'15 VA OT Austin Clark

#278
#278
Montrell Hardy said:
Very misleading. He actually didn't land John Brown, Corey Miller, Juwuan James or Jacquez Smith. All four were already enrolled (in Brown's case signed) and legally bound to Tennessee when Kiffin left. So those weren't guys he "signed". Hell Miller, James and even Smith were telling people after Dooley was hired they were going elsewhere (Miller to USCe, James to UGA and Smith to LSU) until Mike Hamilton made a public statement saying they would not release them. And despite Cam Clear being an OL by Rivals he was recruited by everyone as a TE where he plays in college. So in reality he signed 7 4* OL/DL in 3 years. Not nearly good enough for this league.
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How much did kiffy coach them? As much as I hate Dools, I would have to give him credit for those 4. A lot of kids TALK about not keeping their commitment when a coaching change happens. A lot of them stick with the school they committed to. I did not count Clear as I knew he was a TE.
 
#279
#279
LebanonVolunteer said:
How much did kiffy coach them? As much as I hate Dools, I would have to give him credit for those 4. A lot of kids TALK about not keeping their commitment when a coaching change happens. A lot of them stick with the school they committed to. I did not count Clear as I knew he was a TE.
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They were already signed by kiff though, I believe you said that Dooley signed them and that is really not the case.
 
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#280
#280
JDisThereThere said:
They were already signed by kiff though, I believe you said that Dooley signed them and that is really not the case.
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My point was kiffy did not coach them at all. That was all Dools and staff. Our "lack" of quality OL/DL as some are pointing out did include these 4 kids who were never coached by the guy who "signed" them.
 
#281
#281
LebanonVolunteer said:
My point was kiffy did not coach them at all. That was all Dools and staff. Our "lack" of quality OL/DL as some are pointing out did include these 4 kids who were never coached by the guy who "signed" them.
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Oh I agree that those dudes were never developed properly. I think that last year was the first time they were taught how to legitimately run block.
 
#282
#282
Didn't J. James say after last season that under Dooley he didn't lift weights most of the time? Lifting was apparently optional.
 
#284
#284
LebanonVolunteer said:
My point was kiffy did not coach them at all. That was all Dools and staff. Our "lack" of quality OL/DL as some are pointing out did include these 4 kids who were never coached by the guy who "signed" them.
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Those guys are all gone, though. A majority of Dooley's 4* linemen were in year one. We have a lack of quality right now because Dooley didn't recruit DL very well and he didn't take an OL in a year. Last year, we didn't lack OL or DL. This year, we are grooming all new lines, and it is because of Dooley. Not sure how anyone can say otherwise.
 
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#285
#285
PassedOutAwake said:
Yeah. Players just went in, signed their name and left
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It may have been optional. You would think the kids who were hoping to get better, win games at UT, and wanted to get to the NFL would know that lifting is part of that. I'd guess a lot of kids did not see it as optional and just knew that it was needed if the coaches demanded it or not.
 
#286
#286
PassedOutAwake said:
Yeah. Players just went in, signed their name and left
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Yeah. I remember when I told my Dad about this and I was saying the S&C coach should have been fired. He was like "What does that tell you about the type of players they were?" I'm not the first to say that the OL that last few years didn't quite have that mean streak you need to dominate people.
 
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#287
#287
LebanonVolunteer said:
It may have been optional. You would think the kids who were hoping to get better, win games at UT, and wanted to get to the NFL would know that lifting is part of that. I'd guess a lot of kids did not see it as optional and just knew that it was needed if the coaches demanded it or not.
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Class is also important, but I know many didn't attend.
 
#288
#288
Ron Swanson said:
Didn't J. James say after last season that under Dooley he didn't lift weights most of the time? Lifting was apparently optional.
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You can tell.

J James looked exactly the same at his pro day as he did when he arrived in Knoxville. He's still a good lineman, he just doesn't look like he invested in his body.
 
#289
#289
LebanonVolunteer said:
How much did kiffy coach them? As much as I hate Dools, I would have to give him credit for those 4. A lot of kids TALK about not keeping their commitment when a coaching change happens. A lot of them stick with the school they committed to. I did not count Clear as I knew he was a TE.
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Your whole argument / point earlier was that he signed 12 4*'s OL/DL at Tennessee, which he didn't. Those 4 were signed before he became head coach. Coaching them and signing them are two totally different things.
 
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#290
#290
From ESPN article about the Charlotte NFTC camp.

