ptcarter
Boomshanka! (Google that)
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Interview with Bob Welton, UT's director of player personnel.
I posted the following in another thread about CBJ over in "football". Didn't plan on typing in the whole interview with Bob Welton, but once I started, I couldn't stop. Mods- This may belong somewhere else. Dunno. Got to say, hearing this makes me very optimistic for the future.
Here it is - enjoy!:
Heard on Doug Mathews Big Orange Sunday (12-13-15 show, 20 minute mark) talking to Bob Welton, the director of player personnel for UT. Of course by rules, he can't comment on recruits and can only speak in generalities.
Welton on recruiting, (paraphrasing - typing this as I listen to it again)
Mathews: "It looks like something like 20 scholarships this year?"
Welton: "All I can probably say Doug is that it will be less that what we are used to. You are in the ballpark with that number. We will be as creative as we can to get the players that we want, that number kinda constantly changes, but it will be less than what we've had previously, which we knew was coming, this was part of the plan".
Mathews: (laughing) "Well you just can't recruit 32 every year, can you?"
Welton: "That'd be nice!"
Mathews: "Let's look at the impact that Junior College players have left on the Univ. of Tenn. the past few years. One or two don't live up to their what you hope, but you look at Owen Williams, what Pearson's done, look at what Martin did coming in this year, Junior college will be an area you are looking at this year and hopefully get in early, correct?"
Welton: "Yeah...You don't want to make a living with junior college players but I do think, when you look at your roster, and like two years ago with Owen and Von, we needed receiver bodies and we needed D-linemen, so we went that route. We look and say 'where do we need immediate help?' because the bonus of a junior college player is that they have played at a pretty high level and they are a little more ready to play than a true freshman. So we won't ever make a living doing it, but 2, or 3 or 4 guys at certain positions where we feel like we need a veteran guy, or someone that can come in and play right away. That will always be the philosophy. I thought we hit a home run with Owen Williams - same with Von Pearson. And people forget - me included - Chris Weathered has been really really valuable on special teams and 3rd downs. He's been a big reason... you go back to that first year Doug, three years ago, we just could not stop a running quarterback. We didn't have "that athlete" and the last two years, since we went and got him, and when he's been on the field in nickel situations, he's done a heck of a job. I have a hard time remembering a quarterback really hurting us too much with his feet with Chris in the game. He's kind of like an unknown guy, but he's on every special team...so yes you take a risk with those "misses" on juco players, but I think we've done pretty well so far.
Mathews: "Early Enrollees - I believe (don't know the exact number) I think that number has been around 18 for those first two years. This year the number ... correct me if I'm wrong - that's not an option for the University, that's an option if the player can graduate early, and quite honestly, there are a couple of instances I know this year and like last year, some high schools don't allow early graduation. Would you expect a lesser number this year?"
Welton: "yeah...We've really gotten lucky the last two years. You hit it on the head, it's not up to us. Some years, like this year, there weren't a lot of options, so there aren't a lot of mid-years. Junior College kids, as you know, if they are not a mid year junior college player, we probably won't recruit them. Unless it's a 3 year kid, like Justin Martin. So yeah, it's a lot less this year, so this year, a lot of the kids we are recruiting aren't graduating early. We'd love to have more! But it just won't work out that much this year."
Mathews: "It seems to be that the pattern you have taken with Juco players - if they have 3 seasons, like Justin Martin, but the 2 year players, you got to bring them in in January"
Welton: "Takes a player a while to acclimate to the school, so we want them there in the spring (The two year jucos)
More conversations about the new Gibbs hall and practice field under construction. Mathews asked if he's been put in charge of the grass situation! (Laughing) Welton wouldn't touch it. Doug says he knows from a high ranking personnel that there won't be artificial turf.
WRAPPING UP:
Mathews: "One more question, you like where you are right now with this recruiting class?" Caveat - He can only speak in generalities.
Welton: "I do! It's been an interesting year just because we've had to be so selective. And I think that's what's been the difference, not like the last two years we've been able to go go go. I really think this is going to be an outstanding year. It may not look that way on paper from a ranking standpoint, because of how few we'll take, but I know personally, I'm really excited about it.
Mathews: "Well lets just work with the 20 number, If you are going to bring in 4 junior college players, or 3 or 5, that only leaves, that only leaves 15-16 high school players.
Welton: "I think what's good about this now, and where I think you'll see this - we don't need kids to come in and play right away at a lot of positions, (which is a good thing) .. You are able to take some developmental guys, and guys that you think will be really good down the road, and that's fun, to be honest with you. In the past we haven't been able to do that. These kids have had to come in and play so early, so that's a little change on how we are looking at things, but that's also a good thing in your program that you can do that.
Mathews: "Well we saw a little of that this year I believe.. You may know the number (I know you know the exact number) but you have been able to redshirt somewhere around 10-12 freshman.
Welton: (excited) "Yeah, and that's huge.. It's not quite that high, but higher than we've had in the past. Gosh, to be able to redshirt Denzel Bolware and Drew Richmond - those are 'two of the forgotten kids' - they are going to be outstanding football players here. I have no doubt about that. Then Darrel Taylor, when's the last time we could redshirt a defensive end? I saw Darrel in the hallway the other day and, my lord, he looks like an NFL player, you know.. just from having a year off. That's a huge, huge benefit. We just haven't been able to do that and I'm excited about that, and I'm excited about bowl practice to get out there and see some of those kids doing a little more too.
Mathews: "Have a great trip to Tampa, thanks for being on Bob".
Message to you guys just reading the "rankings" on Rivals, Scout or where ever - If you are just looking at the ranking, the "stars", you are missing the big picture. Based on Bob Welton's interview, I'm optimistic that CBJ will nail it yet again.
