‘23 AL S Sylvester Smith

[VFL92]

"When I got into this, I knew I was going to make my decision once and be done with it. That's just the type of person I am. I've always been raised up by my dad — all a man has is his word, so giving them my word and letting them know, like, that's where I'm at, that's where I'm going to be. And preparing myself to do everything at Tennessee, so the preparation has already started, and I don't plan on stopping it or putting my attention elsewhere."

-Sylvester Smith

I imagine Coach Freeze made similar vows to his wife on their wedding day.

 

[Weezer]

I’m not a fan of Burrell by any means but we will be much deeper at corner next season especially if we add through the portal. My point was that I don’t see a true freshman making an impact at safety with what we have at the position.

Let’s not act like Willie isn’t going to trot McCollough out there as a starter next year too.

Not next year, no, but are you suggesting he wouldn't have made an impact in 2-3 years?

 

[Volfan39]

Not next year, no, but are you suggesting he wouldn't have made an impact in 2-3 years?

Good thing we the portal is we can get a safety that could have contributed just like him 2 years from now. Not saying it’s not a loss but we could get a kid from the portal that’s better 2 years from now.

 

[EastTNVol95]

Not next year, no, but are you suggesting he wouldn't have made an impact in 2-3 years?

Not at all but who’s to say the kid wouldn’t have transferred out after next season and gone to auburn? I’m sure Heupel and staff had a feeling this was coming and will find a replacement.

I’m not saying it’s not a loss but to act like he will make or break our secondary going forward is a bit extreme.

 

[DaddyChad]

Would not be the first time

Sleeper trolls, the worst kind. A troll with patience.

 

[bigl3327]

I doubt this was a total shock to the staff. They probably knew with Auburn being an absolute dumpster fire that a coaching change was inevitable and he was always a flight risk.

People had been talking about a possible flip to Auburn even before Harsin was fired. I thought he was just a quiet kid because, unlike other recruits in this class, he never really posted UT stuff on his social media. It looks like his heart was never Vol. It was said earlier that his gf went on the visit with him today, but no parents. Never underestimate the power of the "puddy tat".

 

[butchna]

Yeah, I don't want him if his heart isn't here. Life lesson for him; don't make dumb absolute statements like that with such conviction. They'll come back to bite you.

I get your point. If this is the worst thing he ever does, that's a pretty decent life.

 

[DaddyChad]

Whatever. Kid is an absolute DA. Let him enjoy the flaming dumpster that is the barn.

 

[VolForLife83]

I gotta think Freeze is the easiest coach in the conference to negative recruit, right? Especially if you’re talking to a recruit’s family.

He's a man who likes women. Yeah, recruits will hate that

 

[Adam Sandler]

Big loss for this class. I’m surprised we didn’t hear more about our staff trying to keep him locked in right now we’re in the home stretch for gods sake.

 

[Glitch]

Sucks but our DB class is still great. Good luck at the barn.

 

[Weezer]

 

[MarcoVol]

He's a man who likes women. Yeah, recruits will hate that

Heh? He also cheated and lied about and tried to blame it all on Houston Nutt.

It’s not that hard to paint a picture of poor character and judgement. Not someone I’d want mentoring anyone in my family. Gotta think there are a lot of families who would feel that way. Doesn’t mean they all will but again, gotta be the easiest guy to negative recruit.

 

[#Vol4Life1991]

Big loss for this class. I’m surprised we didn’t hear more about our staff trying to keep him locked in right now we’re in the home stretch for gods sake.

Meh

 

[TN-POSSUM]

*decommit from the VOLS, just to go to AU..... bless his heart

 

[Weezer]

If this Smith had decommitted earlier. maybe we would have had a shot with Isaac Smith? As is, Isaac Smith is probably going to LSU. More than anything, it's the timing I hate. The ESP starts Wednesday. Kid waits until the last second to decommit. It just sucks.

 

[csprig9]

Big loss???
What the ****, people overreacting much????

 

[MarcoVol]

Big loss???
What the ****, people overreacting much????

That’s never happened on VN. Ever

 

[VOLINVONORE]

The factors in his decision might’ve changed. AUB might be presenting an NIL deal that UT isn’t. Who knows

Don’t sweat it. We will be fine , but we also know that Freeze is a snake in the grass. The integrity of The SEC has been felt a blow.

 

[Weezer]

This is dumb. Losing someone like this IS a big loss. The coaches took his commitment for a reason. They passed on going after other players at the position for a reason. So yes, losing his commitment is a big loss. Not to mention it's at one of our positions of greatest need.

That said, big loss does not mean unrecoverable, "oh no our team is going to suck now" loss. The team will survive and be okay. It just means a hole has been created that we need to fill with a talented player.

All year, I heard people blame our talent as for why our secondary played so poorly. So if lack of talent was to blame, losing a talented commit is a big loss.

Personally, I think a lot of our secondary woes lie in the coaching.

 

[Govolsman98]

This guy sucked. Won't miss him

 

[SGMVols]

I expected we would lose at least one of the AL commits to Freeze.

 

[Volfan39]

This is dumb. Losing someone like this IS a big loss. The coaches took his commitment for a reason. They passed on going after other players at the position for a reason. So yes, losing his commitment is a big loss. Not to mention it's at one of our positions of greatest need.

That said, big loss does not mean unrecoverable, "oh no our team is going to suck now" loss. The team will survive and be okay. It just means a hole has been created that we need to fill with a talented player.

All year, I heard people blame our talent as for why our secondary played so poorly. So if lack of talent was to blame, losing a talented commit is a big loss.

Personally, I think a lot of our secondary woes lie in the coaching.

Not saying your wrong but who would you have rather lost, Gibson or Smith. If we were gonna lose a Alabama kid to freeze I’m glad it was this kid and not gibson

 

[Weezer]

Not saying your wrong but who would you have rather lost, Gibson or Smith. If we were gonna lose a Alabama kid to freeze I’m glad it was this kid and not gibson

I would rather have lost neither.

Thankfully, Gibson is an EE. I have no doubt Freeze would have pursued him relentlessly.

 

[majinVol]

ehh good luck to the young man, id rather him go where he trully wants to be even if its not with us. Something tells me we will be alright without him