'24 AR RB Braylen Russell (Arkansas commit)

[sjt18]

Hate it. He woulda been perfect for our offense as a change up with power.

It is very likely that the depth chart played a factor in his choice. He probably wants to be RB 1 not a change up. His chances are much better at Arkansas

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

More likely to skate if he gets pulled over by AHP in his Hellcat.

 

[VOLFan65]

I honestly think folks are counting out/underrating Sampson....... He looked electric last year when healthy... he was a true freshman... I believe he gon eat. He runs angry.

I agree with this. Sampson is going to be a good one. Everyone talks about our WR room, but our RB room may be even deeper. Sampson is a more proven commodity than Seldon at this point. We expect Seldon to be a beast, but I have big expectations for Sampson this year! I think he’s going to eat. He’s the guy that can make two cuts and take it 60.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

I agree to the point where you stopped. This missing part is that AP et Al are not in the business of accurately evaluating recruits or even where they will sign.

The recruiting sites and beat reporters get paid when people read and follow them. It is to their benefit to spin positive when they can.

As we see in this instance they can always say the kid changed their mind.

The unintended consequence can be a bad look on the coaches for not being able to close. That’s a pretty ridiculous conclusion but people are making it because they’re following so close that they lose perspective

Crazy folks jump on an agenda wagon without a clue if the staff played every card to max potential or not. Best they can do is MISS on 75 of their top 100 and the nega will pound the boards on every one of them defending it with the FACT defense and cyber backslap their weak minded brethren. Now there is a fact to share.

 

[bigl3327]

I agree with this. Sampson is going to be a good one. Everyone talks about our WR room, but our RB room may be even deeper. Sampson is a more proven commodity than Seldon at this point. We expect Seldon to be a beast, but I have big expectations for Sampson this year! I think he’s going to eat. He’s the guy that can make two cuts and take it 60.

When we have a backfield of Sampson, Seldon, and Lewis as the main 3, that is going to be scary for opposing defenses. The 2025 season could truly be magical.

 

[benholt06]

This is a kid who is big and strong, and that’s about it. I did want him because we haven’t had a bruiser who could get 4 tough yards for awhile, but this kid isn’t very fast and doesn’t have a ton of wiggle.

This isn’t the "we didn’t want him anyway" thing that usually takes place here, bc I do think he could’ve helped us, but he’s honestly a better fit in Arkansas’s system. We need guys with big play potential, like Peyton Lewis.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

When we have a backfield of Sampson, Seldon, and Lewis as the main 3, that is going to be scary for opposing defenses. The 2025 season could truly be magical.

Yeah we haven't seen great RB's in this offense yet so who knows how much more deadly it'll be.

The faster Sampson and Seldon prove themselves the better tha offense will be.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

This is a kid who is big and strong, and that’s about it. I did want him because we haven’t had a bruiser who could get 4 tough yards for awhile, but this kid isn’t very fast and doesn’t have a ton of wiggle.

This isn’t the "we didn’t want him anyway" thing that usually takes place here, bc I do think he could’ve helped us, but he’s honestly a better fit in Arkansas’s system. We need guys with big play potential, like Peyton Lewis.

We like the homerun guys, but I think the coaches really want a bruiser just as bad.

Think about it

We uptempo the ball down the field, the defense is gassed and now they have to tackle a big physical guy like Keith or Russell? Defense will be winded and they'll slip right off of a true power back. Whereas with Small and Wright, they're both still relatively easy to tackle.

 

[DaddyChad]

They shouldn't count him out.... He moves at a completely different speed. I think he's going to be special.

I don’t think anyone is discounting Sampson. Just looking at the future.

 

[benholt06]

We like the homerun guys, but I think the coaches really want a bruiser just as bad.

Think about it

We uptempo the ball down the field, the defense is gassed and now they have to tackle a big physical guy like Keith or Russell? Defense will be winded and they'll slip right off of a true power back. Whereas with Small and Wright, they're both still relatively easy to tackle.

I think Wright is our best blend of size and speed and if he can get ball security issues behind him his potential is huge.

Agreed about the role a big back could play for us. Some UT-centric guys aren’t that high on KK for some of the reasons I mentioned about Russell but I think if he can run hard and fall forward we could use him. I mean Princeton Fant got goal line carries last year ffs.

 

[bigl3327]

I think Wright is our best blend of size and speed and if he can get ball security issues behind him his potential is huge.

Agreed about the role a big back could play for us. Some UT-centric guys aren’t that high on KK for some of the reasons I mentioned about Russell but I think if he can run hard and fall forward we could use him. I mean Princeton Fant got goal line carries last year ffs.

AP says the staff really likes what they've seen from Khalifa Keith this summer.

 

[avolation]

AP says the staff really likes what they've seen from Khalifa Keith this summer.

Russell’s weight was a bit concerning for our style. I’d like to see how a bigger back like Keith functions in our offense before rushing to judgements though.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

I think Wright is our best blend of size and speed and if he can get ball security issues behind him his potential is huge.

