We could see more of William Wright

[Freak]

From Hubbs on SportsTalk. Good to see a guy like this getting more opportunities.

Well, I mean, you know, he's a good story. He's done a good job. You go back to 2022 and he's been a factor. I mean, listen, nobody's celebrating the Boo Carter news, but that's news. Boo Carter is the reality is Boo Carter was one of the 11 most talented defensive players on this roster. And that's a guy. He's a guy that Tennessee this time last year, heading into December and roster retention time, put a lot of stock in and a lot of belief in that he would really elevate his game from year one to year two. I mean, when you think about where they were December 1st last year, you're sitting there looking at Ricky Gibson, Jermod McCoy and Boo Carter, and you were going to basically build a lot of your defense around that, particularly in the back seven and obviously the secondary specifically, and you haven't really played with any of the three this year. Because Boo Carter has just been a non-factor and McCoy has not played, Ricky Gibson has not played, so it's a story. But there are plenty of great stories on this team and all those good stories should be celebrated. I love William Wright. I love everything he does. When given an opportunity, he gives you everything you have and he's made plays. Has he given up plays? I'm some, but everybody does. I mean, he wants to be here, and those are the guys that you want to have, and that you need to be a part of. Now, all of a sudden, with Boo Carter's departure, William Wright's role could potentially grow, whether it's as a nickelback or whether he plays cornered, you've slid Colton Hood inside, depending on what that would look like behind Jalen McMurray. So he's a big part, and he's obviously one of the most liked and beloved guys on this team by his teammates.

Here's a good article on him talking about his interception against New Mexico State.

William Wright ‘taking advantage of every opportunity’ for Tennessee football

The college football landscape has evolved over the last six years.

www.utdailybeacon.com

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

We need to target more on character than ever. A bunch of 3 stars who want to play for Tennessee and play as a team would do every bit as good or better than a bunch of mercenaries pointing fingers at each other in the locker room. Maybe we can find some higher rated guys to sprinkle in too but that character and desire to be in Knoxville should be #1. I think that's probably what Heupel is trying to do now. The landscape these last few years has been unprecedented and difficult to navigate but I think that approach is emerging as the best one.

 

[VolForLife83]

We need to target more on character than ever. A bunch of 3 stars who want to play for Tennessee and play as a team would do every bit as good or better than a bunch of mercenaries pointing fingers at each other in the locker room. Maybe we can find some higher rated guys to sprinkle in too but that character and desire to be in Knoxville should be #1. I think that's probably what Heupel is trying to do now. The landscape these last few years has been unprecedented and difficult to navigate but I think that approach is emerging as the best one.

Sounds like Butch Jones approach

 

[Carp]

We need to target more on character than ever. A bunch of 3 stars who want to play for Tennessee and play as a team would do every bit as good or better than a bunch of mercenaries pointing fingers at each other in the locker room. Maybe we can find some higher rated guys to sprinkle in too but that character and desire to be in Knoxville should be #1. I think that's probably what Heupel is trying to do now. The landscape these last few years has been unprecedented and difficult to navigate but I think that approach is emerging as the best one.

Or just target 4-5 star players that didn't have massive character issues in high school (like Boo), or that aren't prima donnas that wear PJs to QB camps. That seems like a better plan.

 

[HULKVOL79]

Probably should've went with Wright in the beginning.

 

[Batman1948]

We need to target more on character than ever. A bunch of 3 stars who want to play for Tennessee and play as a team would do every bit as good or better than a bunch of mercenaries pointing fingers at each other in the locker room. Maybe we can find some higher rated guys to sprinkle in too but that character and desire to be in Knoxville should be #1. I think that's probably what Heupel is trying to do now. The landscape these last few years has been unprecedented and difficult to navigate but I think that approach is emerging as the best one.

You're gonna get roasted by saying we should recruit more 3-star players. How long have you been around here? We have a bunch of posters who don't want "any" 3-star players on the team

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Or just target 4-5 star players that didn't have massive character issues in high school (like Boo), or that aren't prima donnas that wear PJs to QB camps. That seems like a better plan.

Certainly, we should try to get blue chip guys who have good character and want to be here also, I'm just saying, even in the WORST case scenario, if you could get only 3 stars, if those guys wanted to be here and played as a team, you wouldn't be any worse off than you are with a bunch of locker room:

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

You're gonna get roasted by saying we should recruit more 3-star players. How long have you been around here? We have a bunch of posters who don't want "any" 3-star players on the team

Lol, long enough not to care.

 

[McDad]

From Hubbs on SportsTalk. Good to see a guy like this getting more opportunities.

