'14 IL LB Clifton Garrett

#1,135
#1,135
SeanJean said:
Only time will tell, but I'm going to guess not even close. Go look some of the Fulmer classes.
Click to expand...

If would have to be close. That would give us 3 5 Stars and 16 4 Stars. Time would obviously tell but on the front end....that's nasty.
 
#1,136
#1,136
I'm thinking both are a long shot at this point. Getting Josh Malone would be the icing on the cake for the '14 class though
 
#1,137
#1,137
According to this source (Tennessee Football Recruiting: The 10 Greatest Recruiting Classes Since 1980 | Bleacher Report), Tennessee’s best recruiting classes since 1980, based purely on final Rivals.com rankings, are as follows:

1994: Rivals No. 2 Class. “The 1994 class was revered because it boasted two of the top quarterback prospects in the country. When future NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning became the choice early in the 1994 season, the second of that duo, Brandon Stewart, transferred. This class didn't feature a ton of stars. Between Marcus Nash, Terry Fair, Jonathan Brown and, of course, Manning there's plenty of starpower to land this group among the top two ever at Tennessee. The '94 signing class was a part of three bowl wins and an SEC title.”

2000: Rivals No. 2 Class. “With the Vols coming out of the highly successful 1990s, the 29 players in this class were expected to be a huge part of continuing Tennessee's winning tradition. Ultimately, this class never won a conference championship and won just one bowl game. The quarterback signed in this class ended up as one of the Vols most prolific passers, however. Casey Clausen led fellow '00 signees Jason Witten and Mark Jones through one of the more offensively gifted eras in recent UT history.”

2002: Rivals No. 2 Class.

1996: Rivals No. 3 Class. “Shaun Ellis, Darwin Walker, Eric Westmoreland, Raynoch Thompson and Tee Martin were all members of this class. Those names are hallowed in Knoxville as the core group of players that landed Tennessee its first consensus national championship since 1951. . . . This class experienced two bowl wins, two SEC titles and the first-ever BCS National Championship.”

2007: Rivals No. 3 Class. “Thirteen members of this 32-member class either didn't qualify, were released from their scholarships or transferred. When the class signed, there was all sorts of promise. It finished as one of the most disappointing signing classes in program history.”

Two other recruiting classes that deserve special mention because of their productivity are the 1995 and 1997 classes:

1997: Rivals No. 5 Class. “The best way to begin this slide is with a list of names.

•Deon Grant
•Travis Henry
•Jamal Lewis
•Travis Stephens
•Andre Lott
•Cedrick Wilson
•Cosey Coleman
•David Martin

Recognize any or all of those names? One is the all-time leading rusher in Tennessee history (Henry). Another (Grant) is currently in his 12th year in the NFL. Lewis was one of the NFL's leading rushers for nearly half a decade. There is over 70 years of NFL experience from this signing class. All of these players were integral pieces of the Vols' championship run in '98. Members of this class won two SEC titles and one national championship.”

1995: Rivals No. 12 Class. “A class that included such Vols royalty as Chad Clifton, Leonard Little and Peerless Price was the senior class that experienced the Vols national title in 1998.

This class was a part of three bowl wins, two SEC titles and, of course, the 1998 BCS title.”
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#1,138
#1,138
Volosaurus rex said:
According to this source (Tennessee Football Recruiting: The 10 Greatest Recruiting Classes Since 1980 | Bleacher Report), Tennessee’s best recruiting classes since 1980, based purely on final Rivals.com rankings, are as follows:

1994: Rivals No. 2 Class. “The 1994 class was revered because it boasted two of the top quarterback prospects in the country. When future NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning became the choice early in the 1994 season, the second of that duo, Brandon Stewart, transferred. This class didn't feature a ton of stars. Between Marcus Nash, Terry Fair, Jonathan Brown and, of course, Manning there's plenty of starpower to land this group among the top two ever at Tennessee. The '94 signing class was a part of three bowl wins and an SEC title.”

