'17 VA DE Ryan Thaxton (UT signee)

[Bassmaster_Vol]

I hope he turns out to be a solid contributor, you could see he had good size and length but man he didn't look at all athletic on his HS tape.

He looks very slow. Hopefully his new training will help him with that

 

[Montrell Hardy]

He looks very slow. Hopefully his new training will help him with that

Agreed. Looked very stiff as well. I guess time will tell.

 

[Nashvegas31]

Agreed. Looked very stiff as well. I guess time will tell.

Wasn't anything special on his highlights. Mason wanting him gives me some hope that Shoop and Mason know more than I do which they do. Also always good to see the work ethic. Good sign of an overachiever

 

[pharmDvol11]

The great thing here is stars don't matter once you put on the Orange and White!

 

[LouderVol]

The great thing here is stars don't matter once you put on the Orange and White!

if we can get Vereen levels of production from him I would be excited

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

if we can get Vereen levels of production from him I would be excited

Would take that in a heart beat

 

[LouderVol]

Would take that in a heart beat

he was one of my favorites. did his job, showed up, worked hard, stayed out of trouble and put up good numbers.

7.0 sacks, 11.5 tfl, senior year
3.5 sacks, 9.5 tfl, junior year
1.5 sakcs, 4.0 tfl, sophmore
1 sack, 1 tfl freshman year

13 sacks, 26 tfl.

 

[Rishvol]

he was one of my favorites. did his job, showed up, worked hard, stayed out of trouble and put up good numbers.

7.0 sacks, 11.5 tfl, senior year
3.5 sacks, 9.5 tfl, junior year
1.5 sakcs, 4.0 tfl, sophmore
1 sack, 1 tfl freshman year

13 sacks, 26 tfl.

He was a beast his senior year he was just unlucky to be in the same draft class as so many other good DEs. I think he'll make a team

 

[scvolfan7]

He was a beast his senior year he was just unlucky to be in the same draft class as so many other good DEs. I think he'll make a team

He's with the pats. A team looking for more pass rushers so it could definitely happen

 

[pharmDvol11]

He was a beast his senior year he was just unlucky to be in the same draft class as so many other good DEs. I think he'll make a team

I am hoping there's a spot for him. He has the work ethic and ability to be successful. I think he's better than the A&M guy that was opposite Garrett and that guy went in, what, the 4th round?

 

[sanddune50]

if we can get Vereen levels of production from him I would be excited

Vereen started out being recruited as a LBer and grew out of the position. I'm sure this kid has a lot of heart, but I don't see a huge impact being made during his time here. Let's hope Butch can recruit better players moving forward.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

Not gonna lie I wasn't high on this kid when we landed him just from watching his highlights, but after watching his recent interview, hearing he's nearly 6'6 now, and finding out that he didn't really start to focus on football until his junior year and wasn't really focusing on DL until his Sr year, I think I understand what the coaches saw in him upside wise.

When you consider how relatively inexperienced he still is at DE, his frame, and his athleticism (not exactly freakish, but a good athlete), it's pretty clear his potential hasn't been fully tapped into yet. He'll need some time, but I'd say his ceiling is up there with a lot of 4* guys who just happened to be more experienced and closer to their own ceilings as high school seniors than Thaxton was.

 

[James K Folks]

Not gonna lie I wasn't high on this kid when we landed him just from watching his highlights, but after watching his recent interview, hearing he's nearly 6'6 now, and finding out that he didn't really start to focus on football until his junior year and wasn't really focusing on DL until his Sr year, I think I understand what the coaches saw in him upside wise.

When you consider how relatively inexperienced he still is at DE, his frame, and his athleticism (not exactly freakish, but a good athlete), it's pretty clear his potential hasn't been fully tapped into yet. He'll need some time, but I'd say his ceiling is up there with a lot of 4* guys who just happened to be more experienced and closer to their own ceilings as high school seniors than Thaxton was.

At worst, he ends up being the hardest worker on the team on and off the field.

 

[Ron Swanson]

https://tennessee.rivals.com/news/thaxton-arriving-confident-with-plenty-to-prove

Alexandria, Virginia defensive end Ryan Thaxton is one of the bigger unknowns in the Vols' 2017 signing class. Thaxton was a late January visitor, who was added to the class in the final days of the 2017 recruiting cycle.

Thaxton is fully-aware he's an under-the-radar prospect and is perfectly fine with that approach. “I'm coming out there with a chip on my shoulders trying to prove myself to everybody,” Thaxton said. “I'm the young guy, and I was a 3-star guy. I wasn't a big time All-American guy like, so people think that maybe I can't play on that level. I just want to come out there and show them that I can.

“I'm a little quiet. I like to observe and watch. I think it fits me well. When I pop up on you and show you what's up, people are like I didn't know you had that. I like to surprise people.”

“Eating and working out. I'm on that see-food diet, I eat everything I see. I'm eating good,” Thaxton said. “My grandmother is from the South, and when I come home from working out there's cornbread and a stove full of food for me.” The results of the “see food” diet is a 20-pound weight gain, as Thaxton now tips the scales at 245 pounds after weight 220-225 on his official visit.

Thaxton's return to Knoxville for the Orange & White Game meant the first time meeting new defensive line coach Brady Hoke — a meeting that Thaxton admits brought him a lot of relief.

“I found that he was a real personable guy and someone that I could talk to,” Thaxton said. “He's someone that can develop me as a person. I feel like that was more important than anything when I met him than the football part. Football is going to come because I'm going to work my butt off and I know he's going to push me. I was relieved when I met him because he is a good dude.

“I'm excited to learn from him. He has a crazy good resume. I'm excited to get there and learn things from him for my game.”

“Personally, in my heart, I feel like I'm the best dude. I have to go there put in the work and prove that to everybody. We have a lot of talent on the d-line and a lot of talent in the program. I just want to prove to everyone that I can play,” Thaxton said.

 

[chavisut]

See food diet

Love it.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Also from article...

Getting to know Thaxton:

Pregame routine/superstition

“It's kind of gross, but I always take a pregame bathroom trip. Put pads on and go take a dump. It relaxes you. I'm not the most religious person, but I listen to Kurt Franklin's song 'Something about Jesus'. It gets me hyped for some reason.”

LOL

 

[Outofmyvolcanmind]

Also from article...



LOL

Pre game Poop and Jesus. Great way to start any day.

 

[ACvol3]

Also from article...



LOL

Lol.. And that song gets him hyped?? Whatever works I guess.

 

[Tennessee Golfer]

Always loved a good pre-round dump. Gets you into a good frame of mind.

 

[butchna]

Always loved a good pre-round dump. Gets you into a good frame of mind.

Did you do it "with pads on" also?

 

[Glitch]

Did you do it "with pads on" also?

Safety first IMO.

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

😂, we have some really interesting kids in this class

 

[rekinhavoc]

Maybe FL Rb Adam Lane Jr should take note of this pregame ritual.

 

[Catbone]

Sounds to me like Ryan is full of 💩 imo

 

[m1al]

Takin a poop and gettin' right with Jesus...

Read that in toot-toot's voice from The Green Mile... Haaa..