'15 TN LB Josh Smith

#101
#101
Ron Swanson said:
Buck Fitzgerald just said on VQ that he doesn't think Josh follows his brother to Vandy. He said there is strong mutual interest with Josh and UT. And with Bama and Auburn recently offering, and many other offers still rolling in he doesn't think he goes to Vandy. He said his parents have instructed him to make his own decision independent of his brother.

I think this kid ends up in Knoxville after reading that. I always though if it wasn't Vandy it would be UT and now I really like our chances.
Click to expand...

Man, that's a great update. I've been saying I thought it was 50/50 for us and Vandy due to E. Smith. However, if Buck is saying that, I think it's 80/20 UT. Josh LOVES Tennessee and Butch Jones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#102
#102
Just have to wonder about Dews. If we couldn't find room for him in 2014 after landing Dillon, Jakob, and Gavin, how are we going to find room for him in 2015 if we can get Cherry, DeBerry, and Smith on board? Greyshirt just isn't a great solution cause if you get recruited over one year, you'll probably get recruited over the next year too.
 
#103
#103
sammyjoey said:
Just have to wonder about Dews. If we couldn't find room for him in 2014 after landing Dillon, Jakob, and Gavin, how are we going to find room for him in 2015 if we can get Cherry, DeBerry, and Smith on board? Greyshirt just isn't a great solution cause if you get recruited over one year, you'll probably get recruited over the next year too.
Click to expand...


I believe they want Dews as a pass rushing DE. He's already 6'4" and just turned 17. They think he might grow another inch or two.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#104
#104
sammyjoey said:
Just have to wonder about Dews. If we couldn't find room for him in 2014 after landing Dillon, Jakob, and Gavin, how are we going to find room for him in 2015 if we can get Cherry, DeBerry, and Smith on board? Greyshirt just isn't a great solution cause if you get recruited over one year, you'll probably get recruited over the next year too.
Click to expand...

Not concerned about Dews at all, he will find his way on the field. Can't wait to see him in two years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#106
#106
Or gray shirt then blue shirt. Or gray shirt then blue shirt, then red shirt?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#107
#107
I was all for Dews taking a GS. Thought it was best for him and UT....took heat over it from many of my VolNation brothers. However, Dews has done exactly what we asked him to do, and passed up other opportunities to do it. His scholarship in 2015 is, IMO, untouchable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 14 people
#108
#108
VirginiaCoach said:
I was all for Dews taking a GS. Thought it was best for him and UT....took heat over it from many of my VolNation brothers. However, Dews has done exactly what we asked him to do, and passed up other opportunities to do it. His scholarship in 2015 is, IMO, untouchable.
Click to expand...

Agree.
 
#109
#109
What about a gray shirt/walk-on/blue shirt/red shirt combonation? Serious question. That would give us 25 year old men all over they feild. Bet Butch could sell it.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#110
#110
VirginiaCoach said:
I was all for Dews taking a GS. Thought it was best for him and UT....took heat over it from many of my VolNation brothers. However, Dews has done exactly what we asked him to do, and passed up other opportunities to do it. His scholarship in 2015 is, IMO, untouchable.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. We all want players that bleed Orange. The coaches obviously like Dews' potential, and the kid looks like he is willing to do whatever it takes to be a Vol.
 
#111
#111
Ron Swanson said:
Buck Fitzgerald just said on VQ that he doesn't think Josh follows his brother to Vandy. He said there is strong mutual interest with Josh and UT. And with Bama and Auburn recently offering, and many other offers still rolling in he doesn't think he goes to Vandy. He said his parents have instructed him to make his own decision independent of his brother.

I think this kid ends up in Knoxville after reading that. I always though if it wasn't Vandy it would be UT and now I really like our chances.
Click to expand...

This is a great update for Smith. But, folks are going to have to realize that we will not sign some of these guys because of numbers and who we are already in on. This board has a tendency to be overly dramatic when guys pick other schools, especially in-state. Rico McGraw is an example. Would love to have him, but he is not necessary with the way we are recruiting. He would have been a must under Dooley but not with this staff. 2015 should be very selective, and with 11-12 in-state players in the ESPN 300, we will not get them all because we are doing some work in North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia.
 
#113
#113
VolGee4 said:
This is a great update for Smith. But, folks are going to have to realize that we will not sign some of these guys because of numbers and who we are already in on. This board has a tendency to be overly dramatic when guys pick other schools, especially in-state. Rico McGraw is an example. Would love to have him, but he is not necessary with the way we are recruiting. He would have been a must under Dooley but not with this staff. 2015 should be very selective, and with 11-12 in-state players in the ESPN 300, we will not get them all because we are doing some work in North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia.
Click to expand...