Well, I mean, you know, he's a good story. He's done a good job. You go back to 2022 and he's been a factor. I mean, listen, nobody's celebrating the Boo Carter news, but that's news. Boo Carter is the reality is Boo Carter was one of the 11 most talented defensive players on this roster. And that's a guy. He's a guy that Tennessee this time last year, heading into December and roster retention time, put a lot of stock in and a lot of belief in that he would really elevate his game from year one to year two. I mean, when you think about where they were December 1st last year, you're sitting there looking at Ricky Gibson, Jermod McCoy and Boo Carter, and you were going to basically build a lot of your defense around that, particularly in the back seven and obviously the secondary specifically, and you haven't really played with any of the three this year. Because Boo Carter has just been a non-factor and McCoy has not played, Ricky Gibson has not played, so it's a story. But there are plenty of great stories on this team and all those good stories should be celebrated. I love William Wright. I love everything he does. When given an opportunity, he gives you everything you have and he's made plays. Has he given up plays? I'm some, but everybody does. I mean, he wants to be here, and those are the guys that you want to have, and that you need to be a part of. Now, all of a sudden, with Boo Carter's departure, William Wright's role could potentially grow, whether it's as a nickelback or whether he plays cornered, you've slid Colton Hood inside, depending on what that would look like behind Jalen McMurray. So he's a big part, and he's obviously one of the most liked and beloved guys on this team by his teammates.

Here's a good article on him talking about his interception against New Mexico State.

William Wright ‘taking advantage of every opportunity’ for Tennessee football

The college football landscape has evolved over the last six years.

www.utdailybeacon.com

I was really happy for him to have such a memorable play after 6 years in the program. It's one of many things which makes college athletics special. And from all indications he is a great team mate who is appreciated by the other players.

But...let's not get over our skis here. Him playing more is not a good sign that our team is improving as the year plays out. Have to do it because of Boo's choices. Let's hope his experience and character can overcome some of the talent deficit.

 

[Teeman]

Certainly, we should try to get blue chip guys who have good character and want to be here also, I'm just saying, even in the WORST case scenario, if you could get only 3 stars, if those guys wanted to be here and played as a team, you wouldn't be any worse off than you are with a bunch of locker room:

View attachment 790492

Seems to work for Vandy and Missouri.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

In the NIL era, the most successful programs are going to be the ones that are the very best at roster management. So far, Heupel is way behind in this regard.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

Lol, long enough not to care.

That's judo right there, baby!

 

[OffTackleVol]

In the NIL era, the most successful programs are going to be the ones that are the very best at roster management. So far, Heupel is way behind in this regard.

"Way behind?"

 

[90 Vol]

We need to target more on character than ever. A bunch of 3 stars who want to play for Tennessee and play as a team would do every bit as good or better than a bunch of mercenaries pointing fingers at each other in the locker room. Maybe we can find some higher rated guys to sprinkle in too but that character and desire to be in Knoxville should be #1. I think that's probably what Heupel is trying to do now. The landscape these last few years has been unprecedented and difficult to navigate but I think that approach is emerging as the best one.

This approach can certainly work. However, you would need a staff that can coach those 3 stars up to 4- and 5-star performers. I'm not sure that our current staff can do that.

 

[McDad]

In the NIL era, the most successful programs are going to be the ones that are the very best at roster management.

100% agree

So far, Heupel is way behind in this regard.

Speculative.

 

[barknoxbrawler]

We need to target more on character than ever. A bunch of 3 stars who want to play for Tennessee and play as a team would do every bit as good or better than a bunch of mercenaries pointing fingers at each other in the locker room. Maybe we can find some higher rated guys to sprinkle in too but that character and desire to be in Knoxville should be #1. I think that's probably what Heupel is trying to do now. The landscape these last few years has been unprecedented and difficult to navigate but I think that approach is emerging as the best one.

That will not win you a national championship. Even in the NIL climate, the teams who have the most talent, win. We need money to pay for that talent, but we can’t act like a team built withthree stars are going to get us to the top.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

That will not win you a national championship. Even in the NIL climate, the teams who have the most talent, win. We need money to pay for that talent, but we can’t act like a team built withthree stars are going to get us to the top.

My point is we need a team that first and foremost wants to be here and has a good culture. I am not saying that you do not recruit blue chip players but rather that character and commitment to the team are paramount. You don't win a national championship forking out a bunch of money for Boo Carter and Nico Iamaleava's either.

 

[casual-observer]

"Way behind?"

Yeah, I don't know that I would agree with "Way behind" either.