2000: Rivals No. 2 Class. “With the Vols coming out of the highly successful 1990s, the 29 players in this class were expected to be a huge part of continuing Tennessee's winning tradition. Ultimately, this class never won a conference championship and won just one bowl game. The quarterback signed in this class ended up as one of the Vols most prolific passers, however. Casey Clausen led fellow '00 signees Jason Witten and Mark Jones through one of the more offensively gifted eras in recent UT history.”

2002: Rivals No. 2 Class.

1996: Rivals No. 3 Class. “Shaun Ellis, Darwin Walker, Eric Westmoreland, Raynoch Thompson and Tee Martin were all members of this class. Those names are hallowed in Knoxville as the core group of players that landed Tennessee its first consensus national championship since 1951. . . . This class experienced two bowl wins, two SEC titles and the first-ever BCS National Championship.”

2007: Rivals No. 3 Class. “Thirteen members of this 32-member class either didn't qualify, were released from their scholarships or transferred. When the class signed, there was all sorts of promise. It finished as one of the most disappointing signing classes in program history.”

Two other recruiting classes that deserve special mention because of their productivity are the 1995 and 1997 classes:

1997: Rivals No. 5 Class. “The best way to begin this slide is with a list of names.

•Deon Grant
•Travis Henry
•Jamal Lewis
•Travis Stephens
•Andre Lott
•Cedrick Wilson
•Cosey Coleman
•David Martin

Recognize any or all of those names? One is the all-time leading rusher in Tennessee history (Henry). Another (Grant) is currently in his 12th year in the NFL. Lewis was one of the NFL's leading rushers for nearly half a decade. There is over 70 years of NFL experience from this signing class. All of these players were integral pieces of the Vols' championship run in '98. Members of this class won two SEC titles and one national championship.”

1995: Rivals No. 12 Class. “A class that included such Vols royalty as Chad Clifton, Leonard Little and Peerless Price was the senior class that experienced the Vols national title in 1998.

This class was a part of three bowl wins, two SEC titles and, of course, the 1998 BCS title.”
Click to expand...

I'm hoping this years freshmen class is much like the 1994 class. Peyton Manning or the others in that class may have never won a championship here, but they had a lot to do with us winning one in 1998 IMO. I'm sure recruiting in 1995, 1996 and 1997 was a lot easier with Peyton at quarterback and Marcus Nash and Terry Fair made some plays that I'm sure helped sell the program as well.

Hopefully with Dobbs, Ferguson, North, Vereen and Sutton they can help sell the program in the future as we restock the roster which is off to very promising start if we can just get all of our current class signed in February.
 
#1,141
#1,141
UTC Vol Fan said:
I'm hoping this years freshmen class is much like the 1994 class. Peyton Manning or the others in that class may have never won a championship here, but they had a lot to do with us winning one in 1998 IMO. I'm sure recruiting in 1995, 1996 and 1997 was a lot easier with Peyton at quarterback and Marcus Nash and Terry Fair made some plays that I'm sure helped sell the program as well.

Hopefully with Dobbs, Ferguson, North, Vereen and Sutton they can help sell the program in the future as we restock the roster which is off to very promising start if we can just get all of our current class signed in February.
Click to expand...


The only thing this class lacks is a marquis quarterback prospect. We continued to reap benefits for years after Peyton came on board, just as Texas A & M is cleaning up now on the recruiting trail with the incredibly talented, but punkish, Johnny Manziel at quarterback.

In one respect, however, this class is much more impressive than any of those cited above, simply because Butch has put it together without even the benefit of one complete season at Tennessee under his belt. The '96 and '97 classes were assembled in the immediate aftermath of a 1995 Tennessee team that finished 2nd or 3rd in the country, depending on which poll you prefer.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#1,143
#1,143
Incidentally, do any of you have any idea who the mystery “X” contributor to Tony Basilio’s blog may be? He posted a lengthy update on recruiting yesterday (The Tony Basilio Show) and subscribes to the theory that the specific composition of this class remains fluid, with perhaps 3-5 upgrades in talent likely before the proverbial ink dries on Letters of Intent. With respect to linebacker recruitment, he stated that "Tennessee will have to fight and claw all the way to National Signing Day to hold onto a couple of the linebacker prospects committed. For that reason, Tennessee is actively recruiting a handful of linebackers. One is Illinois linebacker Clifton Garrett, a five-star linebacker who has narrowed his choices to LSU and Tennessee."
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#1,144
#1,144
I dont respect X alot. They ppl who we will have to hang on for are Dews and Bryant. Weatherd and Bates are as solid as they come.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#1,145
#1,145
matts42012 said:
I dont respect X alot. They ppl who we will have to hang on for are Dews and Bryant. Weatherd and Bates are as solid as they come.
Click to expand...