Traveling down from Virginia, Austin Clark looked to make the most of his trip. The tackle prospect possesses solid size with room for further physical development. Though he needs to watch pad level, he displayed good initial quickness in his set, good balance, and the ability to get hands on and stay in front of rushers. The uncommitted offensive lineman finished the event strong with reps against one of the top D-line prospects in attendance. Clark, who claims 16 offers, recently visited South Carolina unofficially and said the Gamecocks will definitely make his top six or seven when he narrows down his list in the next month or so. Next up for the OT is checking out Ohio State next week.
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#292
#292
Rivals interview with Farrell....

He just visited tOSU and USCe. He's been to tOSU 3x now. Farrell thinks they may be his leader. Wants to visit Miami and Penn St. Farrell asked him about UVA and VT and he said they were high on his list. Clark said he will come out with a top 6 or 7 in a week. Farrell said give me 2 schools who are going to make the cut. Clark said "definitely UT and definitely tOSU."

Clark said he really liked what Butch had to say. He's built a great relationship with Butch and Mahoney. Has a great time every time he visits.

IMO, with things looking sour with Edoga, we shouldn't slow play Clark. Great OL prospect.
 
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#294
#294
CobbVol said:
Agree. Focus on Richmond, Harrell, and Clark and call it a day.
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This. Lock the state down, get two other kids with offers from everywhere and both love UT. At one point I thought Clark was a backup option, but I changed my mind :)
 
#296
#296
" Ohio State hosted Rivals100 offensive lineman Austin Clark last weekend and he was at South Carolina the weekend before that. The Lexington (Va.) Rockbridge star has said Tennessee, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Penn State and Ohio State will make his top six or seven when he announces it in a week or so. Virginia and Virginia Tech remain contenders for Clark. Hokie assistant coach Bryan Stinespring coached Clark's father in high school."

-Rivals
 
#297
#297
If this kid wants on board, I'd take him in a second. I think ideally we round out our OL class with him as Richmond. That would give us two legit OGs and 2 legit OTs in this class with an outside shot of Dylan Jackson developing into an OT as well.

IMO OT is where our true need is on the OL. Our interior is set for the foreseeable future, especially if one of Robertson/Mosley play offense.

For 2015 on the inside we should have Kerbyson, Jackson, Crowder, Wiesman, Sanders, Raulerson, Jones, Stewart (maybe one of Robertson/Mosley).

At OT all we can count on at the moment for 2015 is Thomas, Blair, And Kendrick. Possibly Dylan Jackson and maybe Jason Carr moves there as well (I think he may be a better fit there personally).

Unless the staff sees Stewart AND Jackson as OTs, I really think we need to land Austin as well as Richmond.
 
#298
#298
"Among those schools, I'd say Tennessee, Ohio State and a couple of other ones are recruiting me really hard," Clark said. "In about a week or two, I'm gonna narrow down my list to about six or seven schools that I'm really gonna focus on. "Tennessee definitely, Ohio State will definitely make the cut. Other than that, I'm still comparing different ones and in about a week or two, I'll know for sure."

"I really like Virginia Tech and I met Coach Searels," Clark said. "He's a great coach. He really knows his stuff. I'm actually hoping to get back there sometime in the next couple of weeks for a visit. I'll get to sit down and talk to him a little bit more. "They're definitely on my list. I really like them."

But Virginia Tech might have to overcome a fierce battle with Ohio State and Tennessee. Along with the Hokies, Clark said those two will definitely make his first round of cutdowns.

"Ohio State, I just had a great time there with Coach Warner and Coach Meyer," Clark said. "That was definitely one I really liked. "I really like what Coach Jones is doing (at Tennessee), with the recruits they're getting and everything they're building upon. I really like the vibe I get from them."
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-VT Rivals

Clark hopes to make a commitment by the end of summer.
 
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#299
#299
On his trip to OSU...

"It was great, I had an awesome time," said Clark. "It was the third time that I had been up there. I had been up there for camp last summer and once for a game last season, but this was the first time actually getting to see the facilities and everything."

"I mean it was amazing," he said. "Just seeing all of the tradition and seeing what coach (Urban) Meyer has going on up there, it was awesome."

"They're definitely (moving up)," he said. "That's the whole reason I took the visit and that I've been taking all of these visits is I want to see who all has what to offer and Ohio State will definitely make the list. Ohio State and Tennessee are the two I know will make my cut."

"Coach Warinner is the main guy I talk to from Ohio State and I talk to him pretty much all the time either on Twitter or I give him a phone call," Clark said. "He's telling me that they really need offensive tackles and that he thinks that I would be great there for them."
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-OSU Rivals

UT/OSU battle. Wonder if our staff is going to push for him?
 
#300
#300
I think it depends on if we take 4 or 5 OL. Richmond and Harrell seem to be close to locks IMO.
 
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