Tennessee as a wrestling state IS growing. Regardless of what the trolls on here would have one believe. And while you're correct, high school success doesn't mean a whole lot in the grand scheme, I think what you fail to mention is IN STATE high school success doesn't exactly measure long term division 1 success. I don't remember the last time TN had 7 or 8 kids ranked in the country. I don't remember the last time we had MULTIPLE medalists at Powerade, Beast of the East, Brecksville etc and the other tournaments that have tradiationally been reserved for the St Paris Grahams, Blair, Clovis, Wyoming Sem, St Eds, level teams. The fact that our kids are starting to medal at these semi regularly now I think is a great indicator of where we are headed as a state and a good measuring stick as to what this current group of kids are capable of doing at the highest levels.
I think to tell these kids who not only have dreams of going D1 but have already signed commitment letters (Fowler, Desselle, Hilton, Hart, Little etc) that "Sorry, despite this universtiy telling you they want you on their team and they value what you can bring to the program, you're better served going D2 or D3 or NAIA". Isn't just doing them a disservice its doing Tennessee Wrestling a disservice as well. We should be promoting these kids getting out to major programs. Not discouraging it.