I posted the following in another thread about CBJ over in "football". Didn't plan on typing in the whole interview with Bob Welton, but once I started, I couldn't stop. Mods- This may belong somewhere else. Dunno. Got to say, hearing this makes me very optimistic for the future.
Here it is - enjoy!:
Heard on Doug Mathews Big Orange Sunday (12-13-15 show, 20 minute mark) talking to Bob Welton, the director of player personnel for UT. Of course by rules, he can't comment on recruits and can only speak in generalities.
Welton on recruiting, (paraphrasing - typing this as I listen to it again)
Mathews: "It looks like something like 20 scholarships this year?"
Welton: "All I can probably say Doug is that it will be less that what we are used to. You are in the ballpark with that number. We will be as creative as we can to get the players that we want, that number kinda constantly changes, but it will be less than what we've had previously, which we knew was coming, this was part of the plan".
Mathews: (laughing) "Well you just can't recruit 32 every year, can you?"
Welton: "That'd be nice!"
Mathews: "Let's look at the impact that Junior College players have left on the Univ. of Tenn. the past few years. One or two don't live up to their what you hope, but you look at Owen Williams, what Pearson's done, look at what Martin did coming in this year, Junior college will be an area you are looking at this year and hopefully get in early, correct?"
Welton: "Yeah...You don't want to make a living with junior college players but I do think, when you look at your roster, and like two years ago with Owen and Von, we needed receiver bodies and we needed D-linemen, so we went that route. We look and say 'where do we need immediate help?' because the bonus of a junior college player is that they have played at a pretty high level and they are a little more ready to play than a true freshman. So we won't ever make a living doing it, but 2, or 3 or 4 guys at certain positions where we feel like we need a veteran guy, or someone that can come in and play right away. That will always be the philosophy. I thought we hit a home run with Owen Williams - same with Von Pearson. And people forget - me included - Chris Weathered has been really really valuable on special teams and 3rd downs. He's been a big reason... you go back to that first year Doug, three years ago, we just could not stop a running quarterback. We didn't have "that athlete" and the last two years, since we went and got him, and when he's been on the field in nickel situations, he's done a heck of a job. I have a hard time remembering a quarterback really hurting us too much with his feet with Chris in the game. He's kind of like an unknown guy, but he's on every special team...so yes you take a risk with those "misses" on juco players, but I think we've done pretty well so far.
Mathews: "Early Enrollees - I believe (don't know the exact number) I think that number has been around 18 for those first two years. This year the number ... correct me if I'm wrong - that's not an option for the University, that's an option if the player can graduate early, and quite honestly, there are a couple of instances I know this year and like last year, some high schools don't allow early graduation. Would you expect a lesser number this year?"
Welton: "yeah...We've really gotten lucky the last two years. You hit it on the head, it's not up to us. Some years, like this year, there weren't a lot of options, so there aren't a lot of mid-years. Junior College kids, as you know, if they are not a mid year junior college player, we probably won't recruit them. Unless it's a 3 year kid, like Justin Martin. So yeah, it's a lot less this year, so this year, a lot of the kids we are recruiting aren't graduating early. We'd love to have more! But it just won't work out that much this year."
Mathews: "It seems to be that the pattern you have taken with Juco players - if they have 3 seasons, like Justin Martin, but the 2 year players, you got to bring them in in January"
Welton: "Takes a player a while to acclimate to the school, so we want them there in the spring (The two year jucos)
More conversations about the new Gibbs hall and practice field under construction. Mathews asked if he's been put in charge of the grass situation! (Laughing) Welton wouldn't touch it. Doug says he knows from a high ranking personnel that there won't be artificial turf.
WRAPPING UP:
Mathews: "One more question, you like where you are right now with this recruiting class?" Caveat - He can only speak in generalities.
Welton: "I do! It's been an interesting year just because we've had to be so selective. And I think that's what's been the difference, not like the last two years we've been able to go go go. I really think this is going to be an outstanding year. It may not look that way on paper from a ranking standpoint, because of how few we'll take, but I know personally, I'm really excited about it.
Mathews: "Well lets just work with the 20 number, If you are going to bring in 4 junior college players, or 3 or 5, that only leaves, that only leaves 15-16 high school players.
Welton: "I think what's good about this now, and where I think you'll see this - we don't need kids to come in and play right away at a lot of positions, (which is a good thing) .. You are able to take some developmental guys, and guys that you think will be really good down the road, and that's fun, to be honest with you. In the past we haven't been able to do that. These kids have had to come in and play so early, so that's a little change on how we are looking at things, but that's also a good thing in your program that you can do that.
Mathews: "Well we saw a little of that this year I believe.. You may know the number (I know you know the exact number) but you have been able to redshirt somewhere around 10-12 freshman.
Welton: (excited) "Yeah, and that's huge.. It's not quite that high, but higher than we've had in the past. Gosh, to be able to redshirt Denzel Bolware and Drew Richmond - those are 'two of the forgotten kids' - they are going to be outstanding football players here. I have no doubt about that. Then Darrel Taylor, when's the last time we could redshirt a defensive end? I saw Darrel in the hallway the other day and, my lord, he looks like an NFL player, you know.. just from having a year off. That's a huge, huge benefit. We just haven't been able to do that and I'm excited about that, and I'm excited about bowl practice to get out there and see some of those kids doing a little more too.
Mathews: "Have a great trip to Tampa, thanks for being on Bob".
Message to you guys just reading the "rankings" on Rivals, Scout or where ever - If you are just looking at the ranking, the "stars", you are missing the big picture. Based on Bob Welton's interview, I'm optimistic that CBJ will nail it yet again.
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