'16 SC RB Tavien Feaster

[DaddyChad]

We know Ron. We have the best roster in cfb history to ever go 5-7. Who needs a former 5 star offensive playmaker?

That offensive playmaker isn’t doing much behind this Oline.

 

[Sleegro]

not what he said....lol. Bass's your hyperbole meter is approaching 11 again..........

I think the knob has been stuck on 11 for a long time.

 

[LA Vol]

I don't see how transferring to UT would work in Feaster's favor. He could stay at Clemson where he's the #2 back, running behind a stronger OL on a championship-caliber team. Seems like he's just testing the waters and would only leave for the ideal setup.

 

[jakez4ut]

I don't see how transferring to UT would work in Feaster's favor. He could stay at Clemson where he's the #2 back, running behind a stronger OL on a championship-caliber team. Seems like he's just testing the waters and would only leave for the ideal setup.

i agree, but based on Dabo's comments about it, it sure seems like he's gone.

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

I never said we didn't need him. Never said I wouldn't want him. Just said our OL is the reason our current RB's don't look so great and maybe CU's OL had something to do with Feaster being pretty good. And I also said that RB transfer isn't a top priority with our staff if I had to guess. Do you disagree with those things?

Just busting your chops. No, I agree with those things. I think a back like Feaster can make your OL look better also tho. But I doubt he’s a priority like you said. Wish we could get another former 5 star DL or OL tho

 

[jakez4ut]

Just busting your chops. No, I agree with those things. I think a back like Feaster can make your OL look better also tho. But I doubt he’s a priority like you said. Wish we could get another former 5 star DL or OL tho

now we're talkin'!

 

[SCvol333]

A great back can make an Oline just as much as it works the other way imo

 

[Johncarter53]

Well, one is a true sophomore and the other hasn't taken a snap. So I agree with you. But they proved plenty in HS. Maybe we should give them a little time to prove themselves in college? And thank you for proving my point from my post above.

If they haven’t proven anything then you can’t say they would dominate at Clemson. What’s not to like about a former 5star tailback who’s actually proved he can play at a high level. Their Oline didn’t have anything to do with those broken tackles and break away speed.

 

[VOLUNTEERSZN]

Pretty sure you do sacrifice one of the 25 initial qualifier spots if you take Feaster.

And if another player on scholarship transfers out we’d get it back because another would open back up.

 

[Go Fight Win]

think we are at the point where we tell our guys they are going to be our guys going forward and we stop bringing in 1 year bandaids

 

[ChattaTNVol]

Given the nature of this discussion maybe this article is an indication of where we're at right now with RBs and how we're trying to improve that position group.

After playing sparingly as a freshman in 2017, Jordan rushed a team-leading 132 times and totaled 522 yards and three touchdowns while adding 116 yards on 12 receptions while splitting lead-back duties with Ty Chandler for Tennessee last season.

However, the Vols felt Jordan left too many yards on the field, either by freelancing too much and missing open running lanes or making defenders miss in one-on-one situations far too less, and new running backs coach David Johnson, who coached Tennessee's wide receivers last season, went the tough-love route in showing Jordan examples of those missed opportunities earlier this offseason.

And Johnson saw Jordan respond in kind during spring practice.

“It’s one of the first things I did with him, made him a cut-up, showed him the yards that he left on the field,” Johnson said earlier this month. “Now he’s being a little more physical, he’s making some long runs. He’s owning up to that, and that’s the one thing about these guys, Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt has already put a plan together and put some structure in.

“Our job is to make them accountable, and I think Tim Jordan did a great job. He is tough. He’s a tough player, and he’s not just doing that as a running back, but he’s accepting that role on the special teams.”

Jordan, the 5-foot-11, 206-pound Florida product who was the lowest-rated signee in Tennessee's 2017 recruiting class, looked poised for a big season when he rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown in last season's opener against West Virginia, a performance that had him drawing comparisons to hard-running predecessor John Kelly.

After rushing 15 times for 65 yards in Chandler's absence the following week against East Tennessee State, Jordan rushed for more than 60 yards just twice in the final 10 games of the season and totaled 339 yards in that span after racking up 183 yards in the first two games of the season.

He got six carries or less in four games and finished with a per-carry average of 3.95 yards.

Tennessee's struggles on the offensive line certainly made it tough for Jordan to find running room most Saturdays, but he didn't help himself by too often trying to bounce runs outside when there were lanes to exploit between the tackles, and Pruitt often pointed out those errors on his coach's show on Sundays last fall.

That's where the cut-up of those mistakes originated, and while it was tough for Jordan to review them, Johnson said honesty ultimately is the best policy to use with players and is the one he's going to use when it's necessary.

“They know I’m going to tell them the truth.”

The truth, Tennessee hopes, will spur Jordan on to producing more this season.

Tim Jordan gets tough love from Vols with film of 2018 mistakes

 

[Sleegro]

And if another player on scholarship transfers out we’d get it back because another would open back up.

Not how it works. If we take Feaster, we have one less spot in next years class we can take.

