Let’s talk about Will Brooks

#26
#26
If the coaches think he should start I’m good with that. Regardless he’s going to play a lot of snaps this season. He’s a walk on - could have gotten a scholarship to a lesser program but loved the Vols so much he’s paying his own way. Hard to recruit that kind of heart.
 
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#27
#27
Oldvoldad said:
JJ and Jones never sniffed a natty. That is the goal.
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Is this a serious reply?

Dale Jones was the defensive leader of the 85 Sugar Vols. If Tony Robinson had stayed healthy that year, the Vols may very well have won a Natty that year with a D led by Dale Jones.

JJ McKlesky played from 89 to 92 and later started at corner for UT teams which were the rise of UT Football to being Natty contenders all through the late 90s.

If your goal is a Natty, we definitely want players like Dale Jones and JJ McKlesky on the team.
 
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#29
#29
VOLfrombama said:
He was running with the 1s at safety today. It sounds to me that the staff likes what he does enough to give him first team snaps.Unless someone steps up, I would expect him to start the first few games and play a lot regardless of starting or not.

VQ said something on the podcast that I really hope changes this season. They really need to play more younger talent early in the season and let them get real game reps so that experience with depth gets built faster over the length of the season. This has been Banks shortfall imo, although I understand that the situation hasn't always dictated the ability to accept a dropoff in skill to build depth since they have been here. This is truly the first season that the opportunity ha presented itself during this staff's tenure.

Let's hope the O gives them a big enough lead to give this young group of guys some real time experience.
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I haven’t listened to it yet , but I remember last year they were talking about Tank getting like 95% of the reps at SS. I agree that we need to build depth and get some experience on the back end .
 
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#30
#30
LeannaVol said:
Your name says old vol dad but I have to question your credentials after this post. Those two would play for any team, anytime. If you knew your history you would know they were great, especially Dale Jones.
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I loved them when they played, but they wouldn't start on a current UGA or Bubba team. That's my point. We haven't recruited the safety position well. Simple as that.
 
#32
#32
Oldvoldad said:
I loved them when they played, but they wouldn't start on a current UGA or Bubba team. That's my point. We haven't recruited the safety position well. Simple as that.
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You picked a very poor way to make your point by disparaging 2 of UT's greatest VFLs.

My point is that walk-on and lowly rated players did/can start for Natty contenders 30 years ago or today.
 
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#34
#34
Oldvoldad said:
I loved them when they played, but they wouldn't start on a current UGA or Bubba team. That's my point. We haven't recruited the safety position well. Simple as that.
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Dale was a 1986 Pre-season all American. The team had a disappointing season overall but following the season he was named all SEC and honorable mention All American. I think he would start for any team but I'll let it go.
 
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#35
#35
LittleVol said:
In regards to his speed and particularly his athleticsim. Go to each recent practice footage and watch the DB drills. Then compare him to the other DBs.

STAR is a disruptor position. Manned by a player with a variety of skill set.
Theo Jackson was 6'1 212 running that spot
Now they're trying to get 6'0 195 Boo Carter ready, but he's more athletic and faster. Yet still big enough to play in the box.

Justin Coleman was a NB, but the only difference is they cover more than a STAR. A STAR is for an attacking style defense.
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I’m excited to see what this year’s group can do, but if Theo, Alontae Taylor, and Kamal Hadden had all been born two years later, what a merry Christmas it would be.
 
#38
#38
smokeyz1 said:
Is this a serious reply?

Dale Jones was the defensive leader of the 85 Sugar Vols. If Tony Robinson had stayed healthy that year, the Vols may very well have won a Natty that year with a D led by Dale Jones.

JJ McKlesky played from 89 to 92 and later started at corner for UT teams which were the rise of UT Football to being Natty contenders all through the late 90s.

If your goal is a Natty, we definitely want players like Dale Jones and JJ McKlesky on the team.
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Maybe, but Dickey played very well after Robinson went down.
 
