Confidence level in the 2016 recruiting class? (merged)

#1
TheMookieMonster

TheMookieMonster

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#1
So after a pretty rough past 10 days or so, what is your confidence that Butch and the staff can finish strong with this class? I don't mean finishing Top 5 and getting another studly class. I understand that spots are slim so we have to pick and choose, but do you think this class will still be great quality and close to his past two seasons?

It's been a pretty disconcerting last 10 days or so with missing out on JoeJuan, Smith, and then having Chidi and Tadaryll decommit/scholly pulled. Then to top it off DCG just decommitted and there is strong rumors Kongbo won't be retained either.

So, how do you think this shakes out?
 
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#4
#4
LynxVol said:
VN never fails and is very predictable.
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I'm just stimulating discussion. Better than just only threads based on one specific player. I don't see what's wrong with talking about the class as a whole and how you think it shapes out. But okay, go ahead and act like this is a "melt down" thread and not just a simple discussion on what you think happens from here.
 
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#5
#5
Oh look, another one of these. 2 words to calm everyone's fears and anxieties about this class...




Butch Jones
 
#6
#6
VersaceButch said:
I'm just stimulating discussion. Better than just only threads based on one specific player. I don't see what's wrong with talking about the class as a whole and how you think it shapes out. But okay, go ahead and act like this is a "melt down" thread and not just a simple discussion on what you think happens from here.
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#8
#8
I'm not sure why some get so offended by folks asking a question. It's a legit concern.

OP, sure, there has been some concerning news the past few weeks but we don't always know everything going on behind the scenes. Based on his track record, I still have confidence that Butch will close strong until he proves otherwise.

I was thinking yesterday that we need a hotlist thread to track guys we are after these last couple of months. Might be a fun way to keep tabs on the guys we are looking to close on.
 
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#9
#9
Damn, I forgot why I hardly post anymore. So many rude people on forums. Cool, I can see VN is a warming and friendly place. Merry christmas to you all as well.
 
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#10
#10
Fingers said:
I'm not sure why some get so offended by folks asking a question. It's a legit concern.

OP, sure, there has been some concerning news the past few weeks but we don't always know everything going on behind the scenes. Based on his track record, I still have confidence that Butch will close strong until he proves otherwise.

I was thinking yesterday that we need a hotlist thread to track guys we are after these last couple of months. Might be a fun way to keep tabs on the guys we are looking to close on.
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I like that idea. As someone who hasn't been following recruiting as closely this year just because I'm confident that this staff will get the guys they need, it would be nice to know who to watch out for as the recruiting season ramps up.
 
#11
#11
I would be very confident. January is a fun month when official visits start getting used. Especially assuming and expecting that we win the Outback Bowl. There will be new names. Remember when Butch took over, we came very very close on landing big time players. He didn't have a whole lot to sell at the time as the program was the lowest it has ever been and he was very new on the job. Now, he will have something to sell and the program is trending upward. JMO
 
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#13
#13
GoVols1961 said:
Sounded like a reasonable question to me. There are a-holes in every crowd, VB.
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I don't think anywhere in my post did I sound whiny, worried, or start melting down and declaring this the end of the TN Vols and the decline of our football team.

I don't come and post on this board 24/7 and I am not a regular, so sometimes I make a post about a question I am intrigued on and let those who "know everything" fill me in on something.

I don't have time to sift through hundreds of pages. I apologize if there are topics like this all the time. I appreciate the kind, informative responses by a handful of you.
 
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#14
#14
JoeJuan was never UT's to lose so I am not sure why that is considered a disappointing loss and as far as Christmas goes its Louisiana and for whatever reason LSU seems to be able to pull pretty much anybody they want. The other two were asked to wait so I don't really blame them.
 
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#15
#15
VersaceButch said:
So after a pretty rough past 10 days or so, what is your confidence that Butch and the staff can finish strong with this class? I don't mea finishing Top 5 and getting another studly class. I understand that spots are slim so we have to pick and choose, but do you think this class will still be great quality and close to his past two seasons?

It's been a pretty disconcerting last 10 days or so with missing out on JoeJuan, Smith, and then having Chidi and Tadaryll decommit/scholly pulled. Then to top it off DCG just decommitted and there is strong rumors Kongbo won't be retained either.

So, how do you think this shakes out?
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I understand the concern. If we miss on a few more of these big targets I will become more concerned. Something to remember on the Dline. We redshirted 2 Defensive Ends this year(Darrell Taylor and Andrew Butcher) , so technically you can say we already had 2 Defensive Ends in this class with both being RS freshman next year. I'd still like to see 1 more high school DE. We have a very good JUCO DT in Alexis Johnson. If we can land one high school DT we will be in good shape there as well. Hopefully we can land 5* Derrick Brown or 4* Tyler Clark.

Hopefully we get some good news here in the next few weeks, and everyone can relax and enjoy the class.
 