 

[Joe Dirt]

I don't dislike our RB group, but we don't have anyone on our roster who can do what Feaster can. Chandler is not a between-the-tackles RB. He just isn't. His skillset is much more like Kamara's who also isn't built as a downhill runner and he weighs 15 pounds more than Chandler. TC needs to be in space for 10-12 touches per game. Tim Jordan is a bruiser but looks like he's running the Chariots of Fire montage in real time. 275 pound tackles were beating him to the edge on stretch runs FFS. Whenever the line actually gave him a lane, the LB's crashed the hole before he could even reach it. I like Banks a lot, but again, if he can't hang on to the ball Pruitt aint playing him.

Bottom line, Feaster is 222lbs and can run downhill with breakaway speed. Not saying we're remotely doomed without him, but anyone saying he'd be a wasted spot, or we don't need him is flat out wrong.

 

[SweetasSoda]

And if another player on scholarship transfers out we’d get it back because another would open back up.

I thought that you only get 25 scholarships a year so you don't get it back. You only get a spot opened up on the number you can have on scholarship on the team.

 

[VOLUNTEERSZN]

Not how it works. If we take Feaster, we have one less spot in next years class we can take.

But if someone else transfers then an extra scholarship opens up which we could use on a transfer.. I don’t see how that’s hard to understand, scholarships dont just disappear

 

[jtipto10]

think we are at the point where we tell our guys they are going to be our guys going forward and we stop bringing in 1 year bandaids

welcome back, GFW

 

[SweetasSoda]

But if someone else transfers then an extra scholarship opens up which we could use on a transfer.. I don’t see how that’s hard to understand, scholarships dont just disappear

No, you don't get an extra scholarship.

 

[LA Vol]

i agree, but based on Dabo's comments about it, it sure seems like he's gone.

It does skew that way and he may have burned a bridge. But unless he can find a setup where he's the #1 feature back in an offense that allows him to put up big yards, it might not be better than what he has at Clemson. Not sure how many schools can offer that and are willing to use a spot on a one-year RB.

 

[jakez4ut]

It does skew that way and he may have burned a bridge. But unless he can find a setup where he's the #1 feature back in an offense that allows him to put up big yards, it might not be better than what he has at Clemson. Not sure how many schools can offer that and are willing to use a spot on a one-year RB.

not many.

which makes me wonder about some of the decisions some of these kids are making. especially as undergrads.....with the roster limitations and automatic qualifier limitations, you'd think that would work against most of these kids transfer options, unlesss they're willing to go to a lower tier P5 or G5 program....

and programs aren't going to continue to mortgage their future rosters for 1 year "maybes".

 

[DaddyChad]

The Vols' 2018 Offensive Line was Shockingly Bad | Rocky Top Insider

I think some are underestimating just how terrible our Oline was at run blocking last year. Statistically one of the worst Olines in the past ten years in college football.

 

[ChattaTNVol]

not many.

which makes me wonder about some of the decisions some of these kids are making. especially as undergrads.....with the roster limitations and automatic qualifier limitations, you'd think that would work against most of these kids transfer options, unlesss they're willing to go to a lower tier P5 or G5 program....

and programs aren't going to continue to mortgage their future rosters for 1 year "maybes".

He could end up at some place like Kentucky. They seem to be successful at discovering and featuring running backs. I mean they've got to replace Snell somehow, right?

 

[jakez4ut]

But if someone else transfers then an extra scholarship opens up which we could use on a transfer.. I don’t see how that’s hard to understand, scholarships dont just disappear

no, that initial qualifier spot is used, period. so unless you only had 24 IQ's in that class, or you had room in the previous year's class that you didn't use an IQ spot, the only thing you could do is count it in the NEXT year's class.

which is what would happen in most cases....the only thing you get back if a guy transfers out, is 1 of the 85 permittable spots on the roster.

 

[DaddyChad]

And if another player on scholarship transfers out we’d get it back because another would open back up.

You don’t get initial qualifier spots back unless something has drastically changed in the last few years. Roster spot would open back up but you lose an opportunity to take a four year player when you give up an initial qualifier spot.

It’s not like the ones that aren’t wanting Feaster are saying that bc they think he’s a bad player. It’s that we don’t want to trade a space for a four year player.

 

[DaddyChad]

no, that initial qualifier spot is used, period. so unless you only had 24 IQ's in that class, or you had room in the previous year's class that you didn't use an IQ spot, the only thing you could do is count it in the NEXT year's class.

which is what would happen in most cases....the only thing you get back if a guy transfers out, is 1 of the 85 permittable spots on the roster.

Or what he said is probably better worded than my post.

 

[jakez4ut]

He could end up at some place like Kentucky. They seem to be successful at discovering and featuring running backs. I mean they've got to replace Snell somehow, right?

possibly. but a lot depends on how an individual roster and signing class has been managed, as to whether or not you want a 1 year stop gap, that's going to likely count in a future class.

but yeah, UK fits the bill of a lower tier p5 school.