Class Prediction (Early Signing Day Edition)

#1
TNHopeful505

TNHopeful505

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#1
With 5 days until the first day of Early Signing Day, who do you think we will be able to consider a Vol on December 23rd when it's all over?

Here's my prediction:
Current Commits:
1. Alontae Taylor - WR (Recommited this week, will sign)
2. Ollie Lane - OL (Will sign on 20th)
3. Tanner Antonutti (Will sign on 20th)
4. Paxton Brooks - P (Will sign on 20th)
5. Greg Emerson - DL (Will sign on 20th)
6. Brant Lawless - DL (Will sign on 20th)

Commits Unconfirmed Early Signing:
1. Anthony Grant - RB - Not signing early. Visiting VT at some point.
2. Jacob Warren - TE - Coach Pruitt called and said he is wanted at UT, but unsure if he is early signing.
3. Matthew Flint - OLB - No longer has a scholarship offer. Decommited.
4. D'Andre Litaker - DL - Talk of being processed out. Unsure of his status with UT.

New Predicted Signees (My opinion only):
1. Jeremy Banks - RB (Pruitt is making him a priority)
2. Jerome Carvin - OL (Same school as Banks)
3. Badara Traore - JUCO OL (Austin Thomas FTW)
4. Dwayne Wallace - Grad Transfer OL
5. Shocky Jacques-louis - WR/CB (Tweeted out Vol picture today, may recommit and sign soon)
6. Greg Bell -JUCO RB (think we flip him from Nebraska)
7. Dominick Anderson - JUCO TE (#1 in Nation) (Possible, but I didn't include him on my final list. Longshot, IMO)


I doubt we get any SIGNEES more than this out of the weekend, and if we ended up with the 6 already committed + Warren + the 7 I predicted above, that'd be a great setup.

14/25 with these players left on the board that we are on the radar for, and some we even lead for:

1. Johncarlo Valentin - JUCO OL
2. Glenn Beal - TE
3. Jacob Copeland - WR
4. Coynis Miller - DL
5. Jahmir Johnson - JUCO OL
6. Jaron Woodyard - DL
7. Olaijah Griffin - DB
8. JJ Peterson - LB
9. Isaac Taylor-Stuart - CB
10. JT Shrout - QB
11. Nikko Hall - WR/S
12. Jaevon Becton - DL
13. Jaycee Horn - DB
14. Chase Brown - JUCO OL
15. Eddie Smith - WR/CB
16. Darian Kinnard - OL (should get an offer soon)
17. Malik Langham - DL
18. Jalen Cunningham - DL
19. Quay Walker - LB

And seemingly more offers popping up every day.

I'm pretty sure in that list we could manage 9 players out of that, especially since some of them are visiting and already pretty high on UT.

My (as realistic as possible) class:
1. Alontae Taylor - WR
2. Ollie Lane - OL
3. Tanner Antonutti - OL
4. Paxton Brooks - P
5. Greg Emerson - DL
6. Brant Lawless - DL
7. D'Andre Litaker - DL
8. Jeremy Banks - RB
9. Jerome Carvin - OL
10. Badara Traore - JUCO OL
11. Dwayne Wallace - Grad Transfer OL
12. Shocky Jacques-louis - WR/CB
13. Greg Bell -JUCO RB
14. Jacob Warren - TE
15. Johncarlo Valentin - JUCO OL
16. Jahmir Johnson - JUCO OL
17. Jaevon Becton - DL
18. Olajiah Griffin - DB
19. JT Shrout - QB
20. JJ Peterson - LB
21. Jaycee Horn - DB
22. Jacob Copeland - WR
23. Nikko Hall - WR
24. Coynis Miller - DL
25. Malik Langham - DL

Breakdown:
1 - QB (Shrout)
2 - RB (Bell/Banks)
4 - WR (Hall, Copeland, Taylor and Jacques-louis)
7 - OL (Lane, Antonutti, Johnson, Wallace, Traore, Valentin, Carvin)
6 - DL (Langham, Miller, Becton, Emerson, Litaker, Lawless)
1 - TE (Warren)
1 - LB (Peterson) (Definitely believe some more LB's will come from somewhere though)
2 - DB (Griffin and Horn), (Several players listed as ATH may be looked at as DB's as well, ex. Jacques-louis)
1 - P (Paxton Brooks)

Obviously, this is completely and totally inaccurate, but just wanted to give everyone an idea of what we were looking at right now, facing the early signing day and who is looking at signing and who isn't.

