'15 FL DE Marques Ford (FORMER UT commit)

[OddFuture]

Some of you are babies. Kid looked to be good, but we were just full at DE. Don't go all stupid saying we should pull schollies from VFLs first. There's a reason they chose to pull Ford's and not anyone else's

 

[Nocleats]

Maybe, just maybe, the kid is victim of the J Cheek policy on no academic exceptions, just like big Zuess Brown last year (who enrolled at OU). Just because they qualify per NCAA and SEC does not mean they get accepted into Tennessee. Maybe, just maybe.

 

[triad280]

This is especially egregious if we're still planning to give scholarships to a punter and long snapper.

we couldnt find someone to snap it to the QB in the shotgun(James Stone Freshman yr) and we all saw how badly that affected everything... now imagine punting out of our own endzone or a game winning FG

 

[Otis07]

Has to be more to it.....the kid has been treated badly, if Tennessee just pulled the scholly

 

[colvol]

Maybe, just maybe, the kid is victim of the J Cheek policy on no academic exceptions, just like big Zuess Brown last year (who enrolled at OU). Just because they qualify per NCAA and SEC does not mean they get accepted into Tennessee. Maybe, just maybe.

He had a 4.3 GPA.

 

[Nashvegas31]

its for the running back they are getting today. Much more critical need than defensive end

Hopefully after this year our QB and RB depth will be fixed to where we can take 1 QB a year and 1 maybe 2 RBs instead of 3 each.

 

[DeekT]

Some of you are babies. Kid looked to be good, but we were just full at DE. Don't go all stupid saying we should pull schollies from VFLs first. There's a reason they chose to pull Ford's and not anyone else's

This. Quit making stupid threads and throwing other commits under the bus.

 

[Mick]

In case some of you do not realize it, long snappers are one of the most valued positions in the NFL. It is one of the position that you can have a long, if unheralded career at, because the NFL values it so highly. If you are a really good LS you can play for years in the league.

Stoops gave a scholly to our "walkon long snapper" last year. He went to Ravenwood, same school as Van Jefferson, who is probably going to be a Sooner now. They were taking pictures together out in Norman this past weekend. I think I read somewhere that CUM is giving one to a LS up at tosu this year. Some people seem to value them.

It is a position that goes unnoticed unless there is a screw up. Then it may very well have cost a game. A missed extra point, blocked punt, cause a 15 yard punt or a snap over the head of a punter and lose a game when the outcome of one single game can keep you out of the NC playoff.

Before anyone ask or thinks it, I have no personal interest in this position. I am just looking at a 12 game regular season and I have seen enough games changed over the years by bad snaps to see the value of the position. I would rather see one LS scholly that pans out than one that is wasted on 11th receiver that never sees the field.

Riley Lovingood will play in week one. Please pull his scholarship so we can have more bench players. I think everyone is just greedy. They would like to have him but don't want to "waste" a scholarship because they think anyone can be a long snapper. Gone are the days when great kickers and punters walk on because there are more emphasis on special teams now than ten years ago. The same trend applies to long snappers. It would be great if he would walk on or blue shirt but you don't let him go anywhere else. IMO

 

[Guyute]

Technically you are a smart ass. Although I have not personally had a scholarship offer from UT taken form me, I have been told I wasn't good enough at many different things in life and have been not wanted by people as well.

You ok?

Hugs?

 

[LA Vol]

Has to be more to it.....the kid has been treated badly, if Tennessee just pulled the scholly

Stripling called Ford yesterday and told him that we were taking another recruit and no longer had room for him in this class. We were honest about it. That's what Ford told his HS coach who spoke to the media.

We are announcing a new commitment today.

 

[Weezer]

JMO - I don't think the staff ever felt confident that they were getting Kyle Phillips. When Kyle signed up at the last minute, that is when the problem at DE was created. This is why they couldn't tell Ford earlier in the process.

This right here is 100% fact and due to a numbers crunch they had to drop somebody and the place where they had the most to part ways with was DL. Timing sucked but the kid will land on his feet at a good school probably Fla.

Okay, I could buy that, but if true, why not tell Ford three weeks ago when Phillips EE?

 

[OrangeHammer]

Call me crazy but I think Ford was a VFL long enough to hate UF. He quickly spurned any UF fan tweeting at him to join UF.

