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

#26
#26
IMO, Warrior was the #1 DB in the country. Outstanding in his own right but its understood his cousin would join him in 2017 - (2) 5*'s for the price of one!
 
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#29
#29
I've posted this before:

A friend of mine is on the football staff at Hough HS. According to him Fields (2015 DB, went to USCjr I believe) was the better athlete, but he believes Osbourne is the better corner and referred to him as a "shutdown corner".
 
#30
#30
On paper, the 2007 class had lots of DBs with stars:

Eric Berry
Deangelo Willingham (4*)
Nevin McKenzie (4*)
Brent Vinson (4*)

Plus a couple 3* in there
 
#31
#31
wmcovol said:
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.
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Absolutely! With Cam, Berry, TK2, Gaulden, and Martin, and let's not forget others like Griffin, Abernathy etc., our secondary will be outstanding. Probably one of the deepest, most athletic and maybe the fastest in the country.
 
#32
#32
Yeah this class killed it with adding elite players to the secondary. Thing is tho is that last year's DB/S class was pretty nasty too...Rashaan Gaulden, Micah Abernathy, Justin Martin, Stephen Griffin (3* but he's gonna get some pt no doubt), and potentially Jauan Jennings if he ends up going to safety.

Off topic (JJ at S made me realize it), but I think we have 3 players that have real potential to play on both sides of the ball. JJ has showed he has killer potential at wideout, but apparently he has NFL written all over him at safety. Tyler Byrd is a freak, and don't be surprised if the coaching staff tries him on both sides of the ball. And Marquez Callaway is an athletic freak with the size and speed to play either WR or CB. If any of these players do play Off and Def, I would want them to primarily play one side of the ball and only would want them to do it if they can handle it without it holding back their potential at both positions since theyre having to learn 2 positions rather than perfect their skills at just CB or just WR.
 
#34
#34
paradox89 said:
Yeah this class killed it with adding elite players to the secondary. Thing is tho is that last year's DB/S class was pretty nasty too...Rashaan Gaulden, Micah Abernathy, Justin Martin, Stephen Griffin (3* but he's gonna get some pt no doubt), and potentially Jauan Jennings if he ends up going to safety.

Off topic (JJ at S made me realize it), but I think we have 3 players that have real potential to play on both sides of the ball. JJ has showed he has killer potential at wideout, but apparently he has NFL written all over him at safety. Tyler Byrd is a freak, and don't be surprised if the coaching staff tries him on both sides of the ball. And Marquez Callaway is an athletic freak with the size and speed to play either WR or CB. If any of these players do play Off and Def, I would want them to primarily play one side of the ball and only would want them to do it if they can handle it without it holding back their potential at both positions since theyre having to learn 2 positions rather than perfect their skills at just CB or just WR.
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Gaulden was with Berry, TKjr, Moseley class.....
 
#35
#35
HARTUPM said:
Absolutely! With Cam, Berry, TK2, Gaulden, and Martin, and let's not forget others like Griffin, Abernathy etc., our secondary will be outstanding. Probably one of the deepest, most athletic and maybe the fastest in the country.
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Abernathy and Foreman will play a lot. Both are good players. Abernathy could be a stalwart at CB.
 
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#37
#37
Imagine following it up with a class that includes Deangelo Gibbs, Jacoby Stevens, Gentry Bonds, and Lamont Wade. That's potentially 3 5 stars there. And all seem like realistic possibilities.
 
#38
#38
Our defensive backfield is gonna be sick. Imagine berry and tkjr at safety, gaulden as the nickel, sutton at one corner, and Byrd, Martin, foreman, Mosley, abnerathy, warrior, Osborne, and Buchanan battling it out for the last spot. Insane!
 
#39
#39
I wouldn't say Tennessee's 2016 DB recruiting class is the best in school history, but it's right up there near the top.

This year's class includes 3 Rivals100, 4-Star prospects in Tyler Byrd (#75), Marquill Osborne (#79), & Nigel Warrior (#92). That's a great DB haul.

But Tennessee also signed highly touted DB classes in 2014, 2011, 2009, 2007, & 2002.

UT's 2014 class signed five total 4* DB prospects, but doesn't look impressive at all now as Payne transferred out and McDowell moved to LB. Kelly (#66), Gaulden (#232), and 4* Berry are still on the roster though. 2011 was also very impressive on paper but didn't materialize. The class included 4 total DBs that were rated as 4* prospects, but the two JUCO prospects (Moore & Lanier) didn't play out their entire careers at UT & one DB (Pat Martin) never made it to campus. Coleman (#220) finished his career at Tennessee but never was an elite player, IMO.

The 2009 class included one 5-Star & three 4-Star prospects. The crown jewel was 5-Star Safety & #17 overall player Janzen Jackson. Jackson was an All-Conference type player in his first two years on campus as a starter, but was ultimately dismissed from the team. Darren Myles Jr. (#133) was kicked off before producing anything at UT. Eric Gordon was a solid player at UT & Teague alternated between DB & WR during his career.

The 2007 class signed #3 overall prospect & 5* Eric Berry along with 5* JUCO Vinson, 4* JUCO Willingham, & 4* JUCO McKenzie. Vinson never materialized & Eric Berry was the only player that made a real difference (huge impact).

Then finally the 2002 DB class at Tennessee included #65 overall recruit Jason Allen, #83 overall recruit Jonathan Wade, & 4* JUCO Gibril Wilson.

There have been several DB hauls signed by UT that has been as good as the 2016 class on paper, but most all didn't materialize. I think the 2002 DB class was the best signed by Tennessee, IMO. Allen, Wade, & Wilson were all All-Conference players at UT & played long careers in the NFL.

Hopefully the 2016 DB class resembles the 2002 class more so than the 2011, 2009, or 2007 classes.
 
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#40
#40
DL916 said:
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.
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Earlier today ESPN said of Tyler Bird they predict he will be an immediate impact player for UT next season. They only listed 5 out of the 2016 class & he was one of them. Of course Gray(#1 prospect) was the #1 guy that was listed but Bird was listed 3rd I believe out of the 5.

I would name the 5 players but I can't remember all 5 of them right off the top of my head. I believe one of the others was a DE signed to Florida. I believe he was the #10 overall prospect but I can't remember his name. His last name was weird. I'll see if I can possibly find an article or something about this on ESPN.
 
#42
#42
You mean nobody can remember that awesome class 2012 that included Daniel Gray and Dion Bonner or ,that settler class of 2011 that included Tino Thomas, Orta, Pat Martin.. Dooley really had a eye for talent..:crazy:
 
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#44
#44
HARTUPM said:
Foreman looked real good in the outback bowl game.
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Foreman looked good from the Bama game until the end. Also played well in the UGA game. Coaches were stupid early in the season not giving him any help at all on deep post after deep post out of the slot. You're asking for a big play to happen.
 
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