Does Tennessee need a portal QB?

#1
UTFranklinVol

UTFranklinVol

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#1
So next year Nico is the starter, but what happens if he is less than advertised? Or worse if he gets seriously injured? Is our backup going to be true freshman Merklinger?

Do we need to grab a JR or SR transfer QB just as a safety net in case the worst happens or do we just ride on the rims with Merklinger?
 
#4
#4
I'd say yes to that. Going to be hard to find someone willing to come in and sit behind Nico.. Most those guys want to play. Need a backup plan if he goes down though. Throwing a true freshman to the wolves doesn't sound like a good plan in the SEC.
 
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#5
#5
How many schools are going to have 3 real options at qb in this transfer environment? The portal is there so players can find immediate playing time. Going to a program with 2 highly ranked, young qb's seems like a path to the bench. Need to find an older serviceable qb who wants to learn and eventually coach. That's why I was confused when Gaston Moore left
 
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#6
#6
utvolpj said:
How many schools are going to have 3 real options at qb in this transfer environment? The portal is there so players can find immediate playing time. Going to a program with 2 highly ranked, young qb's seems like a path to the bench. Need to find an older serviceable qb who wants to learn and eventually coach. That's why I was confused when Gaston Moore left
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Yea, me too. Gaston Moore is the perfect example of what you want as QB insurance.......
 
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#7
#7
Cartervol said:
I'd say yes to that. Going to be hard to find someone willing to come in and sit behind Nico.. Most those guys want to play. Need a backup plan if he goes down though. Throwing a true freshman to the wolves doesn't sound like a good plan in the SEC.
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Agree, but most of these people wanted Nico to start this year, which was absolutely crazy
 
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#9
#9
Besides Nico, UT has 2 QBs currently on roster for '24 and will add the freshman recruit. I think they would take another if it was the right situation but they may have to be careful with the scholly reductions in effect.
 
#11
#11
If Moore comes back, next year is no different than this year. We will have a starter backed up by a freshman backed up by Moore and Shuler. I doubt we get much of a quarterback out of the portal if he’s willing to ride the bench all year.
 
#12
#12
The talk that 'no QB will come here to ride the bench' is absolutely crazy. Oregon got two portal QBs this season to compete for starting job, both high caliber. Ole Miss got two good ones last year while they still had Jaxon Dart as starter. Bama got ND QB to come and compete while having Milroe and Simpson. GA is trending to land Malachi Nelson.

Competition makes everyone better. Neither Nico or the new guy we try to bring in should be afraid of it.
 
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#13
#13
QB Malachi Nelson was the No.1 prospect in the nation two years, signed with USC. As a freshman this year, he naturally played behind
C. Williams. I read that Nelson "battled (unspecified) injuries," struggled somewhat and was 3rd string, but certainly had a chance to start next season, what with Williams (overrated) headed to the pros. Instead, he's in the portal and leaving! What a guy! More evidence of how ridiculous things are in college football and how indulged and ridiculous today's student-athletes are--none more so than the QBs.
 
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#15
#15
volmandu said:
The talk that 'no QB will come here to ride the bench' is absolutely crazy. Oregon got two portal QBs this season to compete for starting job, both high caliber. Ole Miss got two good ones last year while they still had Jaxon Dart as starter. Bama got ND QB to come and compete while having Milroe and Simpson. GA is trending to land Malachi Nelson.

Competition makes everyone better. Neither Nico or the new guy we try to bring in should be afraid of it.
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Different realities: Dillon Gabriel is gone after this year, Nico isn't.

At Ole Miss, Sanders apparently quit going to class telling me he sees his time ending. Walker Howard didn't do much at LSU and even less at Ole Miss. I'm assuming both those guys were "projects" and don't appear to be working out.

The reality is: no one wants to come sit behind Nico if he has great year because he's young. Nico is almost certainly a 2 year starter at TN and by then Merk is right there. You're SURE to sit 2 years and then have to beat Merk.

We'll have a better chance to transfer someone in after this year when Nico has just a year, most likely if he balls out, before declaring for the draft.
 
#17
#17
Cartervol said:
I'd say yes to that. Going to be hard to find someone willing to come in and sit behind Nico.. Most those guys want to play. Need a backup plan if he goes down though. Throwing a true freshman to the wolves doesn't sound like a good plan in the SEC.
Click to expand...
Is Moore still available?
 
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#19
#19
VolFreakJosh said:
They’re not transferring to sit on the bench
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Eh, there are guys that know they’re not going to the NFL and may want to start their coaching careers. Wouldn’t be a bad move for a smart quarterback to transfer in and learn the system to become a GA later.
 
#22
#22
UTFranklinVol said:
So next year Nico is the starter, but what happens if he is less than advertised? Or worse if he gets seriously injured? Is our backup going to be true freshman Merklinger?

Do we need to grab a JR or SR transfer QB just as a safety net in case the worst happens or do we just ride on the rims with Merklinger?
Click to expand...
If a tree falls in the woods and there is nobody there to hear it, does it make a noise?
 
#23
#23
Skippy95 said:
Eh, there are guys that know they’re not going to the NFL and may want to start their coaching careers. Wouldn’t be a bad move for a smart quarterback to transfer in and learn the system to become a GA later.
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That man was Gaston Moore.

And I honestly thought Hendon Hooker looked like a coach when I saw that interview with Milton, Hooker, Bailey, and Maurer back in 2021.

He seemed very level headed then and ready to motivate the team whether he was QB1 or not.
 
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#24
#24
At the rate the courts are going, there won't be any rules restricting when a player can transfer. They'll be able to move whenever they like. I say: don't worry. If we have a QB gap next year, just flash a bunch of cash under a QB who's either on the bench or in the G5 and get them to immediately transfer. Sure there'll be a premium cost associated, but in exchange you can get your pick of the litter. Problem solved!

(I'm being sarcastic. I think. Maybe. Probably. Possibly. I don't know anymore.)
 
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#25
#25
Voltopia said:
At the rate the courts are going, there won't be any rules restricting when a player can transfer. They'll be able to move whenever they like. I say: don't worry. If we have a QB gap next year, just flash a bunch of cash under a QB who's either on the bench or in the G5 and get them to immediately transfer. Sure there'll be a premium cost associated, but in exchange you can get your pick of the litter. Problem solved!

(I'm being sarcastic. I think. Maybe. Probably. Possibly. I don't know anymore.)
Click to expand...
So you are saying the trade(transfer) deadline rule will become the 3rd Saturday in October? Cool
 
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