DEFINITELY can finish with a great class. Pruitt coaching Bama hurts from a period where evaluation could be happening, but he will be back on January 2nd or 9th depending on when Bama is knocked out. Plenty of time to get some visits in before signing day.

Anyways, GBO, and hoping for some commitments and excitement this weekend on Rocky Top.
 
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#9
#9
big harry said:
By the way op, it was a joke. Great job on the work.
Click to expand...

I know man. I did get laid off, however, I start my new job on January 2nd, and it's far above and beyond what I had. God is good.

It has been a blessing (and at times a curse) though to be able to watch this coaching change, and get back in with recruiting.

We are off to a great start.
 
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#10
#10
tnhopeful505 said:
with 5 days until the first day of early signing day, who do you think we will be able to consider a vol on december 23rd when it's all over?

Here's my prediction:
Current commits:
1. Alontae taylor - wr (recommited this week, will sign)
2. Ollie lane - ol (will sign on 20th)
3. Tanner antonutti (will sign on 20th)
4. Paxton brooks - p (will sign on 20th)
5. Greg emerson - dl (will sign on 20th)
6. Brant lawless - dl (will sign on 20th)

commits unconfirmed early signing:
1. Anthony grant - rb - not signing early. Visiting vt at some point.
2. Jacob warren - te - coach pruitt called and said he is wanted at ut, but unsure if he is early signing.
3. Matthew flint - olb - no longer has a scholarship offer. Decommited.
4. D'andre litaker - dl - talk of being processed out. Unsure of his status with ut.

New predicted signees (my opinion only):
1. Jeremy banks - rb (pruitt is making him a priority)
2. Jerome carvin - ol (same school as banks)
3. Badara traore - juco ol (austin thomas ftw)
4. Dwayne wallace - grad transfer ol
5. Shocky jacques-louis - wr/cb (tweeted out vol picture today, may recommit and sign soon)
6. Greg bell -juco rb (think we flip him from nebraska)
7. Dominick anderson - juco te (#1 in nation)


i doubt we get any signees more than this out of the weekend, and if we ended up with the 6 already committed + warren + the 7 i predicted above, that'd be a great setup.

14/25 with these players left on the board that we are on the radar for, and some we even lead for:

1. Johncarlo valentin - juco ol
2. Glenn beal - te
3. Jacob copeland - wr
4. Coynis miller - dl
5. Jahmir johnson - juco ol
6. Jaron woodyard - dl
7. Olaijah griffin - db
8. Jj peterson - lb
9. Isaac taylor-stuart - cb
10. Jt shrout - qb
11. Nikko hall - wr/s
12. Jaevon becton - dl
13. Jaycee horn - db
14. Chase brown - juco ol
15. Eddie smith - wr/cb
16. Darian kinnard - ol (should get an offer soon)
17. Malik langham - dl
18. Jalen cunningham - dl
19. Quay walker - lb

and seemingly more offers popping up every day.

I'm pretty sure in that list we could manage 9 players out of that, especially since some of them are visiting and already pretty high on ut.

My (as realistic as possible) class:
1. Alontae taylor - wr
2. Ollie lane - ol
3. Tanner antonutti - ol
4. Paxton brooks - p
5. Greg emerson - dl
6. Brant lawless - dl
7. D'andre litaker - dl
8. Jeremy banks - rb
9. Jerome carvin - ol
10. Badara traore - juco ol
11. Dwayne wallace - grad transfer ol
12. Shocky jacques-louis - wr/cb
13. Greg bell -juco rb
14. Jacob warren - te
15. Johncarlo valentin - juco ol
16. Jahmir johnson - juco ol
17. Jaevon becton - dl
18. Olajiah griffin - db
19. Jt shrout - qb
20. Jj peterson - lb
21. Jaycee horn - db
22. Jacob copeland - wr
23. Nikko hall - wr
24. Coynis miller - dl
25. Malik langham - dl

breakdown:
1 - qb (shrout)
2 - rb (bell/banks)
4 - wr (hall, copeland, taylor and jacques-louis)
7 - ol (lane, antonutti, johnson, wallace, traore, valentin, carvin)
6 - dl (langham, miller, becton, emerson, litaker, lawless)
1 - te (warren)
1 - lb (peterson) (definitely believe some more lb's will come from somewhere though)
2 - db (griffin and horn), (several players listed as ath may be looked at as db's as well, ex. Jacques-louis)
1 - p (paxton brooks)

obviously, this is completely and totally inaccurate, but just wanted to give everyone an idea of what we were looking at right now, facing the early signing day and who is looking at signing and who isn't.