If we lose Bryant and get Garrett I will accept that. Won't be too happy about it because Bryant is a beast in his own right but whatever...
 
#1,146
#1,146
KnoxVillain said:
If we lose Bryant and get Garrett I will accept that. Won't be too happy about it because Bryant is a beast in his own right but whatever...
Click to expand...

Obviously we would like to keep Bryant and pick up Garrett as well but if we lose a good recruit it's nice to replace them with a better one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#1,147
#1,147
Volosaurus rex said:
According to this source (Tennessee Football Recruiting: The 10 Greatest Recruiting Classes Since 1980 | Bleacher Report), Tennessee’s best recruiting classes since 1980, based purely on final Rivals.com rankings, are as follows:

1994: Rivals No. 2 Class. “The 1994 class was revered because it boasted two of the top quarterback prospects in the country. When future NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning became the choice early in the 1994 season, the second of that duo, Brandon Stewart, transferred. This class didn't feature a ton of stars. Between Marcus Nash, Terry Fair, Jonathan Brown and, of course, Manning there's plenty of starpower to land this group among the top two ever at Tennessee. The '94 signing class was a part of three bowl wins and an SEC title.”

2000: Rivals No. 2 Class. “With the Vols coming out of the highly successful 1990s, the 29 players in this class were expected to be a huge part of continuing Tennessee's winning tradition. Ultimately, this class never won a conference championship and won just one bowl game. The quarterback signed in this class ended up as one of the Vols most prolific passers, however. Casey Clausen led fellow '00 signees Jason Witten and Mark Jones through one of the more offensively gifted eras in recent UT history.”

2002: Rivals No. 2 Class.

1996: Rivals No. 3 Class. “Shaun Ellis, Darwin Walker, Eric Westmoreland, Raynoch Thompson and Tee Martin were all members of this class. Those names are hallowed in Knoxville as the core group of players that landed Tennessee its first consensus national championship since 1951. . . . This class experienced two bowl wins, two SEC titles and the first-ever BCS National Championship.”

2007: Rivals No. 3 Class. “Thirteen members of this 32-member class either didn't qualify, were released from their scholarships or transferred. When the class signed, there was all sorts of promise. It finished as one of the most disappointing signing classes in program history.”

Two other recruiting classes that deserve special mention because of their productivity are the 1995 and 1997 classes:

1997: Rivals No. 5 Class. “The best way to begin this slide is with a list of names.

•Deon Grant
•Travis Henry
•Jamal Lewis
•Travis Stephens
•Andre Lott
•Cedrick Wilson
•Cosey Coleman
•David Martin

Recognize any or all of those names? One is the all-time leading rusher in Tennessee history (Henry). Another (Grant) is currently in his 12th year in the NFL. Lewis was one of the NFL's leading rushers for nearly half a decade. There is over 70 years of NFL experience from this signing class. All of these players were integral pieces of the Vols' championship run in '98. Members of this class won two SEC titles and one national championship.”

1995: Rivals No. 12 Class. “A class that included such Vols royalty as Chad Clifton, Leonard Little and Peerless Price was the senior class that experienced the Vols national title in 1998.

This class was a part of three bowl wins, two SEC titles and, of course, the 1998 BCS title.”
Click to expand...

So, clearly these boys need to perform to even get up there. Some of those 90's classes were sick. It's incredible to see so many classes that actually produced back-to-back. I suppose that's why we were so good :p

Hard to believe we'll ever top 1997 - what an amazing class.

I could see this class potentially coming in 2nd or 3rd behind that one though.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top