State pumping out just as many top-tier high school prospects as ever on the gridiron. Come back to BetTennessee.com for more Tennessee sportsbooks coverage.
USA Today Network photo by Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel
