All ive heard all year is that Nico would of made us go 10-2

[Edixon2]

Now most (not all) those same people seemed convinced we’re going 8-4 or worse next year because of everything we’ve lost??? I ask Where?

From top to bottom we lost:
Joe Milton
Jaylen wright and Probably Jabari Small
A Okay WR2 (Keyton)
2 serviceable TEs (Warren, Castles)
4 Rotational O-linemen (Lane, Lampley, Nichols, and Crawford)
1 Developmental O-Linemen (Clippers)
1 rotational D-Lineman (Garland)
Tyler Baron and Roman Harrison
Aaron Beasley
9 members from a Below average secondary Group ( Hadden, Turnage, Slaughter, McCollogh, Burrell, Walker, McDonald, Rucker, and Luttrell)
Dee Williams

This is assuming guys like Bru, Davis, Spraggins, GJL and Simmons all Return(Willing to bet 4/5 if not all do)

Don’t get me Wrong we need to get some depth for the Oline and Secondary but besides Wright, Small, Baron, Beasley and Experience what Talent are we losing that is worrisome?

As For Wright, small, Baron and Beasley. Yes it sucks losing them but if we had to Rate our 3 Deepest Position groups Edge, LB, and RB would all be Top 3 imo.

Just my opinion. Let me know if I’m missing someone but I just don’t see where all the doom and gloom is coming from for some of y’all

 

[bpalmer28]

My opinion has changed since many people are coming back.

We should be able to run the ball as well as anyone and we should be able to stop the run as well as anyone. How well we pass it and defend the pass will determine whether we are 8-4 or 12-0.

 

[Edixon2]

My opinion has changed since many people are coming back.

We should be able to run the ball as well as anyone and we should be able to stop the run as well as anyone. How well we pass it and defend the pass will determine whether we are 8-4 or 12-0.

Bingo. At the end of the day if Nico is as Good as advertised we should been in for a Solid year next year. Give me half Decent play from the secondary will be looking at a potential playoff birth

 

[Majors]

Jake Merklinger needs to play or we’ll lose him to the portal.

Too soon or do we need to let Nico play first?

 

[KTrain]

I see a really good 8 to 10 win team, with the we cant get anyone injured like this year(Mays, BRU, Pili basically three, 5 star performer's & others really stunted the 2023 team) if we can go through the season injury free from at least the top key players.
I've heard a lot of talking heads saying quality depth will be the biggest thing hurt by the Portal for especially the blue bloods, especially by the time the portal gets 4 years old. Not many 5 and upper 4 Stars are going to sit and wait like they have done for years. The only caveat I can see is some teams like Bama may start paying guys just to hang around on the bench. Hide and watch , we shall see.

 

[VolBalla2014]

Now most (not all) those same people seemed convinced we’re going 8-4 or worse next year because of everything we’ve lost??? I ask Where?

From top to bottom we lost:
Joe Milton
Jaylen wright and Probably Jabari Small
A Okay WR2 (Keyton)
2 serviceable TEs (Warren, Castles)
4 Rotational O-linemen (Lane, Lampley, Nichols, and Crawford)
1 Developmental O-Linemen (Clippers)
1 rotational D-Lineman (Garland)
Tyler Baron and Roman Harrison
Aaron Beasley
9 members from a Below average secondary Group ( Hadden, Turnage, Slaughter, McCollogh, Burrell, Walker, McDonald, Rucker, and Luttrell)
Dee Williams

This is assuming guys like Bru, Davis, Spraggins, GJL and Simmons all Return(Willing to bet 4/5 if not all do)

Don’t get me Wrong we need to get some depth for the Oline and Secondary but besides Wright, Small, Baron, Beasley and Experience what Talent are we losing that is worrisome?

As For Wright, small, Baron and Beasley. Yes it sucks losing them but if we had to Rate our 3 Deepest Position groups Edge, LB, and RB would all be Top 3 imo.

Just my opinion. Let me know if I’m missing someone but I just don’t see where all the doom and gloom is coming from for some of y’all

when I think about which players I'm most excited about... every single one is a Heupel recruit who has already made his presence known while in the early stages of their college career: Squirrel, Sampson, Pearce, Telander, Carter etc. or they're one of our highest rated recruits who are waiting their turn: Nico, Seldon, Bradley, Hobbs, Leacock, herring. I think about that before I act like I know better than our coaching staff who beat Bama with a backup ACC qb and a dollar general assistant manager in year 2

 

[savannahfan]

Overall it seems to me the pipe dream smoke is drifting early this off season!

