Loving this signing class!

[dimera23]

I've made my career in business by ignoring what I don't have and appreciating what I do. I think Volnation would benefit greatly from a little of that perspective. That said, I'm thrilled about our newest signing class!

Joshua Dobbs is the biggest piece of this pie. The kid is simply amazing. He's got a nice, accurate arm. He can move around in the pocket but he's also got the intelligence to understand how read the defenses and develop the patience to stay int he pocket while the play develops. The brain is the most important tool in a QBs box and this kid has a sharp one.

Marquez North is a beast. 18 years old, 6'4" 215 with 4.4 speed. If he commits himself to improving his route running, he could be dominant.

Jabo Lee is the sleeper of the class. He's nimble and quick and could be the type of back that flousishes in Coach Jones' offense.

On Defense Jalen Reeves-Maybin has the size and speed to be an impact linebacker while Corey Vereen has that plus the smarts (1120 SAT score) to lead an improved Defense.

At 6'6", 280 and growing Jason Carr can anchor our D-Line.


These are just the players who stand out in my opinion. The other players can help us with much needed depth in all aspects of the game.

We'll look back on this class in a few years and say this is where we really started our climb back to the top.

 

[VFLPastor]

Agreed. Complaining waists time and energy.

Here's hoping that CBJ and staff coach up champions from this class and the ones already here!

Go Vols!

 

[SmokeySC]

Malik Foreman is one to look out for as well. IMO JMO.. :salute:

 

[VolMaster14]

We have some very good pieces. Solid pieces. But as a whole this class is average at best. You have to have good depth to win in the SEC. As I've said before, I give Butch a pass for now just because of the short time he had to recruit and the mess he had to clean up.

 

[Biopsyman]

Sanders... , Size (No Homo) Attitude and Strenght means Mauler

 

[Thrasher865]

Oh, brother.

Let's call it what it is: a very underwhelming class.

Sure there are some nice pieces. There will be in any class. As a whole, though, there isn't much to be excited about.

I applaud your optimism, though.

 

[Titan&Volfan4life]

I don't doubt this at all.

Freak listed 3 players as "surprise" signees and I was happy to see that 2 of them were D linemen that we badly needed.

bUTch filled many NEEDS on our roster and left some spots open so he can still recruit more kids if some good ones come available.

Trent Dilfer knows a little bit about QB's and he said the Tennessee QB's brought in are the number 1 BEST QB class in the country.

Some of the 3* kids weren't far off from being a 4* player and the star system is mostly someones dumb opinions anyway.

There's NOBODY here on VN that knows what our coaches do and what type of players they're looking for to fit their systems and NOBODY knows how well several of these players may develope in the next 2 or 3 years so we just might have some future all SEC guys in this class.

People should really only judge a recruiting class AFTER the kids have been here for 3 or 4 years because some kids will breakout only in their Junior or Senior years and the NFL will be calling their names.

bUTch will be here at least 4 years so people better get on board and support our coaches and players or else go support vandy or somebody.

Whining, crying and belittling our coaches and players is just plain dumb and immature at this point because all smart people know this rebuilding project IS going to take 4 YEARS or longer to get our Vols back on top in the SEC.

Reality evades most people and they keep on OVERexpecting and then they wonder why they're always depressed, letdown and negative all the time.

Right now we're simply a very bad football program that has to play in the SEC against some of the best teams and programs in the country.

People need to start looking for the good, positive things instead of always looking for anything they can find to gripe and whine like a baby about.

VFL...GBO!!!

 

[BSAvol]

I'm proud to have all of our new VOLS. I hope that it is the unfulfilled needs, not the indivuals in this class, that is the cause for so much concern. I'd have liked for UT to have more RB, LB, and DT; however I won't complain about the guys we signed.

 

[King Webbsticles]

There are some great pieces in this class. Dobbs and Ferguson are great qb pickups, Weissman will start by his sophomore year, the receivers are great.

Its worrisome that we didn't get some more OL, our defensive line depth is scary after next year, and we needed linebackers badly.