#39
#39
Oldvoldad said:
I loved them when they played, but they wouldn't start on a current UGA or Bubba team. That's my point. We haven't recruited the safety position well. Simple as that.
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This has to be one of the most ridiculous points. You are making an insane assumption. You don’t know if both of them would play for UGA and Bama.
 
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#42
#42
igotworms said:
And neither one of those listed are safties. Cry harder
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What about this conversation had anything to do with what player played what position.? This conversation was that we have a walk on about to start at safety and that’s an indictment on our recruiting that position.
 
#43
#43
Oldvoldad said:
What about this conversation had anything to do with what player played what position.? This conversation was that we have a walk on about to start at safety and that’s an indictment on our recruiting that position.
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Unless it isn’t, because the walk on is really good. It happens.

We don’t know yet.
 
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#45
#45
Brooks looks like a starter or just like we have on Oline, a backup that will sub for multiple spots in the secondary and get LOTS of playing time because he knows exactly what everyone should be doing, and where they should be on every play. He knows our defense inside out and back to front because he is sharp and a hard worker. Lost on lots of people these days who only look at star ratings (and skin color if we are being honest, never expecting a white guy to start at DB) is the intelligence factor. There are lots of great athletes who will never be great players at safety, LB, QB, and even WR because they simply can't learn the playbook and know where they should be (and their teammates) on every snap. I can name several former UT players that never reached their athletic potential in the NFL because they simply arent smart enough or won't study. I hope Boo isn't one of them so he can be a starter now at Star from day 1. If he doesn't, it won't be due to athletic ability...it will be because he cannot do it mentally.

There are a few players SO gifted they can be even solid NFL players despite not having it between the ears, like C.P. who never could learn the playbook at UT or the Vikings. There are some positions where you do not need to make reads or learn a playbook, so great athletes can flourish regardless. ( DE Julius Peppers can barely speak English. No way he reads or writes on a 3rd grade level) Peppers was a ProBowl caliber player who signed a $100 million contract, one of the 1st players to do so in the NFL. Brooks doesn't have incredible physical talents like some other players but he has enough talent, intelligence, experience, and dedication that his 4* peers cannot take the job from him and keep him off the field. The coaches love Brooks and I think he will make a name for himself this season.
 
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#46
#46
ENGRVOL said:
Will has been an outstanding special team player for the vols the past few years. He was the one who recovered the opening kickoff fumble right before the ball went out of bounds against lsu setting the tone of the game. Will play a big role for the Vols wherever they put him.
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It ticked me off that the announcers NEVER said his name after that play. They had numerous opportunities on replays. I said to my cousin watching with me, “that kid may never have a chance to get his name mentioned again!”

Apparently I was wrong.
 
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#47
#47
ENGRVOL said:
Will has been an outstanding special team player for the vols the past few years. He was the one who recovered the opening kickoff fumble right before the ball went out of bounds against lsu setting the tone of the game. Will play a big role for the Vols wherever they put him.
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If I remember correctly he came in and held up against our win vs Bama. They were going after him since he was a walk on having to come in at the end of the game.

I misremembered. That was William Wright
 
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#48
#48
mitzustu said:
I’m going to be honest. I wasn’t super familiar with the kid prior to the end of the year last year.

But he’s seen the field in 36 games as a Vol. Seems to be getting SIGNIFICANT run in fall camp.

Came to Tennessee as a (0 star) recruit in 2020.

No homerism here. What’s the story on the kid? Is he going to start?
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Kid loves Tennessee and loves football. Hard nose player who knows what to do. Would be great player with more athletic ability. Don't be surprised if he starts but if not, will play a lot.
 
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#49
#49
mitzustu said:
I’m going to be honest. I wasn’t super familiar with the kid prior to the end of the year last year.

But he’s seen the field in 36 games as a Vol. Seems to be getting SIGNIFICANT run in fall camp.

Came to Tennessee as a (0 star) recruit in 2020.

No homerism here. What’s the story on the kid? Is he going to start?
Click to expand...

Will Brooks could have a Chris White type season in 2024.
 
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