Thanks Dont'e I’m sure this will help recruiting

[BigBadVol]

will help in recruiting. Throwing CJH’s offense under the bus.

Dont'e Thornton shares how difficult it is for Tennessee receivers to get drafted

Dont'e Thornton was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Through meetings, pro day, and the draft combine, Thornton seeme

allfortennessee.com

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

It’s not DT’s fault. Up to Heupel to disprove the growing criticism of his offense.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

He’s not saying anything that dozens of other people aren’t already telling kids. I’d say if they watch at all they know the offense has mostly been screens, handoffs, and poorly thrown go routes for two years.

 

[bigorangedude]

He makes a valid point. It was factual, not negative.

 

[OrangeInKy]

He totally should have lied to spare our feelings. The nerve of that guy.

 

[BigBadVol]

He totally should have lied to spare our feelings. The nerve of that guy.

How about keeping your mouth shut and saying nothing. You sound like TN’s offense kept you from being some sort of superstar. You don’t get to the NFL on talent alone. A lot of good coaching comes along with it.

 

[scores4fun]

Maybe I am not fully educated on this, but how difficult is it to learn to run routes? I mean all routes are based off the same route tree, right?

 

[OffTackleVol]

will help in recruiting. Throwing CJH’s offense under the bus.

Dont'e Thornton shares how difficult it is for Tennessee receivers to get drafted

Dont'e Thornton was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Through meetings, pro day, and the draft combine, Thornton seeme

allfortennessee.com

That's BS. Just another article for the negative Nellies to jump on. Route trees are route trees, not much difference regardless of offensive scheme. Hyatt didn't have much trouble getting drafted.

 

[EverythingOrange]

What? You mean Heupel's offense which has increased Tennessee's relevance EVERY year since he has coached here????

2021: 7-6 Lost Music City bowl to Purdue (controversial loss, too!).
2022: 11-2 Won the Orange bowl handily against Clemson.
2023: 9-4 Won the Citrus bowl, putting on a fairly good offensive display against Iowa (who was supposed to have a "mighty defense").
2024: 10-3 First appearance in the College Football Playoff & Lost to eventual National Champion Ohio State.

-- How soon we forget the journeys through the wilderness under Derek (First-Half ONLY) Dooley; Jim (interim coach) Chaney; Butch (Champions of Life) Jones; Brady (interim - "I'd rather be in the Big 10") Hoke; And Jeremy (Corn-Bread --& McDonald's bags on the side) Pruitt.

Everybody is welcome to "critique" whatever or whoever they wish. But, right now, I'm riding THIS horse until it shows me something very disappointingly different!!!

Share THAT with the recruits!

 

[VOLLeeann]

Rent another player and forget this douchebag

 

[jackaro]

Is he supposed to say things to help with recruiting now that he is no longer here? He is giving his opinion on how he is viewed by NFL teams. I think it is fine to question if his opinion is correct but criticizing him for hurting recruiting is unfair.

 

[Voltopia]

I think it is fine to question if his opinion is correct but criticizing him for hurting recruiting is unfair.

I am completely baffled by the notion that Vol fans shouldn't criticize someone who's hurting the University of Tennessee football program.

 

[VolZen]

Dont'e needs to worry more about his ability to stay healthy keeping him from getting drafted than our offense.

 

[GAVol]

He’s not wrong and he’s not being critical. Our offense consists of a lot of simple routes and reads due to our tempo. We’re not running a bunch of mesh concepts out there. It just is what it is.

 

[Boston Vol]

He’s not saying anything that dozens of other people aren’t already telling kids. I’d say if they watch at all they know the offense has mostly been screens, handoffs, and poorly thrown go routes for two years.

Exactly, this is Recruiting 101. It’s how Tennessee was able to shock everyone and land Robert Meachem over in-state OU. They convinced him that Tennessee’s pro style offense would better prepare him for the NFL compared to OU’s spread passing attack.

 

[TAF]

Rent another player and forget this douchebag

 

[VAVol85]

Is he supposed to say things to help with recruiting now that he is no longer here? He is giving his opinion on how he is viewed by NFL teams. I think it is fine to question if his opinion is correct but criticizing him for hurting recruiting is unfair.

Most players have some level of appreciation for the opportunity they got and the friendships they made and look for ways to enhance the reputation of their previous stops. Others just gripe.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

That's BS. Just another article for the negative Nellies to jump on. Route trees are route trees, not much difference regardless of offensive scheme. Hyatt didn't have much trouble getting drafted.

Yep. Hyatt got drafted because he thrived in Heupel's offense. Hyatt hasn't adapted well in the NFL because he's had trouble learning the complex nuances of route adjustment in a NFL offense

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Most players have some level of appreciation for the opportunity they got and the friendships they made and look for ways to enhance the reputation of their previous stops. Others just gripe.

I don't have a problem with him responding as he did. It's more about the messenger wanting to cast a negative light

 

[CAVPUT]

It’s not DT’s fault. Up to Heupel to disprove the growing criticism of his offense.

Probably a moot point since the league has this offense solved and Heupel really hasn't been able to counter what the defenses are doing.

Can't hang his hat on 12 personnel forever. Sooner or later Heupel will make a fundamental change in philosophy and hire a real OC or he will get fired.

 

[CAVPUT]

Yep. Hyatt got drafted because he thrived in Heupel's offense. Hyatt hasn't adapted well in the NFL because he's had trouble learning the complex nuances of route adjustment in a NFL offense

So sandlot ball won't get you prepared for the next level? Who woulda thunk it?

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

So sandlot ball won't get you prepared for the next level? Who woulda thunk it?

"Sandlot ball"? Sometimes great QBs tell a WR exactly which route they want them to run after they've made the call from the sidelines. Changing plays/routes at the LOS is a version of "sandlot ball". In addition lots of NFL teams have looked at the type of offense Tennessee runs and adapted some of it into their own systems. ONE WR from the Manning years had a decent NFL career. It's generally more about the players than anything else

 

[VolInNW]

Wow.

There are a LOT of folks here who do NOT want to hear criticism of Heupel. Of any kind. That mentality will get ya beat.

Heup has got to learn you can't keep bestest buddies on staff because they are bestest buddies. WR and OL are suffering in part (not all) because of this. Heup needs to realize that if enough people say something, and say the SAME thing, there might be some truth to it.

Heup either adapts, fires a few people to improve his staff, and moves forward or he stagnates holding stubbornly onto a system that has been solved and surrounded by buddies.

Time will tell. I like Heup a lot, so I'm pulling for #1!

 

[IUGradVol]

The offense the last 2 years hasn’t been much to write home about. Here’s hoping this fall goes better on that side of the ball.

 

[B81]

So the route trees that produce countless receivers running wide A open isn’t good enough for the NFL? Maybe it is time for the NFL offensive coordinators to take a few things from CJH! The nfl has always taken from the innovators of the game which historically resided in college.