Tennessee offensive tackle Larry Johnson set to transfer

#3
#3
Ugh, hard to get depth to stay. Couldnt beat out incoming star Sanders.

Thats the problem - even when you can get really talented players to fill the prime spots, its hard to keep the backups in place.

We sat there and coached this guy up for 2 years where he can finally contribute and now he (understandably) wants to go somewhere else who will pay him - essentially, for the work we put into him. That is the biggest problem I think for the NIL/Portal era. Makes the top players spread more evenly but makes it hard for even the bigger programs to be deep in talent.

I dont think we will ever again see the "multiple 5*s riding the bench" type thing that used to be Alabama in Saban's time - and thats why he wisely got out.
 
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#5
#5
Gandalf said:
Ugh, hard to get depth to stay. Couldnt beat out incoming star Sanders.

Thats the problem - even when you can get really talented players to fill the prime spots, its hard to keep the backups in place.

We sat there and coached this guy up for 2 years where he can finally contribute and now he (understandably) wants to go somewhere else who will pay him - essentially, for the work we put into him. That is the biggest problem I think for the NIL/Portal era. Makes the top players spread more evenly but makes it hard for even the bigger programs to be deep in talent.

I dont think we will ever again see the "multiple 5*s riding the bench" type thing that used to be Alabama in Saban's time - and thats why he wisely got out.
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I imagine this one is more about play time than pay time. Just my opinion. When you are a senior and not playing much you kind of understand it. Especially if he is good enough for playing time at other places. GBO
 
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#6
#6
Woodlawn VOL said:
I imagine this one is more about play time than pay time. Just my opinion. When you are a senior and not playing much you kind of understand it. Especially if he is good enough for playing time at other places. GBO
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Its hard to find fault with him and yes, I think that is partially correct - but with being someone's starter, he probably also is getting paid more thats hard to command as a backup.
 
#7
#7
This is pretty much the norm now with o-line depth in the transfer portal era. Players who can’t start or are concerned they may not get enough playing time are in the portal. Only a few teams last year had any depth on their lines.

Hope we see Warren take a huge step this year.
 
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#8
#8
This is exactly why the transfer rules were put in place.
Guy with some experience goes through camp, realizes his playing time will be very limited, and decides to move on to somewhere he can garner time and showcase his skill at a shot to the next level.

We will miss his depth for sure, but this is one of the five transfers so far this spring I'm not real mad about.
 
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#12
#12
He should have played last year, he was better than campbell and davis who were flaming hot trash all season. I understand him leaving now with Sanders coming in though. Best of luck
 
#13
#13
The days of depth are over. Kids want to play and get paid. If they can go to even a lesser level and start and earn some money and exposure, I get it. Before long the Vols will have their projected starting lineup and the second team will not be as talented as the old days and potentially walk-on level talent.

This is be yet another byproduct of NIL but more importantly the transfer portal. There has to be a way to fix the portal but if you can't restrict where someone chooses to go to college and they need the portal in December for a 2nd semester transfer and a spring portal for summer and fall transfer then I'm not sure if anything can change legally.

May just have to be settled by the market over time. If Nico goes on to bigger things money and success wise then kids will look at his decision in a different way. If kids like Nico are negatively effected by the decision, it may make others more apprehensive about jumping ship.....as in the grass ain't always greener.....
 
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#15
#15
I agree that multiple 5-stars sitting on the bench waiting their turn is likely gone. And even hard to keep a 3 or 4 star on the bench, especially as a 3rd or 4th year player, when they want to go somewhere they can play. But all the backups, considering their desire to transfer and play, have to go somewhere. For each one that we lose to the portal after investing 2 years of development, we gain one from the portal after someone else's 2 years of investment. It all evens out.
 
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#17
#17
Gandalf said:
Ugh, hard to get depth to stay. Couldnt beat out incoming star Sanders.

Thats the problem - even when you can get really talented players to fill the prime spots, its hard to keep the backups in place.

We sat there and coached this guy up for 2 years where he can finally contribute and now he (understandably) wants to go somewhere else who will pay him - essentially, for the work we put into him. That is the biggest problem I think for the NIL/Portal era. Makes the top players spread more evenly but makes it hard for even the bigger programs to be deep in talent.

I dont think we will ever again see the "multiple 5*s riding the bench" type thing that used to be Alabama in Saban's time - and thats why he wisely got out.
Click to expand...
More than NIL it is probably the no sit for a year anymore rule that is causing the transfers of backups….
 
Last edited:
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#18
#18
I
Gandalf said:
Ugh, hard to get depth to stay. Couldnt beat out incoming star Sanders.

Thats the problem - even when you can get really talented players to fill the prime spots, its hard to keep the backups in place.

We sat there and coached this guy up for 2 years where he can finally contribute and now he (understandably) wants to go somewhere else who will pay him - essentially, for the work we put into him. That is the biggest problem I think for the NIL/Portal era. Makes the top players spread more evenly but makes it hard for even the bigger programs to be deep in talent.

I dont think we will ever again see the "multiple 5*s riding the bench" type thing that used to be Alabama in Saban's time - and thats why he wisely got out.
Click to expand...
I agree, I have always said the school losing the player should be fairly compensated by the new school receiving said player . It wouldn’t stop transfers but it would slow it down I think.
 
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#19
#19
Writing on the wall this year and the situation getting more dire everyday. We are staring up at. 5-7 season or worse. This could be Heupel’s last year on the hill. Just sayin what everyone is thinking. It’s not looking good. Go Vols.
 
#20
#20
Lmao. Coach Hype has 30 wins in his 1st three years. Back to back top 10 classes...and the #1 QB in 2026 committed with the #1 athlete Joel Wyatt being heavily predicted to come here as well.

There is no way in Hades this is CJH last season at UT. Unless HE quit for some reason. Hes been amazing and we are very lucky to have him. GO VOLS
 
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#23
#23
madbamahater said:
The days of depth are over. Kids want to play and get paid. If they can go to even a lesser level and start and earn some money and exposure, I get it. Before long the Vols will have their projected starting lineup and the second team will not be as talented as the old days and potentially walk-on level talent.

This is be yet another byproduct of NIL but more importantly the transfer portal. There has to be a way to fix the portal but if you can't restrict where someone chooses to go to college and they need the portal in December for a 2nd semester transfer and a spring portal for summer and fall transfer then I'm not sure if anything can change legally.

May just have to be settled by the market over time. If Nico goes on to bigger things money and success wise then kids will look at his decision in a different way. If kids like Nico are negatively effected by the decision, it may make others more apprehensive about jumping ship.....as in the grass ain't always greener.....
Click to expand...
Wish that were true at Ohio State, Georgia, and Alabama. Depth seems not to be a problem there.
 
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