Remember that time Tennessee had all those players transfer out...

#1
casual-observer

casual-observer

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#1
...back in 2020 when Coach Cornbread dropped his drawers and McDonald's bag and all of the four and five-star rated Tennessee players hit the portal? I'm I wrong or wasn't the number something like 26 players (and many of the four and five-stars?)

Man, those were some depressing times. I saw the article today from ESPN raking the top 75 players in the Transfer Portal.

Not. One. Single. Tennessee Player. On the list.

I know they have some gaps to fill, but it feels like Heupel is still building a great culture in Knoxville.
 
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#2
#2
casual-observer said:
...back in 2020 when Coach Cornbread dropped his drawers and McDonald's bag and all of the four and five-star rated Tennessee players hit the portal? I'm I wrong or wasn't the number something like 26 players (and many of the four and five-stars?)

Man, those were some depressing times. I saw the article today from ESPN raking the top 75 players in the Transfer Portal.

Not. One. Single. Tennessee Player. On the list.

I know they have some gaps to fill, but it feels like Heupel is still building a great culture in Knoxville.
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Or it could mean the UT players in the portal simply are not that good
 
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#4
#4
utvolpj said:
Because our best players didn't go in.

Recruiting the portal also includes keeping your key players out of it
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That is right, but I would say that I can't recall any of our former portal players killing it at their new school....might be wrong but I can't remember anyone.
 
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#5
#5
utvolpj said:
Because our best players didn't go in.

Recruiting the portal also includes keeping your key players out of it
Click to expand...
Had to make some room as well. Bringing in the RB from Duke, WR from Bama, Moe, another Olineman possibly, and a WR. Possibly going to also target another DB. Just don’t have room and the ones leaving were never going to contribute likely.
 
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#6
#6
Golfprovol said:
That is right, but I would say that I can't recall any of our former portal players killing it at their new school....might be wrong but I can't remember anyone.
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Baron had a pretty solid year for Miami. Say what you will but Pearce was much more effective with Baron on the field at the same time imho.
 
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#10
#10
casual-observer said:
...back in 2020 when Coach Cornbread dropped his drawers and McDonald's bag and all of the four and five-star rated Tennessee players hit the portal? I'm I wrong or wasn't the number something like 26 players (and many of the four and five-stars?)

Man, those were some depressing times. I saw the article today from ESPN raking the top 75 players in the Transfer Portal.

Not. One. Single. Tennessee Player. On the list.

I know they have some gaps to fill, but it feels like Heupel is still building a great culture in Knoxville.
Click to expand...
Wound up being 35
 
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#11
#11
DaddyChad said:
Had to make some room as well. Bringing in the RB from Duke, WR from Bama, Moe, another Olineman possibly, and a WR. Possibly going to also target another DB. Just don’t have room and the ones leaving were never going to contribute likely.
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Everyone acts like we can get like 100 players in the portal. No we have just a few spots to fill. We lost 16-17 transfers plus 8-10 graduates but signed 25 so we have 4-5 open spots left!
 
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#21
#21
utvolpj said:
Because our best players didn't go in.

Recruiting the portal also includes keeping your key players out of it
Click to expand...
The recruiting world keeps changing and the portal as many players are finding out is a two edged sword. Yes, you can transfer to greener pastures as you define it, but the NIL and roster spot are one year deals that can be withdrawn if you don't perform. Another thing that just happened is revenue sharing which will give schools that had little or no NIL money enough money to keep their very best players. So you won't see proven stars in the portal nearly as much as before. The real losers in all this will be HS kids. Not as many roster spots for them and no ability to walk-on and earn your roster spot.
 
#22
#22
Golfprovol said:
That is right, but I would say that I can't recall any of our former portal players killing it at their new school....might be wrong but I can't remember anyone.
Click to expand...
Think To'o To'o has a conference championship ring, and played for the national title at least once.

Don't remember how Oklahoma did in '21 and '22, but pretty sure a couple of the Pruitt-era kids who jumped ship after he was fired ended up there in the starting lineup.

There were other talented guys sprinkled around the top ranks of the sport. Many of them starting for their new schools and doing well on the field. Possible some of them won conference titles or got to the CFP with their new teams.

Point is, those were really good players leaving. The OP's point is absolutely valid. We're not bleeding talent through the portal as we certainly have in the past.

Go Vols!
 
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#23
#23
VFL-82-JP said:
Think To'o To'o has a conference championship ring, and played for the national title at least once.

Don't remember how Oklahoma did in '21 and '22, but pretty sure a couple of the Pruitt-era kids who jumped ship after he was fired ended up there in the starting lineup.

There were other talented guys sprinkled around the top ranks of the sport. Many of them starting for their new schools and doing well on the field. Possible some of them won conference titles or got to the CFP with their new teams.

Point is, those were really good players leaving. The OP's point is absolutely valid. We're not bleeding talent through the portal as we certainly have in the past.

Go Vols!
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Henry T got his rings because of Bama, not because of him...

I know the OP's point, mine was that we weren't really bleeding difference making talent before and certainly not now! The production of all those who left was easily replaced.

Kind of like Squirrel, we won't miss him at all. Might be a decent talent but not a game breaker.
 
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