‘23 AL DL Hunter Osborne (Alabama commit)

[BondJamesBond]

Anything that limits earning potential is going to be met with heavy resistance imo.

That's how it seems to me. I'm not sure how the NCAA can interfere with a contract between an individual and a private firm when the Court says the NCAA can't interfere with a contract between an individual and a private firm. Any limit seems to be a violation.

 

[Revived2002]

I am genuinely curious. What do you think will really change? Do you just think because of NIL that all of a sudden the traditional college football recruiting powerhouses are just gonna fall off?

To be clear, what I’m saying is that in addition to the schools that have been winning for the last decade, older powers with lots of $$s like Texas, Miami, Tennessee, etc will suddenly start to consistently get their share of elite recruits. Recent success on the field and in the NFL draft will still be important, but much less so than it was. It will be much harder to pull off a run like Alabama’s in the coming decade. The same 5 schools of the past decade won’t always be at the top. That’s my working theory anyway.

worst case scenario would be those schools like Texas with all the $$$s might come to dominate but time will tell.

 

[BelieveTheHeup93]

Don’t fool yourself. Bama is gonna be on top as long as Saban is there.

The same teams will be good. OSU, UGA, ND, remove OK and insert USC, Clemson will remain good, LSU will win a ton, etc.

What you *might* get is a team that has developed some good players and they luck out in the portal and go on a run. But most likely the best portal guys will continue to go to the current teams on top bc they want to win and they want to maximize earning potential via NIL.

I don’t know about that Ole Miss, Arkansas, Nebraska, and South Carolina did pretty damn good in the portal this year

 

[MarcoVol]

I don’t know about that Ole Miss, Arkansas, Nebraska, and South Carolina did pretty damn good in the portal this year

Won’t mean anything. The teams that we’re always talking about for the playoffs will be the same.

 

[jakez4ut]

Won’t mean anything. The teams that we’re always talking about for the playoffs will be the same.

i won't say it won't mean anything, but i do agree, it will take more than a portal year or two to get to, and sustain, what some of those programs have done/are doing.

the portal can definitely help a program, faster than layering classes. you have immediate needs and can't wait 2 years to develop, then if you are able to get a guy or 20 like some programs have, it can pay dividends. doesn't mean you're winning a title. but it can be the difference in going 5-7 one year and going 8-4+ the next.

programs need turnarounds like that. sustaining it is the key.

if nothing else, the portal can also buy some time while you do develop younger players.

 

[BelieveTheHeup93]

i won't say it won't mean anything, but i do agree, it will take more than a portal year or two to get to, and sustain, what some of those programs have done/are doing.

the portal can definitely help a program, faster than layering classes. you have immediate needs and can't wait 2 years to develop, then if you are able to get a guy or 20 like some programs have, it can pay dividends. doesn't mean you're winning a title. but it can be the difference in going 5-7 one year and going 8-4+ the next.

programs need turnarounds like that. sustaining it is the key.

if nothing else, the portal can also buy some time while you do develop younger players.

That’s exactly my point. A stud LB and CB or two in this portal could’ve been the difference in us potentially going 10-2 this upcoming season rather than another 7-5 year or 8-4, and if Heupel could’ve gone 10-2 in year 2 recruits that we missed on like Parker, Burley, Benson, Rojas, Cobb and most likely M’Pemba, Simmons, Osborne, Jackson, and Matthews and potential guys in the portal start taking notice and we’re potentially looking at a top 5 class rather than top 12-15

 

[5FingerVolPunch]

That’s exactly my point. A stud LB and CB or two in this portal could’ve been the difference in us potentially going 10-2 this upcoming season rather than another 7-5 year or 8-4, and if Heupel could’ve gone 10-2 in year 2 recruits that we missed on like Parker, Burley, Benson, Rojas, Cobb and most likely M’Pemba, Simmons, Osborne, Jackson, and Matthews and potential guys in the portal start taking notice and we’re potentially looking at a top 5 class rather than top 12-15

Ummmm... he's only coached 1 year and he exceeded what any "expert" and most fans thought he could do. Year 2 is this year and he very well may go 10-2.

 

[VolInDayton]

Ummmm... he's only coached 1 year and he exceeded what any "expert" and most fans thought he could do. Year 2 is this year and he very well may go 10-2.

I would say very well go 8-4 with the outside chance of going 10-2 if NOTHING goes wrong

 

[MarcoVol]

Ummmm... he's only coached 1 year and he exceeded what any "expert" and most fans thought he could do. Year 2 is this year and he very well may go 10-2.

If he goes 10-2 then he needs a parade and maybe even a statue.

