FL LB DeMario Tolan (LSU commit)

[Leeleesteeth]

This guys was a huge swing to get
Been an LSU guy for awhile
But
I’m still not a huge fan of our DC yet

I'm sure he'll be heartbroken to hear that.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Literally weren’t a factor till late in the game.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure we were recruiting Tolan not long at all after Heupel got the job. And what about Brian Kelly? It doesn't sound like Tolan really had much of a relationship with him until he got the LSU job.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Fulmer was too busy lining his pockets to do anything on NiL. This has been on the horizon for a couple years now.

Not disagreeing but I think DW misjudged the impact. I don't think he thought high-school players were going to be getting 7 figures. Let's be honest, this NIL is just a facade for high roller boosters to purchase recruits. NIL is a sham.

 

[volbeast33]

Josh is still not looking like a closer and I like him but you can’t miss this much. It’s not the NCAA thing with these guys we are in the final battle on. But we are not getting those who need funds.

The three new coaches in the SEC are all recruiting about the same…. We will be able to tell more next year… we are above South Carolina and slightly below Auburn in average star rating…. We are the only one facing an NCAA investigation…. Next year is off to a good start and looks like we have caught many more guys attention based off the results of this season.

 

[UTMVol76]

Win on the field and they will come. In the mean time, go pick up a rental player or two, and win with them.

Agree with others, ‘23 should be better, and we should expect better, but this year we had no relationships and in essence we had to go steal other guys girlfriends or go after the “diamonds in the rough”. One is a tough pull, the other isn’t good enough for this fan base.

 

[Mr French]

This guys was a huge swing to get
Been an LSU guy for awhile
But
I’m still not a huge fan of our DC yet

I am, people want to blame heupel for the defense being on the field too long but I point to Kentucky... Banks called the perfect plays on a lot of 3rd and long and our boys whiffed on tackles and let them convert. Swain is right, coaches can only do so much but players have to make the plays. These kids are well coached and they'll only be better the second year understanding the system.

 

[VolMike16]

This one is disappointing. Clear path to play quickly. Has LSU even hired a DC? Need to hit the portal and Willis needs to be the dude we all hope he is. Have to upgrade that room badly

 

[UTMVol76]

Oh, we still may get this guy; AP going on conjecture (not OL blaming that’s all he can go on). We’ll see Wednesday.

 

[KnoxToTheBoro93]

My goodness you guys get to crying so much lol no individual player will make or break the class just relax… this staff has shown a significant upgrade in their ability to develop Players over previous staffs… we got some good players in the class committed and a lot of players returning… the defense in year 2 will be better and the culture is being built no matter who we get they will get coached up very well… and we haven’t whiffed on everybody… every single year there will be multiple players that we hope sign with the Vols that sign elsewhere just at least wait till Wednesday before panicking good grief

 

[csprig9]

Yep…because you don’t have to have players to do so

Yep
Your right
Give him a raise

 

[Jackcrevol]

Yep
Your right
Give him a raise

you're right*

 

[St. JohnVolCactus]

Yeah there’s a list as long as my arm of things other teams are using to recruit against us. Playing opposite the uptempo offense is wayyy toward the bottom.

The topic is the defensive recruiting struggles. Not some list supporting negative recruiting themes used against TN.

 

[Smyrna ATL Vol]

We better be throwing the book at Diabute from UF.

 

[UTMVol76]

We better be throwing the book at Diabute from UF.

That’s the wonderful thing now if we miss out on prospects, we have a plethora of portal players to choose from (then swing for higher ranked HS prospects next year). It’s not the end of the world like it would have been past years.

 

[Smyrna ATL Vol]

That’s the wonderful thing now if we miss out on prospects, we have a plethora of portal players to choose from (then swing for higher ranked HS prospects next year). It’s not the end of the world like it would have been past years.

I would actually prefer to take some portal players right now than high school players. They have been through S&C programs and played big football. No guesses on them and know what you’re getting. Fastest way to win now.

 

[UTMVol76]

I would actually prefer to take some portal players right now than high school players. They have been through S&C programs and played big football. No guesses on them and know what you’re getting. Fastest way to win now.

 

[UTMVol76]

I would actually prefer to take some portal players right now than high school players. They have been through S&C programs and played big football. No guesses on them and know what you’re getting. Fastest way to win now.

Key is, do what you have to do to win now. At the same time build a positive culture players will want to play in and for. You already see that part of the key now with the new transfer rules is to have an environment that kids will want to stay and play for year in year out.

 

[TheBigOne10]

Don’t need a defense. Just score 60 a game.

 

[UTMVol76]

Don’t need a defense. Just score 60 a game.

Science

 

[jdavis675]

Not disagreeing but I think DW misjudged the impact. I don't think he thought high-school players were going to be getting 7 figures. Let's be honest, this NIL is just a facade for high roller boosters to purchase recruits. NIL is a sham.

Tennessee state law prohibits anyone from the university or athletic department from causing a player to receive NIL compensation.

What exactly do you expect DW to do?

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Josh is still not looking like a closer and I like him but you can’t miss this much. It’s not the NCAA thing with these guys we are in the final battle on. But we are not getting those who need funds.

Please give us the evidence that the NCAA “thing” isn’t playing a factor in our recruiting.

 

[MrVolton]

Tennessee state law prohibits anyone from the university or athletic department from causing a player to receive NIL compensation.

What exactly do you expect DW to do?

Work around it like all of our competitors are.

 

[VFL92]

Hard to recruit to a defense that will be on the field for 40-45 mins.

People don’t like to admit this one. But I think there’s some validity to it.

 

[MrVolton]

The topic is the defensive recruiting struggles. Not some list supporting negative recruiting themes used against TN.

My point is that there are a lot of things that could explain defensive recruiting struggles, but I guarantee you that uptempo offense plays little - if any - role in it.

 

[jdavis675]

Work around it like all of our competitors are.

Not all of our competitors have the same legal standard.

And how exactly do you work around that? No university employee can take any action that would cause a player to receive NIL compensation.