Definitely can finish with a great class. Pruitt coaching bama hurts from a period where evaluation could be happening, but he will be back on january 2nd or 9th depending on when bama is knocked out. Plenty of time to get some visits in before signing day.

Anyways, gbo, and hoping for some commitments and excitement this weekend on rocky top.
Click to expand...

tl;dr
 
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#11
#11
If, per chance, you were to be dead-on accurate, have you taken the time to project where roughly such a class would rank?
 
#13
#13
TNHopeful505 said:
I know man. I did get laid off, however, I start my new job on January 2nd, and it's far above and beyond what I had. God is good.

It has been a blessing (and at times a curse) though to be able to watch this coaching change, and get back in with recruiting.

We are off to a great start.
Click to expand...

Wow congrats. When one door closes another one will open.
 
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#15
#15
MyBloodRunnethOrange said:
OP, you're predicting Anderson to sign early, but you don't include him in your final list
Click to expand...

You're right. I actually removed him when I realized my final number was 26. I hadn't included Warren in the final list. I swapped them out in the Final list, but not in the weekend commits I expected.

I think Anderson is interested, but a long shot. So I just replaced Anderson with Warren. Good catch.
 
#18
#18
I like your list but I see us taking 1 or 2 more DBs in this class. Lots of holes to plug.
 
#19
#19
Volosaurus rex said:
If, per chance, you were to be dead-on accurate, have you taken the time to project where roughly such a class would rank?
Click to expand...

Just guessing out of my butt here (as this whole thread is a guess,) it would honestly depend if we landed Stuart. Having a 5* takes you to a whole different level. Most of those guys are 4*, and that class I predicted would be Top 10 I would think, but grabbing Stuart and/or Cade Mays (which I don't think is gonna happen) would propel you in the Top 5.

I haven't crunched the numbers or the stars to see exactly what kind of points we would have with that class.

Normally projections at this point in time would be stupid anyways, with a little under 2 months to go until NSD. But this early signing date has definitely changed the game a little bit.

I expect us to have at least half of the class filled and signed by Christmas.

Personally, I wouldn't mind at all signing every JUCO OL and Anderson. I think that's what has to happen, and our OL needs a MAJOR overhaul. Not a one of those guys needs to feel good about keeping their starting spot, except maybe Trey.

If my prediction was spot on and we DID take 7 OL this year, 3 being high school players (Lane, Antonutti, and Carvin), I think you'd have to feel good about that. The kid from Ohio that grew up in Knoxville, hoping he will get an offer too.

Way I see it, is if you can fix the lines on this team, with the talent we have coming back, we should be able to win this year.
 
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#20
#20
VOLED said:
I like your list but I see us taking 1 or 2 more DBs in this class. Lots of holes to plug.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm sure that some DB's and LB's will come out of the woodwork at some point.

However, keep in mind too, that it's possible (and likely) that Tyler Byrd moves to DB, that even though Shockey Jacques is a WR, he is being recruited as a CB as well.

If we're changing defensive strategies, we could see some position changes too. Some of those could involve WR's becoming CB's or could involve even DE's becoming LB's.

Not sure. Just know we have GOT to start with the line, and apparently the coaches feel the same way.
 
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#21
#21
TNHopeful505 said:
Just guessing out of my butt here (as this whole thread is a guess,) it would honestly depend if we landed Stuart. Having a 5* takes you to a whole different level. Most of those guys are 4*, and that class I predicted would be Top 10 I would think, but grabbing Stuart and/or Cade Mays (which I don't think is gonna happen) would propel you in the Top 5.

I haven't crunched the numbers or the stars to see exactly what kind of points we would have with that class.

Normally projections at this point in time would be stupid anyways, with a little under 2 months to go until NSD. But this early signing date has definitely changed the game a little bit.

I expect us to have at least half of the class filled and signed by Christmas.

Personally, I wouldn't mind at all signing every JUCO OL and Anderson. I think that's what has to happen, and our OL needs a MAJOR overhaul. Not a one of those guys needs to feel good about keeping their starting spot, except maybe Trey.

If my prediction was spot on and we DID take 7 OL this year, 3 being high school players (Lane, Antonutti, and Carvin), I think you'd have to feel good about that. The kid from Ohio that grew up in Knoxville, hoping he will get an offer too.

Way I see it, is if you can fix the lines on this team, with the talent we have coming back, we should be able to win this year.
Click to expand...


