2025 Roster is Concerning

[mitzustu]

DL loses Omari Thomas, James Pearce, Norman Lott, Simmons, Bailey and Eason

The only WRs we have are Brazzell, Squirrel, Mathews, Staley….. all the others are true freshmen, graduate, or are in the portal.

Razor thin at Safety as Brooks graduates, we lost Hayward (a top 100 kid), and didnt have anyone highly rated in the class.

And while we were busy prepping to lose a playoff game, all the big portal guys got gobbled up.

Deep trouble next year.

 

[Smokymtnbullet]

I promise if the sky falls I’ll be at least trying to hold it up.

 

[TheRealUT98]

We still have a ways to go roster wise to compete in games like this. We have a walk on at safety where as they have multiple top 10 players at their position in their respective classes we are having to play less talented guys it’s very frustrating but obvious. If we don’t spend more money on the NLI and transfer front we will continue to be passed by teams who spend more. Go big orange it’s a critical point in college football and Vol history

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

We still have a ways to go roster wise to compete in games like this. We have a walk on at safety where as they have multiple top 10 players at their position in their respective classes we are having to play less talented guys it’s very frustrating but obvious. If we don’t spend more money on the NLI and transfer front we will continue to be passed by teams who spend more. Go big orange it’s a critical point in college football and Vol history

The portal is not a solve all solution. See Ole Miss. It certainly does help. A big question is our O Line recruiting and development. There hasn’t been a single player that’s been recruited under Heupel to start a game.

 

[Zues1]

Year in year out.
Offensive line is an issue. 10 years and counting
Look like garbage on the big stage.
Opposing QB plays like a Heisman.

Year in year out, no matter who's coaching the team.SOS.

 

[MurphyVol]

The portal is not a solve all solution. See Ole Miss. It certainly does help. A big question is our O Line recruiting and development. There hasn’t been a single player that’s been recruited under Heupel to start a game.

I agree. Every fan says "hit the portal hard" but all the other big programs are shopping too and some have a lot more money that we do. I believe it's important to find the right HS kids, structure their NIL deal properly and develop them over a 3-4 year period. The portal should be to address a particular need here and there, not rebuild a team.

It reminds me a little of how Jackie Sherrill always tried to build through JUCO . The players are more proven, but more people are pursuing them.

If we haven't already, we need to bring in analysts for salary cap management. Players are going to need to be cut and tough decision will need to be made.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

Agreed. What we saw last night on the other side of the ball was what it looks like to recruit elite talent at every position across the board for multiple years. We recruit just outside the top 10 every year no matter who the coach is.

 

[Go47]

Early prediction:

1. We have enough data now to predict how we play in twos games against good teams.

2. Losses at UF and Bama.

3. Loss at home to UGA.

4. One unexplainable loss (happens every year).

8-4.

Rinse / repeat.

 

[Volbrando]

I’m worried about Syracuse already