 

[BigOrangeD]

We have some very good pieces. Solid pieces. But as a whole this class is average at best. You have to have good depth to win in the SEC. As I've said before, I give Butch a pass for now just because of the short time he had to recruit and the mess he had to clean up.

I agree. We will need more depth next year. DL, LB, and RB.

 

[EconVol92]

Seriously, there are many times that a 3 star winds up being a 1st team All American and the 4 or 5 star is a bust. The man just started on December 7th and he got some players that were not even approached prior to his arrival and then signed them.

I think that Butch deserves credit as even the recruits we just lost out on were not even considering Tennessee when he came on board as coach. I like him more and more as time passes and think that we may have a keeper here. No one can really tell until we see how the players improve and if they play to the very end for him.

We will have a much better idea about this coach and staff roughly this time next year and I plan on doing nothing but supporting him until he proves that support is unwarranted.

 

[Sheath Huler]

Grateful Dead

 

[King Webbsticles]

I agree. We will need more depth next year. DL, LB, and RB.

I'd expect to sign about 13-14 recruits in just these three positions next year, which puts us is a big jam if we can't get it.

 

[BigOrangeD]

Seriously, there are many times that a 3 star winds up being a 1st team All American and the 4 or 5 star is a bust. The man just started on December 7th and he got some players that were not even approached prior to his arrival and then signed them.

I think that Butch deserves credit as even the recruits we just lost out on were not even considering Tennessee when he came on board as coach. I like him more and more as time passes and think that we may have a keeper here. No one can really tell until we see how the players improve and if they play to the very end for him.

We will have a much better idea about this coach and staff roughly this time next year and I plan on doing nothing but supporting him until he proves that support is unwarranted.

Me too.

 

[BigOrangeD]

I'd expect to sign about 13-14 recruits in just these three positions next year, which puts us is a big jam if we can't get it.

Agree

 

[SmokeySC]

I'd expect to sign about 13-14 recruits in just these three positions next year, which puts us is a big jam if we can't get it.

Bates , Creamer , Hurd .. Done . lol :loco:

 

[GoVols15]

I don't doubt this at all.

Freak listed 3 players as "surprise" signees and I was happy to see that 2 of them were D linemen that we badly needed.

bUTch filled many NEEDS on our roster and left some spots open so he can still recruit more kids if some good ones come available.

Trent Dilfer knows a little bit about QB's and he said the Tennessee QB's brought in are the number 1 BEST QB class in the country.

Some of the 3* kids weren't far off from being a 4* player and the star system is mostly someones dumb opinions anyway.

There's NOBODY here on VN that knows what our coaches do and what type of players they're looking for to fit their systems and NOBODY knows how well several of these players may develope in the next 2 or 3 years so we just might have some future all SEC guys in this class.

People should really only judge a recruiting class AFTER the kids have been here for 3 or 4 years because some kids will breakout only in their Junior or Senior years and the NFL will be calling their names.

bUTch will be here at least 4 years so people better get on board and support our coaches and players or else go support vandy or somebody.

Whining, crying and belittling our coaches and players is just plain dumb and immature at this point because all smart people know this rebuilding project IS going to take 4 YEARS or longer to get our Vols back on top in the SEC.

Reality evades most people and they keep on OVERexpecting and then they wonder why they're always depressed, letdown and negative all the time.

Right now we're simply a very bad football program that has to play in the SEC against some of the best teams and programs in the country.

People need to start looking for the good, positive things instead of always looking for anything they can find to gripe and whine like a baby about.

VFL...GBO!!!

Well said! Tell it like it is brother! Either jump in the pool and RISE TO THE TOP with the volunteer family or keep your clothes on and stay on the shore! CBJ is pushing the right buttons and I am impressed with what he has done so far. Now it's time to see what happens on the field!

Oh, one more thing for all you negavols out there. Yes you can call me a "sunshine pumper" and I am not offended. I prefer light over darkness anytime!