 

[jakez4ut]

That’s exactly my point. A stud LB and CB or two in this portal could’ve been the difference in us potentially going 10-2 this upcoming season rather than another 7-5 year or 8-4, and if Heupel could’ve gone 10-2 in year 2 recruits that we missed on like Parker, Burley, Benson, Rojas, Cobb and most likely M’Pemba, Simmons, Osborne, Jackson, and Matthews and potential guys in the portal start taking notice and we’re potentially looking at a top 5 class rather than top 12-15

pretty sure we haven't played a down of football yet this year. so, verdict is still out on what impact, or not, it had.

as for the recruiting, well, i'd say for the majority of the guys you listed, very selective list btw, weren't seriously considering us. Cobb being the main excepiton there.

Jackson and Matthes haven't committed yet, but i'd be surprised at this point if they came here too.

and it's still only July....it's just not done yet.

 

[sjt18]

Ummmm... he's only coached 1 year and he exceeded what any "expert" and most fans thought he could do. Year 2 is this year and he very well may go 10-2.

I like Heupel. He has given reasons to be positive. However he left 3 potential wins on the field last fall. You can make excuses or give reasons but that doesn't go away until he "steals" a couple that maybe should have been losses.

A lot of us suspected that Jones wasn't the guy because he consistently lost the "Vol leaners" and didn't win many if any "opponent leaners". He squandered talent and opportunity.

I personally like Heupel a whole lot more than Jones. I think he's a far more talented coach and a much better leader. He still has to win games and has to get more of the "leaners".

 

[MarcoVol]

and if Heupel could’ve gone 10-2 in year 2 recruits that we missed on like Parker, Burley, Benson, Rojas, Cobb and most likely M’Pemba, Simmons, Osborne, Jackson, and Matthews and potential guys in the portal start taking notice and we’re potentially looking at a top 5 class rather than top 12-15

Are you living one year ahead of everyone else? What’s it like there?

 

[sjt18]

If he goes 10-2 then he needs a parade and maybe even a statue.

Lots of things have to go right. But there are 10 winnable games on the schedule. Pitt should be a win. UT is in a better position right now than UF. LSU has issues that Kelly may struggle to get ironed out by that point in the season.

 

[MarcoVol]

Lots of things have to go right. But there are 10 winnable games on the schedule. Pitt should be a win. UT is in a better position right now than UF. LSU has issues that Kelly may struggle to get ironed out by that point in the season.

Haven’t won 10 games since 2007.

85-88 since then.

Build the statue.

 

[onevol74]

Don’t fool yourself. Bama is gonna be on top as long as Saban is there.

The same teams will be good. OSU, UGA, ND, remove OK and insert USC, Clemson will remain good, LSU will win a ton, etc.

What you *might* get is a team that has developed some good players and they luck out in the portal and go on a run. But most likely the best portal guys will continue to go to the current teams on top bc they want to win and they want to maximize earning potential via NIL.

OK has oil money. They will be hanging around. Bama is the team going down.

 

[MarcoVol]

OK has oil money. They will be hanging around. Bama is the team going down.

Bama ain’t going anywhere while Saban is there. Y’all are high for thinking so

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

That’s exactly my point. A stud LB and CB or two in this portal could’ve been the difference in us potentially going 10-2 this upcoming season rather than another 7-5 year or 8-4, and if Heupel could’ve gone 10-2 in year 2 recruits that we missed on like Parker, Burley, Benson, Rojas, Cobb and most likely M’Pemba, Simmons, Osborne, Jackson, and Matthews and potential guys in the portal start taking notice and we’re potentially looking at a top 5 class rather than top 12-15

How many different ways and in how many different threads are you going to repackage your favorite message? We are going to miss on another hundred or so kids we kicked the tires with and offered. Please spare us.

My replies can be redundant too.... fair is fair.

 

[Dudleys87]

Lots of things have to go right. But there are 10 winnable games on the schedule. Pitt should be a win. UT is in a better position right now than UF. LSU has issues that Kelly may struggle to get ironed out by that point in the season.

Mix in that teams will know what to expect from Tennessee now and things aren’t so cut and dry

 

[sjt18]

That’s exactly my point. A stud LB and CB or two in this portal could’ve been the difference in us potentially going 10-2 this upcoming season rather than another 7-5 year or 8-4,

Wins matter but there's very little that could have happened since last fall that would have made that difference. There weren't many "stud" LB's or CB's in the portal. There were a couple of guys that could have worked but if you don't get them... then you don't waste scholarships. That said, did you forget Turrentine and Walker? Walker in particular looks like immediate help. Turrentine was a 4* OSU signee with lots of athletic talent. How many guys were available were clearly better?

and if Heupel could’ve gone 10-2 in year 2 recruits that we missed on like Parker, Burley, Benson, Rojas, Cobb and most likely M’Pemba, Simmons, Osborne, Jackson, and Matthews and potential guys in the portal start taking notice and we’re potentially looking at a top 5 class rather than top 12-15

Potentially.... though assuming the worst doesn't make a very good case for a negative, emotional rant.