 

[Ericvol2096]

its for the running back they are getting today. Much more critical need than defensive end

So if you trace it back, Derrell Scott being a quitter made Marques Ford not able to be a Vol.

Thanks Scott!

 

[vol512]

Cb to Rutgers I don't see him ending up there I see him somewhere bigger.

 

[Dust10]

So if you trace it back, Derrell Scott being a quitter made Marques Ford not able to be a Vol.

Thanks Scott!

 

[LA Vol]

Cb to Rutgers I don't see him ending up there I see him somewhere bigger.

Wasn't that from a long time ago, before he committed to UT? He's been solid to us and shut down recruiting, so his CB hasn't been updated.

 

[vol512]

Wasn't that from a long time ago, before he committed to UT? He's been solid to us and shut down recruiting, so his CB hasn't been updated.

One was from today

 

[thistime]

I think everyone should just step back and look at where we are. I hate to lose good prospects ( prospects are what we are talking about,no "sure thing" on any of them five star or walk on) as much as the next but you have to believe the staff has a better grip on what they want than anyone here. They know the numbers and they also know what they need and where they want to be 3-5 years down the road. The last staff didn't know where they wanted to be next week and the one before that knew they wanted to be somewhere else so let's just see how all this unfolds.

 

[LA Vol]

One was from today

Ah, I hadn't checked. I'm sure he'll have lots of options and be fielding lots of calls, if he'd rather stay in the SEC.

 

[ksgovols]

I think everyone should just step back and look at where we are. I hate to lose good prospects ( prospects are what we are talking about,no "sure thing" on any of them five star or walk on) as much as the next but you have to believe the staff has a better grip on what they want than anyone here. They know the numbers and they also know what they need and where they want to be 3-5 years down the road. The last staff didn't know where they wanted to be next week and the one before that knew they wanted to be somewhere else so let's just see how all this unfolds.

Agreed. Needs outrank *stars*. I see this as nothing but a good thing for both parties. Big numbers at same position are going to make someone unhappy. Leave then, sit out a year and then start over or change directions now? Ok, it's 2 weeks before signing day. Both parties always need a Plan B.

 

[Weezer]

I honestly thought 4 DE's was a must in this class after Hendrix and Henderson didn't work out in last year's class.

The returning roster at DE is very weak by SEC standards, depth-wise especially.

After Barnett (and Maggitt when his hand is down), that position looks really subpar IMO. When guys like Vereen and Lewis are in your two deep and even starting in your base 4-3 that is trouble.

JMO, but I think we're fine on the DL with what we have. Of all the positions we could cut for numbers, I've felt DE was the most obvious, but I absolutely hate the way it went down.

Again, jmo, but I've felt a quality 3rd RB and a LT to groom for the future are the most needed positions at this time.

As for the Prince Tega speculation, no insider, but I don't see it happenning. If he wanted to come, with his size and athleticism, I think you find room. He appears the type of player that imo could grow into other positions if needed, and players like that are hard to say no to, but I think he stays closer to home. Just a guess.

 

[jkleno]

You ok?

Hugs?

Thanks bro!

 

[BigOrangeVols]

"We were just kidding Marques, come back" - UT after a decommit due to Jake leaving

 

[Weezer]

Kyle Phillips is a Superstar and is how this started. It came down to having to part with either Taylor or Ford because staff decided DE was the position they could afford to let a guy go at with Phillips/Butcher enrolled and Mixon moving to DE. If you notice Taylor recently came public that he informed Va Tech coaches that he is 100 percent signing with TN and his recruitment was shut down. both Ford and Taylor are great prospects but Taylor projects higher on the staffs board. He shut down recruitment to keep his spot and Ford became expendable.

I hate it for the kid but the more I think about it he isn't a kid that won't have a chance anywhere. He will go to a really nice school and play big time football. When your recruiting at an elite level these things happen. We just got used to Dooley where you were lucky to have a 4 star

My take on Taylor, he currently projects as a DE/OLB, but he has that freak athleticism that gives him versatility to move to other positions if necessary. Not saying he will be moved, it's just nice to have guys like that on your roster as insurance in case something happens at another position.

 

[grobin4300]

I hope they didn't drop Ford for ANOTHER skill position player but it looks like they did for John Kelly..................., as I would take OL / DL ALL Day in the SEC vs skill position players...........