:clapping:

 

[orangeluvr]

Top programs are built around good home state players, our best players go elsewhere and this crap has got to stop. CBJ and staff should have as much contact with in state talent as the rules will allow. Fax those prospect sheets out and get those critical relationships going ASAP.

 

[VFLPastor]

Oh, one more thing for all you negavols out there. Yes you can call me a "sunshine pumper" and I am not offended. I prefer light over darkness anytime!

Yes! This!:good!:

 

[marvin]

Damn!!!! I can't believe it. Not one negative post yet. I am so tired of those that can't
have anything except a whinning attitude about everything.

Go Big Orange!!!!

 

[Gandalf]

Frankly, considering our last few years it is astonishing that Rivals has us ranked at #20 this year. That is a testament to CBJ and the buz he is bringing and so I give him due credit for selling UT well.

That said, the list is made of 15 3* and 5 4* with no 5* signs - meaning, we got solid fills but no superstars. Hard to see how we could get one really, considering, but it would have been nice. Even so, with good coaching, a lot of 3* recruits can become 4* or even all american players - while bad coaching can turn a 5* recruit into a total waste. This is perhaps especially so with the type of offenses CBJ is likely to run where it seems more focused on the right person for the position rather than star power alone.

Bottom line, it is a good start for where we are today and a tribute to CBJ that he could get UT rolling out of the gate. To see top 10 results tho, we will likely need to have another year or 2 of improved recruiting to build the depth we need to seriously compete in the 4th quarter.

 

[casetopia]

The star rating system is the worst thing that ever happened to recruiting. Many 5 star players have failed and many 2 and 3 star players have flourished. It's crazy to me to project next years wins and losses based on our rivals, 247, espn, etc. rank. It all means absolutely nothing if you can't win on the field and play as a unit. I would much rather have team chemistry and roster full of "hungry" kids, than a bunch of prima donna 5 stars that feel entitled to start with no extra effort. Give me Boise St. all day long over USC...

 

[CroKev]

The star rating system is the worst thing that ever happened to recruiting. Many 5 star players have failed and many 2 and 3 star players have flourished. It's crazy to me to project next years wins and losses based on our rivals, 247, espn, etc. rank. It all means absolutely nothing if you can't win on the field and play as a unit. I would much rather have team chemistry and roster full of "hungry" kids, than a bunch of prima donna 5 stars that feel entitled to start with no extra effort. Give me Boise St. all day long over USC...

Or Georgia Tech! Bottom line, though, is that we need to be bringing in the best talent and I think that starts this year. We have a good start in the in-state with Wharton and the rest - Kelly, Hurd, Bars, etc. - better get used to haveing CBJ and co. camping out at their homes.

 

[Sheath Huler]

The star rating system is the worst thing that ever happened to recruiting. Many 5 star players have failed and many 2 and 3 star players have flourished. It's crazy to me to project next years wins and losses based on our rivals, 247, espn, etc. rank. It all means absolutely nothing if you can't win on the field and play as a unit. I would much rather have team chemistry and roster full of "hungry" kids, than a bunch of prima donna 5 stars that feel entitled to start with no extra effort. Give me Boise St. all day long over USC...

Except the rankings correlate to dominance on the field (with the occasional aberration like Ole Mi$$). That combined with good coaching gets you wins in the SEC. You can't rely on "coached up" 3 stars forever.

 

[CleVOLander]

I am definately happy with who all we signed, it doesn't matter now on who all didn't. As far as I'm concerned, they weren't what we were after in the first place, they weren't true VFLs and didn't have the want to take something and build it up on their own as opposed to some taking the "easy route" to go play for those already established.

The 21 we signed have something the others didn't, WANT. They wanted and chose us out of all the other schools chasing after them. Most of them have already shown they plan to give their all for Tennessee not just today, but every day as they don the orange and white for us.

Sad to see so many on here wanting to be so negative and look at what we don't have as opposed to looking at what we have and being excited for the future of the program we all love. I am anxious to see what these guys add to the team as well as what CBJ and his staff do to coach up the upper classmen. All vol and looking forward to the O&W game come April.