CJH has used roster management to pull Tennessee out of the muck and mire. A few notable's he's picked up from the roster:

Hendon Hooker
Bru McCoy
JaVonta Payton
Gabe Judy-Lally
Jermod McCoy
Kamal Hadden
Amari Jefferson
Wendell Moe Jr.
Joe Milton III
Dont'e Thorton Jr.
John Campbell Jr.
Javontez Spraggins
Gerald Mincey
Omarr Norman-Lott
Chris Brazzell II
Lance Heard
Holden Staes
Start Thomas
Joey Aguliar
Sam Pendleton

This list is not nothing.

 

[jarnol32]

We need to target more on character than ever. A bunch of 3 stars who want to play for Tennessee and play as a team would do every bit as good or better than a bunch of mercenaries pointing fingers at each other in the locker room. Maybe we can find some higher rated guys to sprinkle in too but that character and desire to be in Knoxville should be #1. I think that's probably what Heupel is trying to do now. The landscape these last few years has been unprecedented and difficult to navigate but I think that approach is emerging as the best one.

How quickly we forget… Go back and look at our Rosters from 2010- about 2021… Those teams were full of 3 stars that wanted to be here, and they just weren’t very good. I understand it’s annoying watching someone like Carter who has all the talent in the world give up on his team and on Tennessee, but you have to have athletes of his caliber to compete in the Sec. Here’s to hoping the next blue chip they sign turns out better.

 

[farmdogvol]

Yeah, I don't know that I would agree with "Way behind" either.

CJH has used roster management to pull Tennessee out of the muck and mire. A few notable's he's picked up from the roster:

Hendon Hooker
Bru McCoy
JaVonta Payton
Gabe Judy-Lally
Jermod McCoy
Kamal Hadden
Amari Jefferson
Wendell Moe Jr.
Joe Milton III
Dont'e Thorton Jr.
John Campbell Jr.
Javontez Spraggins
Gerald Mincey
Omarr Norman-Lott
Chris Brazzell II
Lance Heard
Holden Staes
Start Thomas
Joey Aguliar
Sam Pendleton

This list is not nothing.

Colton Hood and Miles Kitselman.

 

[farmdogvol]

This approach can certainly work. However, you would need a staff that can coach those 3 stars up to 4- and 5-star performers. I'm not sure that our current staff can do that.

Ty Redmond is a 3-star. They have done pretty well with him so far.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

How quickly we forget… Go back and look at our Rosters from 2010- about 2021… Those teams were full of 3 stars that wanted to be here, and they just weren’t very good. I understand it’s annoying watching someone like Carter who has all the talent in the world give up on his team and on Tennessee, but you have to have athletes of his caliber to compete in the Sec. Here’s to hoping the next blue chip they sign turns out better.

If you look at the 247 team talent composite (which last I looked went back to 2015), we have consistently from 2015 to now been typically rated as having between the 15th and 20th most talented rosters in CFB, all but 1 year or 2 where we nosed slightly above that or fell slightly below that. Heupel had a strong class last year but other than that it is not true that Heupel has had more talent than Butch and Pruitt but rather that Heupel gets more out of his players than Butch or Pruitt did.

In any event, you're missing the point, I am not saying that we INTENTIONALLY try to obtain a roster full of 3 stars but rather that now more than ever character and a desire to play at Tennessee matter. We are better off getting a 3 star with those qualities than a talented, high maintenance, distracting problem like Boo.

 

[D-Vols]

How quickly we forget… Go back and look at our Rosters from 2010- about 2021… Those teams were full of 3 stars that wanted to be here, and they just weren’t very good. I understand it’s annoying watching someone like Carter who has all the talent in the world give up on his team and on Tennessee, but you have to have athletes of his caliber to compete in the Sec. Here’s to hoping the next blue chip they sign turns out better.

Were they not very good or were they not very well coached? Other than Lane the coaches were not good.

 

[VOLociraptorr]

At first I wanted to say boo

But it seems like the Wright decision

 

[NoOneImportant]

If you look at the 247 team talent composite (which last I looked went back to 2015), we have consistently from 2015 to now been typically rated as having between the 15th and 20th most talented rosters in CFB, all but 1 year or 2 where we nosed slightly above that or fell slightly below that. Heupel had a strong class last year but other than that it is not true that Heupel has had more talent than Butch and Pruitt but rather that Heupel gets more out of his players than Butch or Pruitt did.

In any event, you're missing the point, I am not saying that we INTENTIONALLY try to obtain a roster full of 3 stars but rather that now more than ever character and a desire to play at Tennessee matter. We are better off getting a 3 star with those qualities than a talented, high maintenance, distracting problem like Boo.

Some think that it's only about the "Jimmys and Joes." You need talent, but you also need coaching, development and guys who understand what it means it be a team. Indiana would kick our a$$. Vandy may. We're more talented, but they are well-coached, disciplined and bought-in. I would rather have that with a bunch of 3 stars than a 5 star team filled with malcontents.