 

[Frosty]

Hadden potentially could be back as well. That would be great considering he was arguably the best corner in the SEC before he got hurt.

I am excited about Jordan matthews, Rickey Gibson, John slaughter, and more turrentine this year. Boo Carter might also start

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

f Nico is even 1/2 as good as we all seem to think he can and should be, with the o-linemen that are coming back, I’m confident that 9-3 should be our floor, especially with the schedule we have for next year.

 

[madbamahater]

The Vols went 8-4, because the defense couldn't get pressure, nor cover

 

[KTrain]

Hadden potentially could be back as well. That would be great considering he was arguably the best corner in the SEC before he got hurt.

I am excited about Jordan matthews, Rickey Gibson, John slaughter, and more turrentine this year. Boo Carter might also start

Hadden is not coming back. He can’t. He was just trolling the fan base on Twitter. I guess because he got the most hate from the fan base.

 

[volfan411]

Jake Merklinger needs to play or we’ll lose him to the portal.

Too soon or do we need to let Nico play first?

Too soon. Wait until Nico throws his first INT or throws it to hard for a WR to catch.

 

[Vol423]

My opinion has changed since many people are coming back.

We should be able to run the ball as well as anyone and we should be able to stop the run as well as anyone. How well we pass it and defend the pass will determine whether we are 8-4 or 12-0.

We’ll have a MUCH better passing game next year than we did this year.
Nico >>>>> Milton

 

[Vol423]

The Vols went 8-4, because the defense couldn't get pressure, nor cover

Our passing game was NOT good at all this year. Teams with a pulse concentrated on shutting down our running game knowing that Milton couldn’t get the job done.

 

[TennEddie]

If Nico fails to live up to the hype many fans will
be on suicide watch.

 

[Rocky Top T]

8-9 wins next year.

 

[Berry4Heisman14]

I have no faith in Tim banks or Martinez. 8-4 losses to Florida Bama Georgia and Oklahoma

 

[DeadByDaylightFan]

Castles and Warren weren't very good...just saying

 

[DarkVolder]

I have no faith in Tim banks or Martinez. 8-4 losses to Florida Bama Georgia and Oklahoma

Yep that’s exactly what I’m thinking as well. I can’t believe Heupel is gonna bring back Willie and Banks next season. We better hope the offense gets going is better than than this previous year because the defense will be worse. And with that schedule 7-5 wouldn’t shock me either.

 

[DarkVolder]

8-9 wins next year.

9 wins would exceed my expectations with that schedule. I’m thinking 8-4 or 7-5 we will lose to Bama, Georgia, Florida and Oklahoma. Look for Arkansas to be much improved as they always are when we have to play them and we have lost the last 4 to them and play them in Fayetteville next season and we know how Heupel’s teams play on the road. And NC state isn’t a gimme either with us breaking in a new QB with limited experience the second game of the season. Next season will tell us alot about Heupel and his long term future here.

 

[SockeyeVol]

Jake Merklinger needs to play or we’ll lose him to the portal.

Too soon or do we need to let Nico play first?

If Nico doesn't throw for 450/4/0 in the Citrus Bowl, then we gotta open the 24 season with Merklinger at QB1. Why keep your best QB on the bench?

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

I have no faith in Tim banks or Martinez. 8-4 losses to Florida Bama Georgia and Oklahoma

You really think our ability to backfill the DB purge would not become problematic if you change those two guys out? A lot of HS and portal success is based on relationships and bet CJH has expressed confidence in WM in lots of living rooms and phone calls. Bet he is calculating impact on signing needed DBs and has more facts than the rest of us on their mindset. Your uninformed lack of faith is NOT concerning at all.

 

[Orange931]

You must be a member of the Vol for Life FB page. Ive seen a lot of those pointless threads on there and had to unfollow.

 

[Vol4gzus]

Too soon. Wait until Nico throws his first INT or throws it to hard for a WR to catch.

Perhaps you saw him in limited action with part of your comment. He doesn't throw a Miltonesqe{sp} turbo ball. His throws remind me more of Hooker on the short routes as most of Nico's throws were short to medium. More of a touch passer.

 

[Vol4gzus]

If Nick doesn't throw for 450/4/0 in the Citrus Bowl, then we gotta open the 24 season with Merklinger at QB1. Why keep your best QB on the bench?

This is ,sorry, silly at best. First off Iowa has a solid defense. Second, Milton will start this game. The unlogic of starting Merklinger unproven is almost laughable, but I won't. Watch to see if Salmon is tainted and clouds your perspective/better judgement.