#16
#16
31VFL said:
I understand the concern. If we miss on a few more of these big targets I will become more concerned. Something to remember on the Dline. We redshirted 2 Defensive Ends this year(Darrell Taylor and Andrew Butcher) , so technically you can say we already had 2 Defensive Ends in this class with both being RS freshman next year. I'd still like to see 1 more high school DE. We have a very good JUCO DT in Alexis Johnson. If we can land one high school DT we will be in good shape there as well. Hopefully we can land 5* Derrick Brown or 4* Tyler Clark.

Hopefully we get some good news here in the next few weeks, and everyone can relax and enjoy the class.
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True! And thank you. Nice post, and I appreciate the information. I guess my number one concern is depth. We really need it. It's been the one thing to hold us back these first few years other than the obvious discrepancy in talent. Whenever someone got hurt we didn't have anyone worth a damn to replace him. I would like to see us continue to get deeper AND more talented. Only way to win in the SEC.
 
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#17
#17
I am not really worried, but I am a little concerned. We have losing more commits than we have been gaining. Yes there still is a lot of time left until NSD but there is a small level of concern.

We seem to either missed out on or are not in that great shape for some major targets of need. Expecting multiple Richmond type situations every year is a little shortsighted. I think Butch will finish fairly strong, but its a little unlikely he cracks the top 10. And its not really a numbers issue, Alabama cracks the top 5 every year regardless of numbers.
 
#19
#19
Fingers said:
I'm not sure why some get so offended by folks asking a question. It's a legit concern.

OP, sure, there has been some concerning news the past few weeks but we don't always know everything going on behind the scenes. Based on his track record, I still have confidence that Butch will close strong until he proves otherwise.

I was thinking yesterday that we need a hotlist thread to track guys we are after these last couple of months. Might be a fun way to keep tabs on the guys we are looking to close on.
Click to expand...
I think you're right on the money Fingers, I will not be concerned with recruiting until Butch proves otherwise! He has had a very good plan for recruiting so far and believe he will continue this year! Hot list is a good idea!
 
#20
#20
VersaceButch said:
True! And thank you. Nice post, and I appreciate the information. I guess my number one concern is depth. We really need it. It's been the one thing to hold us back these first few years other than the obvious discrepancy in talent. Whenever someone got hurt we didn't have anyone worth a damn to replace him. I would like to see us continue to get deeper AND more talented. Only way to win in the SEC.
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Two things, one, ANY fanbase would be concerned after the last few days, pay no attention to the rainbow sunshine fairytale guys. Two, good news on this class is it IS for depth, don't have to expect these guys to start like previous classes. No reason to think final class isn't top 10.
 
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#21
#21
Maybe this can be like last year's 3 star millionaire thread. For some reason, recruiting really took a positive swing for us once we all had Nationdom to point and laugh at
 
#22
#22
I appreciate your questions OP. Most of us, if we are being honest, are concerned with the last few days and that doesn't make us trolls or negavols- we just care about our football team! It's ridiculous that only some can ever have a concern or worry but others are told to go back to the football forum, etc. I never expected to have another stud filled top 5 class this year but I certainly didn't expect losing this many commits in a few days time. Marshall and Chidi looked to be Butchs call so he obviously has a plan but it does seem like we are missing on some players lately. And with Kongbo, it looks like he might have gotten caught up and maybe committed too soon- hope we can hang onto him. And hopefully we finish with Warrior and Brown. That could help ease the sting of the last week.
 
#23
#23
Lovesomebigorange said:
I appreciate your questions OP. Most of us, if we are being honest, are concerned with the last few days and that doesn't make us trolls or negavols- we just care about our football team! It's ridiculous that only some can ever have a concern or worry but others are told to go back to the football forum, etc. I never expected to have another stud filled top 5 class this year but I certainly didn't expect losing this many commits in a few days time. Marshall and Chidi looked to be Butchs call so he obviously has a plan but it does seem like we are missing on some players lately. And with Kongbo, it looks like he might have gotten caught up and maybe committed too soon- hope we can hang onto him. And hopefully we finish with Warrior and Brown. That could help ease the sting of the last week.
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Very true! Thanks for the intelligent post. I 100% agree that I never thought this class would be as elite as the past two. But the one thing I don't want to see is a noticeable regression. Falling out of the top 20 with this class would be concerning. Anything in the top 20 would be great and add the necessary depth we desire. As long as we can land a few guys like Brown, Warrior, and Hardman I would be extremely happy if we closed with those three guys.
 
#24
#24
We've had one voluntary decommit from a guy who just got offered by his in state school. Never made Williams a priority. We chose to part with Marshall and Chidi. One guy is 50/50. And we didn't recieve a commitment from the DE who picked Florida and Nate chose Michigan.
So we've lost one guy. I think we finish right around 10 or so. Butch obviously knows something we don't or we wouldn't be making room and neglecting a guy like Williams. Losing one or two down the stretch is typical.
 
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#25
#25
I firmly believe some, maybe all, of the dearly departed have been recruited over already, probably before they departed. Breathe in, breathe out, move on. It will be OK. Keep the faith.
 
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