Last time an OL class coming in like this one?

#1
M

madbamahater

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#1
How long has it been since Vols have had this many highly rated or highly recruited OL prospects committed for an incoming class?

I know there has been a player here or there from the past several classes and most have not lived up to the hype (blaming lack of development/coaching).

How many of the 4 committed now, could start day one?

Trey Smith is probably the only one that is a sure starter next year. Maybe they move Trey back to Guard, since he is a Guard.

I can't remember how long it's been since Vols have had this many very solid prospects across the line.
 
#3
#3
madbamahater said:
How long has it been since Vols have had this many highly rated or highly recruited OL prospects committed for an incoming class?

I know there has been a player here or there from the past several classes and most have not lived up to the hype (blaming lack of development/coaching).

How many of the 4 committed now, could start day one?

Trey Smith is probably the only one that is a sure starter next year. Maybe they move Trey back to Guard, since he is a Guard.

I can't remember how long it's been since Vols have had this many very solid prospects across the line.
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"Maybe they move Trey back to Guard, since he is a Guard."

Can't say I like the idea of true freshman at the tackle position..JMO
 
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#5
#5
Yeah it is a pretty impressive OL class. Hopefully, we can pull a couple ready to play pass rushers.
 
#7
#7
Nocleats said:
No, not at all. I'm just afraid this doesn't get fixed as soon as next season either..
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If this staff can't get an "Elite" prospect like Morris ready to play day one... We've got a MUCH bigger problem. EVERY other program with a decent staff would take a player as near can't miss as WM and have him producing, but... We are UT, so he'll probably never see the field.
 
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#8
#8
This class would put it in rare category for past decade or so...if we land two 5 stars, w/ Wright included, I think you'd have to go way back to McCrae and Antone Davis signing class. Obviously, the key is, year over year signings of top shelf guys.
 
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#9
#9
if we get Wright, i'd like to know the last time we signed the #1 and #2 tackles and a top 15 G in the same class....plus 2 guys that will likely be significant contributors before it's all said and done.

i think we return everyone on the OL next year, and adding the guys we have coming in, getting Kennedy back...

i mean, i don't want to really go there right now because of how this line has performed the last two years and we've seen in the past that bringing back all 5+ OL on average to bad lines hasn't always meant much about how good they could be later on in their careers....but....if nothing else, we should have a legit 2 deep where you can have 2 sets of 5 that can play as a unit, instead of the musical chairs we've had to do the past few years. and experience does matter. how much? couldn't tell ya.

but i won't be expecting the OL to suck next year.
 
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#11
#11
madbamahater said:
How long has it been since Vols have had this many highly rated or highly recruited OL prospects committed for an incoming class?

I know there has been a player here or there from the past several classes and most have not lived up to the hype (blaming lack of development/coaching).

How many of the 4 committed now, could start day one?

Trey Smith is probably the only one that is a sure starter next year. Maybe they move Trey back to Guard, since he is a Guard.

I can't remember how long it's been since Vols have had this many very solid prospects across the line.
Click to expand...

The starting line up will be the same as it is the same right now except for Kennedy at Center. Book it
 
#13
#13
The optimistic side of me is hopeful about the O-line haul.

The pessimistic side of me is concerned about D-line recruiting. We lose Shy Tuttle, Kyle Phillips, Alexis Johnson, and Paul Bain after this season. That's a lot to replace. We've landed a few commits, but flipping Norton would be huge.
 
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#14
#14
DiderotsGhost said:
The optimistic side of me is hopeful about the O-line haul.

The pessimistic side of me is concerned about D-line recruiting. We lose Shy Tuttle, Kyle Phillips, Alexis Johnson, and Paul Bain after this season. That's a lot to replace. We've landed a few commits, but flipping Norton would be huge.
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yeah, the DL is most certainly a big ? mark going forward.

but just from a #'s standpoint, if there's any good news, we should have some good #'s at least. we'll have a rotation of players, and getting Greg Emerson to develop in to something would be extremely beneficial. cause 2 or 3 of the guys coming in next year will be expected to contribute pretty much immediately.

and i agree. we need to get Norton or Moore...or both....lol. we don't have a difference maker (that we know of) on the DL headed in to next year, and i'm not saying either of those two would be as true freshmen. but, i'll hedge my bets with high 4*'s every day.........lol.
 
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#15
#15
The OL will look totally different next year. We should see (including Kennedy) a minimum of 3 new starters (maybe 4).