I don't really care about McGraw, but Smith is someone that we definitely could and should take. A LB class of Cherry, Deberry, and Smith is quite possibly the best in the nation. Throw in the ATH Lewis whom might be a LB as well and things approach obscene levels of nasty.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#114
#114
VolGee4 said:
This is a great update for Smith. But, folks are going to have to realize that we will not sign some of these guys because of numbers and who we are already in on. This board has a tendency to be overly dramatic when guys pick other schools, especially in-state. Rico McGraw is an example. Would love to have him, but he is not necessary with the way we are recruiting. He would have been a must under Dooley but not with this staff. 2015 should be very selective, and with 11-12 in-state players in the ESPN 300, we will not get them all because we are doing some work in North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree.

I suspect you are basing your opinion on us signing a small class in 2015. I fully expect to sign 25 next year due to attrition.

IF there are 11-12 TN hs players in the top 300, I would recruit every one of them unless there was a glaring reason not to (grades, position with zero need like kicker, or charicter issues). 15 slots or so for out of state talent should be plenty.

I believe the coaching staff has stated the importance of locking down the home state in recruiting and I agree completely. If you're a top talent kid in TN, you should know UT has a place for you and wants you in the family.
 
#115
#115
Rico McGraw is a top target for UT per VQ. Butch Jones is not going to let top talent leave the state without a serious fight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6 people
#116
#116
walkenvol said:
I respectfully disagree.

I suspect you are basing your opinion on us signing a small class in 2015. I fully expect to sign 25 next year due to attrition.

IF there are 11-12 TN hs players in the top 300, I would recruit every one of them unless there was a glaring reason not to (grades, position with zero need like kicker, or charicter issues). 15 slots or so for out of state talent should be plenty.

I believe the coaching staff has stated the importance of locking down the home state in recruiting and I agree completely. If you're a top talent kid in TN, you should know UT has a place for you and wants you in the family.
Click to expand...

You misunderstood. I didn't say "not to recruit them." That is silly. We just won't get them all, and people shouldn't freak out like they usually do. The way this staff is recruiting, they will get good players.

I don't know what the numbers will be. Some think lower, some think we will take 25. Based on that, we will probably take something in the middle (20-23). That is 10 players less than this year. Our staff will have to be selective, but if 3 elite LB's want to jump before Smith, what do you do? It's not really a problem anymore. I can probably list 10-12 LB's and DE's that are great players and seem to be high on us. We aren't taking them all.
 
Last edited:
#121
#121
247 Sports
“Just to see them put in the recruiting class they had and have the season they had last year, I think they’re going to make a big impact this year in the SEC,” “It was crazy. They pulled all the in-state guys, so I want to see what they do next year. They all have the talent to do things, so I’m really excited to see what Tennessee does next year.”

He said he already has developed a good relationship with Tennessee linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen. “I love him,” Smith said. “He’s a great coach, very enthusiastic about the game. He’s just a very upbeat person. He’s easy to connect with. He’s a players’ coach. Most players like him."


Smith said his brother and teammate Jack Jones — a three-star junior offensive lineman who has been committed to Tennessee since May — also are doing their best to convince him to join them in playing for the Commodores and Vols, and they “might be the two hardest recruiters for Tennessee and Vanderbilt.” “(My brother is) a factor, but I wouldn’t say I’m going to base my whole decision off my brother playing for the SEC and Vanderbilt. This is my own recruiting process,” Josh Smith said. “He tells me all the time, ‘Enjoy your recruiting process. You only get one time. Make the decision that’s best for you. Just because I’m here doesn’t mean you have to come here, so pick a school that’s best for you, and I’m going to happy wherever you go.’”
Click to expand...
 
#122
#122
Full Motion/Playmakers Academy 7-on-7 Tryouts Top Performers

3. JOSH SMITH, LB, MURFREESBORO (TENN.) OAKLAND (2015)
Smith continues to look like one of the state's top defensive players in terms of his physical attributes, as his long, lean frame looks like it can still add plenty of bulk. Smith has very good feet but needs to continue to work on his speed as he looks a step behind where he was over the summer. Alabama and Auburn recently offered, and Smith will likely end up with 20-plus offers before it's all said and done.
Click to expand...

-Woody Wommack
 
#124
#124
In this setting, Smith could showcase his athleticism, and he did just that. He can really turn and run and he moves well in space. His length leads some to think rush end down the line and that is possible, but I still see him as an outside backer right now.*Alabama*and*Auburn*are the last two schools to offer.

Scout.com: IFM Playmaker's 7on: Top Five
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top