'14 TN DE/TE Derek Barnett (UT Signee 2/5/14)

[sanddune50]

per FranklinVol on VQ:

What a great guy! Very well-spoken and respectful! He didn't scrimmage yesterday just out of precaution but he is clear to go and is practicing. I told him that we got a great DT yesterday and he needs to be next! He smiled real big and said "I've been thinking about it". He said that he the only reason he hasn't committed yet is that he really wants to make absolutely sure before he commits because once he commits, he doesn't want to change his mind. Pretty noble thought, huh? I couldn't talk about the Big Orange, running through the T, etc, without him breaking into a huge smile. I asked him if he was going to go to some UT and Vandy games this year and he said "yes sir". I said, just note the difference when you do!

Regarding last Saturday, he told his coach that he wasn't going to go but then a couple of his younger teammates decided to go and called him up and he went with them. He didn't stay the night or anything like that. Just hanging with his buddies. Anyway, as always, just trying to pass along any little bit of info that I might have. GBO!

 

[thelizardvol]

I know D personally. Grew up with him sorta. Haven't talked to him in a while, but one of my relatives coaches him. Let's just say that the longer his recruitment goes, the better chance Vandy has. His mom really is buying what CJF's staff is selling. TIFWIW.

 

[Brillovol]

per FranklinVol on VQ:

He said that he the only reason he hasn't committed yet is that he really wants to make absolutely sure before he commits because once he commits, he doesn't want to change his mind.

This sounds exactly like it came out of Butch's mouth. Vol lock, IMO.

 

[sanddune50]

I know D personally. Grew up with him sorta. Haven't talked to him in a while, but one of my relatives coaches him. Let's just say that the longer his recruitment goes, the better chance Vandy has. His mom really is buying what CJF's staff is selling. TIFWIW.

Hope not. Better chance of getting recognition and showcased at UT. And like has been repeated over and over again, an education is what the student makes of it. A person can parlay a UT degree into a fine career if football doesn't work out.

 

[sanddune50]

A little Wednesday night recruiting via twitter by Chris Weatherd.

@dbarnett25 Hope everything is good man! Hope you'll be suiting up in orange with me next year!

@Ummmm_Dubb thanks bro! Hope you're doing well

 

[Escape Goat]

I know D personally. Grew up with him sorta. Haven't talked to him in a while, but one of my relatives coaches him. Let's just say that the longer his recruitment goes, the better chance Vandy has. His mom really is buying what CJF's staff is selling. TIFWIW.

Have to disagree lot lizard.

 

[thelizardvol]

Have to disagree lot lizard.

Hope you're right. Seriously. I'm just trying to my best to play messenger here.

 

[LebanonVolunteer]

I think the recent visit to candy w/out mom makes it very clear that Derek is seriously considering them. If "mom" is the only thing keeping him from being a Vol, there would be no reason to go unless mom was in tow. If we have told other DTs no in hopes of landing Barnett, I hope it does not cost us another top HS DT in the process.

 

[OldVol49vfl]

I think the recent visit to candy w/out mom makes it very clear that Derek is seriously considering them. If "mom" is the only thing keeping him from being a Vol, there would be no reason to go unless mom was in tow. If we have told other DTs no in hopes of landing Barnett, I hope it does not cost us another top HS DT in the process.

Previous post said he didn't intend to go but just went along with two younger teammates. Said he was just hanging out.

 

[vol2002]

You're overthinking this, LV. We've got a great JUCO DT lined up. Sounds like Mosely is ripe for the pickings. I don't think we need to be hand-wringing.

My take is that yes, Barnett is seriously considering Vandy. But that doesn't mean he's going to pick Vandy in the end.

I think the landscape will change a bunch between now and the end of the year. I'd put the odds of CJF staying at Vandy after this season at less than 25%, personally.

 

[ChattaTNVol]

I think the recent visit to candy w/out mom makes it very clear that Derek is seriously considering them. If "mom" is the only thing keeping him from being a Vol, there would be no reason to go unless mom was in tow. If we have told other DTs no in hopes of landing Barnett, I hope it does not cost us another top HS DT in the process.

I know some of us have been joking about moving WR to DT to solve the numbers crunch. Well.....

Dominique Booth, a four-star wide receiver who committed to Tennessee on July 19, talked to Football.com about his decision.

"I've known Coach Jones for a long time," Booth said. "He started recruiting me the summer after my freshman year when (he) was at Cincinnati. Coach (Steve) Stripling (Tennessee defensive line coach) really did not recruit me until about a year ago.

 

[LebanonVolunteer]

Previous post said he didn't intend to go but just went along with two younger teammates. Said he was just hanging out.

I know as a Tennessee fan I frequently find myself hanging out on candy's campus to watch practice. Same with the tuscalooser campus. Nothing better than hanging out on a campus of a team I hate. Some guys take a bus 6 hrs to be "home" on the campus they love on a weekend. Some guys go to candy to see a scrimmage. I guess you can interpret it however you like.

 

[LebanonVolunteer]

You're overthinking this, LV. We've got a great JUCO DT lined up. Sounds like Mosely is ripe for the pickings. I don't think we need to be hand-wringing.

My take is that yes, Barnett is seriously considering Vandy. But that doesn't mean he's going to pick Vandy in the end.

I think the landscape will change a bunch between now and the end of the year. I'd put the odds of CJF staying at Vandy after this season at less than 25%, personally.

Lambert was a huge get. Mosley will be a solid pickup who could help in a couple years. If I had to guess, I think CJF is at candy for at least 2-3 more years.

