Doug Matthews Big Orange Sunday July 6, 2014
Doug reiterated what he said a week ago on Big Orange Sunday.
We will sign 24 players in this class.
We currently have 18 players committed.
2-4 will likely not be part of this class after NSD.
Players can commit to a school, but the coaches do not have to accept that commitment and can not comment on the recruits before NSD.
We have 9 scholarship slots left in this 2015 recruiting class.
The staff can be selective in choosing the 9 remaining slots.
5 spots are being held for Jefferson, Phillips, McKenzie, McGraw, and Richmond. We will likely get at least 3 out of those 5 players.
Important that we have our QBs recruiting in place for stability of class.
Doug Matthews stated that Butch can be patient and selective with these=final 9 spots because we have 31 players from the 2014 class on campus and the staff has had the opportunity to see them on campus and have a good idea of their talent and skill sets. They have a good idea of what they can do and have been able to focus on where the teams biggest needs are now.
Doug stated that heading into 2015 recruiting the 5 positions of biggest need are as follows:
1. QB Getting Dormady and Jennings is huge because this creates stability in this recruiting class.
2. Cornerback
3. Linebacker
4. Defensive Tackle
5. Defensive End
Matthews looked at the 2014 class and commented on how Butch Jones and Bob Welton look at it and use it to determine where to go with the rest of the 2015 class.
Hendrix is likely moving inside. Jakob Johnson is definitely moving to defensive end
The numbers on the offensive line are better than what some believe. . Two more defensive tackles from the 2014 class are moving to the offensive line. Coaches like to sign defensive linemen and move them over to the offensive line, rather than the other way around.
Linebacker Coaches love Niko Creamer. He is big and fast. They know what they have in Bryant and Bates.
Cornerback - Moseley and Payne came in early. Add in Gaulden and Evan Berry into the mix for the CB job opposite Sutton.
Nickel and Safety Elliot Berry, TK Jr, and McDowell will get shots at the nickel position.
Wide Receiver Malone and Pearson have added the depth and talent that they have needed to surround North and the QBs.
TE Wolfe and Helm have added the tight ends that this team desperately needed.
Positions of Need 6 out of 9 are on defensive side of the ball
1. Quarterback . - Doug Matthews stated that he feels even stronger this week about the Vols not signing another QB in this class because he said that he has been told that UT coaches have made the decision to not accept or sign another QB in this class, whether that players is a dual threat QB or a pro-style QB. Jennings and Dormady are their QBs in this class.
2. Cornerback - Matthews said that this is the most pressing need and that we would take 2 corners with the 9 final slots in this class.
3. Linebacker - Matthews said we would take 1-2 more linebackers with the final 9 slots.
4. Defensive Tackle Matthews said we would take 2 more DTs with the remaining 9 slots.
5. Defensive End Matthews said that with Hendrix loving inside, we will likely add 2 more defensive ends in this class.
Where We are In Good Shape
Matthews looked at where the staff believes that we are in good shape at WR, but says we will take one more WR in addition to Williams. He believes that other WR is Van Jefferson.
Doug said that the staff believes that it is good shape on the offensive line. We will still want to ad Richmond if possible.
The Vols are done recruiting RBs. With Hurd, Scott, Paulk in house and Reid and Kamara coming in, we are loaded at RB and done recruiting there unless someone from this group leaves.
We are in grerast shape at TE with Wolfe and Helm. Oliver brings a different skill set to the team. He has the size and speed to line up inside and in the slot.
Griffin will be our lone safety in this class. The staff likes were we are at safety.
Matthews stated that everything can change via injury or departure. Butch will be selective with the final 9 slots and can be creative if he choose to do so. We will no longer be in apposition to sign 30 players in class because of the talent that we brought in the 2014 class. The staff knows the character and personalities of the recruits and is looking at whether a particular player fits in with the current team members and recruiting class. Team chemistry is important.