We also have a tendency on this board and particularly in the recruiting forum to assume we know a whole lot more about what's happening in strategic recruiting meetings than we do. We do not know what UT's board is or where the guys above fit on it. We don't know what winks and nods are being sent to Spyre. We do know that Miami just blew as much as $4 million on an OL...that's money they cannot use to compete for someone else.

Last year I was surprised at how many times commitments just seemed to come out of nowhere. Good players barely mentioned here suddenly committing. That's an indication that in spite of the 100 page threads we have here over a guy... the coaches may not be quite as hopeless and upset as you seem to be.

 

[sjt18]

Mix in that teams will know what to expect from Tennessee now and things aren’t so cut and dry

Who didn't know what to expect from UT after the first 4-5 games last year? The playbook wasn't complex or huge on O. Apparently it will expand significantly this fall.

Nothing is ever "cut and dried". You always deal with things. But that's how coaches are measured. If his O becomes ineffective or if the D doesn't become effective... who does that reflect on?

 

[sjt18]

Haven’t won 10 games since 2007.

85-88 since then.

Build the statue.

Oh, if he wins 10 this year then you can at least pour the foundation.

 

[bigl3327]

Lots of things have to go right. But there are 10 winnable games on the schedule. Pitt should be a win. UT is in a better position right now than UF. LSU has issues that Kelly may struggle to get ironed out by that point in the season.

Several things will have to go in our favor, but 10 wins are possible. Bru or someone else will have to have a huge season, and Hyatt will have to finally live up to his potential. J. Smalls will need to stay healthy, and 2 other running backs will have to step up big time. Lastly, our defense will have to improve significantly on third and long, and produce a consistent and competent pass rush. If all those things happen, we could possibly win 10 (11 with a bowl win. ) My prediction is 9-3. I think we pull out wins in a couple of close ones, but also drop a close one as well.

 

[sjt18]

Several things will have to go in our favor, but 10 wins are possible. Bru or someone else will have to have a huge season, and Hyatt will have to finally live up to his potential. J. Smalls will need to stay healthy, and 2 other running backs will have to step up big time. Lastly, our defense will have to improve significantly on third and long, and produce a consistent and competent pass rush. If all those things happen, we could possibly win 10 (11 with a bowl win. ) My prediction is 9-3. I think we pull out wins in a couple of close ones, but also drop a close one as well.

Agree. IMHO, the most critical stat for the upcoming season is 3rd down defense. If the D can become "average" on 3rd down then 8 or 9 wins is very realistic. If they can do a little better than 10 is on the table. If they somehow manage to get a lot better... then nothing is off the table.

 

[Devo182]

If he goes 10-2 then he needs a parade and maybe even a statue.

Take all the parade and statue dollars and give it to Spyre. Reinvest our dividends until we hit 15-0.

 

[5FingerVolPunch]

I like Heupel. He has given reasons to be positive. However he left 3 potential wins on the field last fall. You can make excuses or give reasons but that doesn't go away until he "steals" a couple that maybe should have been losses.

A lot of us suspected that Jones wasn't the guy because he consistently lost the "Vol leaners" and didn't win many if any "opponent leaners". He squandered talent and opportunity.

I personally like Heupel a whole lot more than Jones. I think he's a far more talented coach and a much better leader. He still has to win games and has to get more of the "leaners".

I agree with you. My point was that he was talking as if Heupel has already coached 2 seasons at UT.

That’s exactly my point. A stud LB and CB or two in this portal could’ve been the difference in us potentially going 10-2 this upcoming season rather than another 7-5 year or 8-4, and if Heupel could’ve gone 10-2 in year 2 recruits that we missed on like Parker, Burley, Benson, Rojas, Cobb and most likely M’Pemba, Simmons, Osborne, Jackson, and Matthews and potential guys in the portal start taking notice and we’re potentially looking at a top 5 class rather than top 12-15

None of us have any idea what year 2 holds. I do know one thing though. What Heupel did with that depleted roster in year 1 was nothing short of miraculous. Nobody thought we had a chance at 7 wins. The improvement on offense from the previous year was insane. Year 1 to year 2 should see even more improvement and with UF and LSU being down and Pitt losing Pickett, we have a realistic shot of 10 wins including a bowl game. Not probable, but realistic.