Agreed about the role a big back could play for us. Some UT-centric guys aren’t that high on KK for some of the reasons I mentioned about Russell but I think if he can run hard and fall forward we could use him. I mean Princeton Fant got goal line carries last year ffs.

I just don't see it with Wright.

Yes he is fast and surprisingly strong, but that's it.

The fumbles are a problem.

Worse than that his vision is atrocious. Dude can't find a hole and he can't make anybody miss in the open field ever. He kinda tippy toes to the line of scrimmage sometimes.

That's why Small still starts over him. Small would be incredible if he were faster and a little bigger because he does have good vision.

All of our younger backs have way more potential to me. I love Small and Wright. They have been pivotal for us, but neither one of them would sniff the field in basically any other era of TN football.

Maybe one of them would start over Marlin Lane?

Other than that they greatly benefit from our offense.

 

[volinbama256]

When we have a backfield of Sampson, Seldon, and Lewis as the main 3, that is going to be scary for opposing defenses. The 2025 season could truly be magical.

Just make sure we have the OLine to make the holes first...

 

[allvolrecruiting]

Russell’s weight was a bit concerning for our style. I’d like to see how a bigger back like Keith functions in our offense before rushing to judgements though.

He carried the weight well, I don't think that was a problem. Obviously, we would get him down some but I think the problem was he just kept adding on weight

 

[Orange.]

I just don't see it with Wright.

Yes he is fast and surprisingly strong, but that's it.

The fumbles are a problem.

Worse than that his vision is atrocious. Dude can't find a hole and he can't make anybody miss in the open field ever. He kinda tippy toes to the line of scrimmage sometimes.

That's why Small still starts over him. Small would be incredible if he were faster and a little bigger because he does have good vision.

All of our younger backs have way more potential to me. I love Small and Wright. They have been pivotal for us, but neither one of them would sniff the field in basically any other era of TN football.

Maybe one of them would start over Marlin Lane?

Other than that they greatly benefit from our offense.

I'm a big Jaylen Wright fan. I don't think that description is accurate at all. But I don't feel like elaborating. We don't have to diss our guys to praise our new guys. If we did, there would be something wrong with the new guys: but our new guys are top shelf.

 

[vols 30]

I just don't see it with Wright.

Yes he is fast and surprisingly strong, but that's it.

The fumbles are a problem.

Worse than that his vision is atrocious. Dude can't find a hole and he can't make anybody miss in the open field ever. He kinda tippy toes to the line of scrimmage sometimes.

That's why Small still starts over him. Small would be incredible if he were faster and a little bigger because he does have good vision.

All of our younger backs have way more potential to me. I love Small and Wright. They have been pivotal for us, but neither one of them would sniff the field in basically any other era of TN football.

Maybe one of them would start over Marlin Lane?

Other than that they greatly benefit from our offense.

I like them too. Small is very underrated IMO. He just does his job without making any mistakes with little appreciation from most UT fans

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Not surprised and do not think it will hurts us. Our RB situations is in really good shape and we can get a good one later.

 

[Orange.]

I like them too. Small is very underrated IMO. He just does his job without making any mistakes with little appreciation from most UT fans

Small is definitely a man who gives his all for Tennessee.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

I like them too. Small is very underrated IMO. He just does his job without making any mistakes with little appreciation from most UT fans

Also if you watch Small and Wrights highlight tapes, Smalls is way more impressive looking.

His cuts are nasty! Created some huge plays with his little jukes.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

I'm a big Jaylen Wright fan. I don't think that description is accurate at all. But I don't feel like elaborating. We don't have to diss our guys to praise our new guys. If we did, there would be something wrong with the new guys: but our new guys are top shelf.

You haven't noticed him consistently plowing into the back of his linemen and always getting tackled in the open field?

Not dissing just speaking the truth.

 

[bigl3327]

Russell’s weight was a bit concerning for our style. I’d like to see how a bigger back like Keith functions in our offense before rushing to judgements though.

They are having Keith drop weight. They want him between 220-225 playing weight. They had the same plan with Russell except his goal was 230. I saw recent pics of Keith on Instagram. He's looks lean and mean.

 

[bigl3327]

Just make sure we have the OLine to make the holes first...

Elarbee has managed to have productive OLs for the offense at every stop he's been at with Heupel. We've had some misses, but our commits are still far more gifted than what they had at Mizzou and UCF. Before anyone says something about level of competition, they had a top offense at Missouri and gave LSU hell in the bowl game the year before the National Championship run. We're still getting 4* talent on the OL.

 

[utvolmaniac]

Also if you watch Small and Wrights highlight tapes, Smalls is way more impressive looking.

His cuts are nasty! Created some huge plays with his little jukes.

Eddie! Is that you?

Lots of your latest posts are here in the Russell thread.

Your son Jabari is a good one. Just saying.

If not Eddie, I still like the correlation. Jabari was a Freshman in 2020. You joined VN in the Spring of 2020. I may just call you Eddie for the hell of it.

 

[WillisWG]