Thanks, and excellent work by the way.

I would completely agree on the premise that a JUCO-heavy class will go a long way toward eliminating the deficiencies we currently have on the offensive line. If Pruitt and his troops can pull off a class that is close to what you have outlined, it would have to be characterized as an extraordinary job of meeting needs, particularly in light of the disastrous 2017 season, the short time frame they had to work with, and the need to re-tool commitments on the fly.
 
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#22
#22
TNHopeful505 said:
Class Prediction

Thanks for the summary. Good job. Appreciate all the hard work.

I wouldn't be surprised if the class included 2 QBs. Shrout and the new kid being discussed Tuttle from CA look like the targets right now. Both are ones Helton knows from CA. Both appear to be ones that fit his system.

Seven OL in this class is a bit much. We need 7, but there are just too many other holes that need addressing.

LBs and DBs are critical needs. I think we need 3 of each.

I was wondering if we can back count any to go over 25??? This is a year where we really need the extra spots.
Click to expand...
 
#24
#24
VAVolsFan2009 said:
TNHopeful505 said:
Class Prediction

Thanks for the summary. Good job. Appreciate all the hard work.

I wouldn't be surprised if the class included 2 QBs. Shrout and the new kid being discussed Tuttle from CA look like the targets right now. Both are ones Helton knows from CA. Both appear to be ones that fit his system.

Seven OL in this class is a bit much. We need 7, but there are just too many other holes that need addressing.

LBs and DBs are critical needs. I think we need 3 of each.

I was wondering if we can back count any to go over 25??? This is a year where we really need the extra spots.
Click to expand...

Tuttle (the QB, not Shy), has been committed to Utah for a long time. He didn't seem to be interested in listening to Helton while at USC, not sure he'd be interested in Tennessee. At this point, it's a longshot for him. Shrout on the other hand is a definite possibility as he is visiting this weekend.

I agree that LB's and DBs are needs, however, here is our depth there:

Quart'e Sapp - Redshirt Junior
Dillon Bates - Redshirt Senior
Shanon Reid - Sophomore
Will Ignont - Sophomore
Darrin Kirkland - Redshirt Junior (I'm assuming he's redshirting after this year)
Daniel Bituli - Junior
Solon Page - Sophomore

So..
1 Senior
3 Juniors
3 Sophomores

I don't know who of that crowd redshirted that year, but it's not TERRIBLE depth if they can get some development. Sapp, Kirkland and Bituli are a solid three, and if you can get some production out of the others, we aren't completely bare there. Pretty sure all of those guys except Page was a 4* recruit. Talented, but underdeveloped (the theme song of Butch Jones).

DB looks like this:

Marquill Osborne - Junior
Maleik Gray - Sophomore
Rashaan Gaulden - Redshirt Senior
Shawn Shamburger - Sophomore
Nigel Warrior - Junior
Micah Abernathy - Senior
Todd Kelly Jr. - Redshirt Senior
Theo Jackson - Sophomore
Baylen Buchanan - Junior
Cheyenne Labruzza - Sophomore

(Again, not sure on redshirts)

So..
3 Seniors
3 Juniors
4 Sophomores

We don't have TERRIBLE numbers, and a lot of those guys were solid recruits, just underdeveloped. A player like Olijiah Griffin or Stuart could help tons with this group.

Compare that to:
Drew Richmond - Redshirt Junior
Riley Locklear - Sophomore
Nathan Niehaus - Redshirt Sophomore
Marcus Tatum - Junior
Ryan Johnson - Redshirt Sophomore
Trey Smith - Sophomore
K'Rojhn Calbert - Sophomore
Chance Hall - Senior
Devante Brooks - Redshirt Sophomore

1 Senior
2 Juniors
6 Sophomores

And you can tell that we SERIOUSLY need IMMEDIATE help on the O-Line, and guys who aren't projects and who aren't in need of development.

To me, the levels of players and my trust in them in the LB and DB core is different than my level of trust in our OL guys.

So bring on the JUCOS!
Click to expand...
 
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#25
#25
OH-Vol said:
OP - Can you start your new job after NSD?
Click to expand...

Haha, if Freak would pay me to cover recruiting on this site, and just do write ups and analyzing, I so would. I love this site, and spend WAY too much time on it. I always try to make my posts count, and not just post stupid statements (not that I'm perfect about that)

Recruiting baffles me...I am such a Tennessee homer that I try to think "If I was in these kids shoes, why would I even THINK about going anywhere else but Tennessee?"
 
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