Our front 7 on D will be the same way. Darrel Taylor will be the only starter returning on the DL (note Gooden is not currently starting). And Bituli will be the only starting LB that is in the starting lineup in game 1 next year. (I think you see JJ Peterson, Bituli, Lakia Henry). Abernathy departs in favor of Flowers, and all the DBs have another year of experience. Could be a turnaround that’s quicker than some expect. Lots of talent upgrades.
 
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#16
#16
jakez4ut said:
yeah, the DL is most certainly a big ? mark going forward.

but just from a #'s standpoint, if there's any good news, we should have some good #'s at least. we'll have a rotation of players, and getting Greg Emerson to develop in to something would be extremely beneficial. cause 2 or 3 of the guys coming in next year will be expected to contribute pretty much immediately.

and i agree. we need to get Norton or Moore...or both....lol. we don't have a difference maker (that we know of) on the DL headed in to next year, and i'm not saying either of those two would be as true freshmen. but, i'll hedge my bets with high 4*'s every day.........lol.
Click to expand...

We’ll be ok at DT. Gooden returns and imo is the best talent we have there this year anyway. Emerson should be ready. You bring two JUCOs in that should be ready. That in addition to two Freshmen at a minimum and a couple of guys currently on the roster that should develop. Garland, Mincey, Butler, Bennett. Do Kingston Harris and Crosby move back with increased OL depth? DL will be much deeper next year.
 
#17
#17
mitzustu said:
We’ll be ok at DT. Gooden returns and imo is the best talent we have there this year anyway. Emerson should be ready. You bring two JUCOs in that should be ready. That in addition to two Freshmen at a minimum and a couple of guys currently on the roster that should develop. Garland, Mincey, Butler, Bennett. Do Kingston Harris and Crosby move back with increased OL depth? DL will be much deeper next year.
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i think both lines will be "deeper". i think the quality of the depth on the OL will be better than the DL.

maybe by a lot?
 
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#18
#18
jakez4ut said:
i think both lines will be "deeper". i think the quality of the depth on the OL will be better than the DL.

maybe by a lot?
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I don’t know. There are a lot of names in my above post that can develop at tackle. I love Bain’s commitment. But we are rotating a walk on that is playing his Senior year out of necessity. That’s not the case next year. And more bodies means fresher players. Rotation is key at DT.
 
#19
#19
mitzustu said:
The OL will look totally different next year. We should see (including Kennedy) a minimum of 3 new starters (maybe 4).

Our front 7 on D will be the same way. Darrel Taylor will be the only starter returning on the DL (note Gooden is not currently starting). And Bituli will be the only starting LB that is in the starting lineup in game 1 next year. (I think you see JJ Peterson, Bituli, Lakia Henry). Abernathy departs in favor of Flowers, and all the DBs have another year of experience. Could be a turnaround that’s quicker than some expect. Lots of talent upgrades.
Click to expand...
Assuming we are an improved team as expected, our schedule appears to be more manageable next year also...so, you may be right about turn around. Trade WVU for BYU. Trade Auburn for Miss St. Additionally, Miss St, Mizz, Vandy will all have BIG QB shoes to fill.
 
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#21
#21
mitzustu said:
I don’t know. There are a lot of names in my above post that can develop at tackle. I love Bain’s commitment. But we are rotating a walk on that is playing his Senior year out of necessity. That’s not the case next year. And more bodies means fresher players. Rotation is key at DT.
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i hear ya, and that's been my "silver lining" when discussing the DL...we will have a rotation for sure.

just not sure how many, if any, are really difference makers. guys like Gooden and Emerson will definitely need to pick it up for sure.

the other good thing is that in the 34, you don't necessarily have to have a group that compiles a bunch of stats as far as TFL's and sacks. i mean, obviously that'd be great, and you want them to be able to do that, but really, if they can do job #1 and eat up the OL so the LB's can go make plays, then the front 7 can be serviceable.

and i think we're gonna like the LB corp next year.
 
#23
#23
bignewt said:
5-7 this year...8-4 next year.
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That sounds about right to me. Wins vs GaSt, BYU, Chatt, Miss St, UAB, MIZZ, Vandy (Miss St, Miz, Vandy will have new QB's) and win 1 of KY, SC, Bama, UGA, UF. 8-4 should be a reasonable minimal expectation.
 
#25
#25
jakez4ut said:
and i think we're gonna like the LB corp next year.
Click to expand...
This.
Taylor/D Johnson
Bituli/DKjr
Sapp/Henry
Peterson/Allen

Ignont, Reid and Austin Smith would see time I’m sure. But this group should be nasty next year. Sapp DKjr and Taylor will all be seniors/RS seniors
 
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