I can't recall a better DB class than this.

[wmcovol]

And I've been following recruiting since the 1980s with Joe Terranova and Max Emfinger. Osborne, Warrior, Byrd and Buchannon really look great.

DB has been one of the weaknesses of the defense for yrs. I don't think so anymore with these guys and who is coming back.

 

[DL916]

If Byrd is as good as he looked on tape and at the AA game he'll get plenty of playing time and a lot of learning from Cam Sutton. Really excited to see how this group develops.

Don't sleep on Osborne kid plays with a chip on his shoulder and is extremely smart and hard working.

 

[loggervol]

I think Calloway could be good on def also.

 

[Volunteer Pride]

If Byrd is as good as he looked on tape and at the AA game he'll get plenty of playing time and a lot of learning from Cam Sutton. Really excited to see how this group develops.

Don't sleep on Osborne kid plays with a chip on his shoulder and is extremely smart and hard working.

Agreed about Osborne. I don't know if it's just me but the kid just has a name that fits Tennessee, Marquill Osborne

 

[CrunchingTheVolz]

I think Calloway could be good on def also.

True. Could be a swap. Callaway to defense and Byrd to offense. Both guys could play both ways.

 

[Volunteer Pride]

True. Could be a swap. Callaway to defense and Byrd to offense. Both guys could play both ways.

I wanna see what Byrd can do at corner. He was a lockdown in the AA game.

 

[Dust10]

I think Calloway could be good on def also.

I have no evidence of this, but I feel like the coaches were recruiting him as a db before we got Buchanan and Byrd. When things looked good with those guys, we offered him at WR and he was all about it.

 

[Bms4880]

And I've been following recruiting since the 1980s with Joe Terranova and Max Emfinger. Osborne, Warrior, Byrd and Buchannon really look great.

I don't recall one, either. Maybe 1997, which included Deon Grant and Andre Lott.

Either way, our opponents' QBs just need to start making peace with the INT column.

 

[utvols74]

I don't recall one, either. Maybe 1997, which included Deon Grant and Andre Lott.

Either way, our opponents' QBs just need to start making peace with the INT column.

:lolabove:

I've been following recruiting since the mid-80s as well and I don't remember a better one either. The one with Grant/Lott was special no doubt. Of course E Berry completely dominated his side when he played DB rather than a DB/LBish role. Our defensive secondary was special with E. Berry and Jansen Jackson (despite his off the field issues). I'll never forget JJ's hit in the Music City Bowl. It was a beautiful hit; he was nicknamed the "macho-missle-man". However, it was a personal foul - put NC in field goal range - and UT lost.

Nevertheless, maybe we'll finally get the lockdown CB's we need much like UF seems to routinely get.

 

[livefaith]

No doubt. A couple of guys with NFL all-pro dads at the position too. Can't hurt. Plus, it's not like we're gutted at the position right now either. Even if Sutton had went to the NFL, our starters at DB looked pretty decent.

Getting talented depth at safety, corner, and nickel (Shoop?) is a beautiful thang.

 

[QuickSmurf]

If Byrd is as good as he looked on tape and at the AA game he'll get plenty of playing time and a lot of learning from Cam Sutton. Really excited to see how this group develops.

Don't sleep on Osborne kid plays with a chip on his shoulder and is extremely smart and hard working.

I can see him on offense some. Bryd is a star. BTW so glad to have Scott on our team. We just have some amazing people all in and around our program. I loved seeing Wilson breaking down Kongbo's film. Ainge was good too.

 

[NMVol]

Didn't Tim Priest, Bobby Majors, et al, break the national single season interception record back in the day?

 

[Volunteer Pride]

I can see him on offense some. Bryd is a star. BTW so glad to have Scott on our team. We just have some amazing people all in and around our program. I loved seeing Wilson breaking down Kongbo's film. Ainge was good too.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Ainge on CBS or ESPN one day

 

[wmcovol]

Didn't Tim Priest, Bobby Majors, et al, break the national single season interception record back in the day?

They did but they weren't the same class. I'm talking about one signing class with 4 or 5 DBs. All appear impressive.

 

[norrislakevol]

This may or may not be the most talented DB class ever, but I think it is damn sure the fastest. Some real burners in this haul.

 

[wildorange]

I wonder what the position rankings are for us nationally at DB. GBO!

 

[fade route]

Shoop has to be doing the cabbage patch in his home office tonight over this haul

 

[DiderotsGhost]

Funny how just two months ago, the secondary was one of the biggest concerns. I know when I did a write-up on our recruiting, that was the area I was most worried about. And yet here we are with one of the best secondary hauls in America: Warrior, Byrd, Osborne, Henderson, Buchanan. We even have a few guys that could probably be converted to secondary if we really needed them there (L. Williams, Callaway).

 

[TexasVolfan1]

I wonder what the position rankings are for us nationally at DB. GBO!

Scout has us 4th behind Alabama, Notre dame, and LSU. But they have Byrd, Osborne, and Buchanan rated much lower than the other sites

 

[thebjd]

I don't recall one, either. Maybe 1997, which included Deon Grant and Andre Lott.

Either way, our opponents' QBs just need to start making peace with the INT column.

That is the class I immediately thought of as well.

 

[UTK]

Byrd may seriously push to start as a freshman. He's that good.

 

[gunner]

This class really fit UT' s needs for the coming season and beyond. The addition of Warrior and Byrd were icing on the cake! Kongbo will be a terror on the end opposite of Barnett. JG is the QB of the future for the Vols and fits the system on offense perfectly. The future is bright on Rocky Top!

 

[rtb1983]

But can butch recruit in the sec? I remember hearing that asked many, many times when he was first hired. These last 3 classes has shown that he can.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

2008 may have been better on paper with Berry, McKenzie and Willingham. Have to wait and see on the field.

 

[BigOrangeVols]

Not sure who else was in Eric Berry's class but that one probably comes to mind. This one is awesome though.