 

[BruinVol]

4star recruits rarely are the followers in a group of younger kids. Not buying he went just to go with a few younger friends

 

[UTFanForLife]

If your teammates were going to the scrimmage and you were previously scheduled to go, then you would go. People act like he just up and went, this was already planned. He probably wasn't gonna go at first because his mom ended up not being able to go, so he didn't want to go alone. Then some friends called him up so he went.

And the whole "for his mom" thing doesn't mean his mom has to be with him. If she wanted him to be sure of his choice before making it, he doesn't have to have his mom with him.

She is sold on Vandy, I like our chances better with her not there. One less person telling him "see this isn't so bad" while he is there. I would much rather Derek and his mom both be in Knoxville on a visit.

 

[sanddune50]

If your teammates were going to the scrimmage and you were previously scheduled to go, then you would go. People act like he just up and went, this was already planned. He probably wasn't gonna go at first because his mom ended up not being able to go, so he didn't want to go alone. Then some friends called him up so he went.

And the whole "for his mom" thing doesn't mean his mom has to be with him. If she wanted him to be sure of his choice before making it, he doesn't have to have his mom with him.

She is sold on Vandy, I like our chances better with her not there. One less person telling him "see this isn't so bad" while he is there. I would much rather Derek and his mom both be in Knoxville on a visit.

Barnett needs to switch Mom's with Derrick Green until NSD.

 

[Ashevolle]

I know as a Tennessee fan I frequently find myself hanging out on candy's campus to watch practice. Same with the tuscalooser campus. Nothing better than hanging out on a campus of a team I hate. Some guys take a bus 6 hrs to be "home" on the campus they love on a weekend. Some guys go to candy to see a scrimmage. I guess you can interpret it however you like.

The difference is you are a diehard UT fan and he is a D1 prospect being recruited by UT/Vandy (and interested in both). What you would do has no bearing on what Barnett will do. Not all prospects look at their college decision process through the same filter as do we fans. We'll see how it shakes out, but I wouldn't be too worried if he wants to check out their scrimmage to see how they do things.

 

[Ron Swanson]

I'm glad he went to the scrimmage at Vandy. This way he can compare their JV type environment to what a real CFB program looks like at UT. And if he's serious about his FB career I have no doubts where he'll end up.

 

[BruinVol]

I'm glad he went to the scrimmage at Vandy. This way he can compare their JV type environment to what a real CFB program looks like at UT. And if he's serious about his FB career I have no doubts where he'll end up.

The bad part is I think I read where he isn't coming this weekend to our scrimmage. That would be huge if he did make it in

 

[Serenadium51]

He took the visit because he's interested.

But that's fine because if we can beat UGA, UF, Bama, and Auburn for Lambert, McDowell, Hurd, Mosley and others then we can beat Vandy for Barnett.

 

[bigorange]

I know as a Tennessee fan I frequently find myself hanging out on candy's campus to watch practice. Same with the tuscalooser campus. Nothing better than hanging out on a campus of a team I hate. Some guys take a bus 6 hrs to be "home" on the campus they love on a weekend. Some guys go to candy to see a scrimmage. I guess you can interpret it however you like.

I'm a Tennessee fan, but I'm also a football fan in general. You're trying too hard on this one IMO. I would absolutely go and watch a college team's practice scrimmage if I had the opportunity, especially if it was right down the road, regardless of the team or my fandom. I'm going to the UNC/USC game in a couple weeks which is 1.5 hours away and I have to pay to go. I'm not going because I like UNC or USC, I'm going because I want to see some football.

And being a rising senior high school football player, with the opportunity to be on the field for an SEC program's practice, would be a no brainer for me regardless of the specific team.

 

[LebanonVolunteer]

I'm a Tennessee fan, but I'm also a football fan in general. You're trying too hard on this one IMO. I would absolutely go and watch a college team's practice scrimmage if I had the opportunity, especially if it was right down the road, regardless of the team or my fandom. I'm going to the UNC/USC game in a couple weeks which is 1.5 hours away and I have to pay to go. I'm not going because I like UNC or USC, I'm going because I want to see some football.

And being a rising senior high school football player, with the opportunity to be on the field for an SEC program's practice, would be a no brainer for me regardless of the specific team.

I am a college football fan as well and watch alot of games that are not involving Tennessee. Would I ever PAY to see a college game not involving TN? No way. Pay to see a candy or bama game if they are not playing the Vols? lol:

I would not travel 75 feet to watch anything going down on either campus unless it was burning.

 

[BigOrangeTailgate]

I think you guys are reading way too much into a Saturday night outing with buddies to Vandy. Yes, it's Vandy but you're with friends which beats sitting at home when you're 17 last time I checked. I mean it's close to sucking just as bad but not quite. Plus I'm sure any 17 year old would like the attention regardless of whether he has any intention of enrolling there.

 

[OrangeLynx]

I dont read much into mom not going eiter. Apparently she works a couple jobs so I think its pretty reasonable for her to stay at home. Shes been to Vandy and the school is close by

 

[KBVol]

The difference is you are a diehard UT fan and he is a D1 prospect being recruited by UT/Vandy (and interested in both). What you would do has no bearing on what Barnett will do. Not all prospects look at their college decision process through the same filter as do we fans. We'll see how it shakes out, but I wouldn't be too worried if he wants to check out their scrimmage to see how they do things.

No offense to LV, I share his passion for UT recruiting though not his unnecessary hand-wringing. This is the correct take.... being a fan vs being a recruit is the difference. That being said, I believe he's a Vol once its all said and done, especially when he gets back on a major college campus and compares it to the middle school campus which is pansybilt.