'25 Northwestern Transfer OL Josh Thompson

[hjeagle1vol]

 

[LaagerVol]

I think playing someone who is not prepared and doesn't give the team the best chance to win is a terrible idea. But hey lets play guys just because of rankings and potential, that will work out great for us! He might end up ready, and if he is put him out there. But he is kind of a prototypical OL that could redshirt to get physically prepared for the requirements of SEC play but then turn around as a redshirt freshman and be All-SEC.

I’m mostly with you on this other than the redshirt part. I would rather not need him to start unless he is just clearly ready (most true freshman OL aren’t, even the ones who wind up starting are very rarely actually ready for it) but I would like for him to get as many game reps and as much experience as possible his freshman year. I would say he is more likely to be eyeing 3 years of school rather than 5. If he is here for 5 years either he has been injured a lot or didn’t turn out to be as good as we all thought and hoped. In situations like this I don’t think a RS is or much value

 

[jasonvol18]

No

Yes

 

[butchna]

I have no info but it could be that he has told people (media) he is coming to TN, but this is the 2nd of our insiders on this board who has said something about Moe not being a fit for us, so we may have changed our minds after seeing him.

Or he could still be a take lol

Franklin’s an “insider”?

 

[butchna]

Bold prediction: Sanders will never start a game for us at right tackle. I think he’ll develop next year, play a little in blowouts, and then take over for L. Heard at left tackle in ‘26. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him repping right behind Heard at left by Fall camp or even the end of Spring.

Agreed. Heard isn’t exactly an Ironman. Snaps are available.

 

[MarcoVol]

Yes

Literally no. Look at the highly ranked guys that have sat for us for a year or played limited snaps. Majority of them are still here.

 

[Cosmo Kramer]

Franklin’s an “insider”?
View attachment 707502

Ryan Day smells worse than Pig Pen

 

[butchna]

 

[Vol in Buckeye Land]

Very likely scenario to play out.

Also likely is that we will have large contingent of idiot fans that will call him a "bust" during the season if this scenario plays out.

Yep, the same ones who are convinced that he’s already the second coming of Jonathan Ogden and has already beat out Perry and Warren will be calling it a miss or predicting him to the portal if he isn’t pancaking people in the first quarter of the Syracuse game, never mind that offensive tackle is the most developmental position in football, including quarterback.

 

[LaagerVol]

Franklin’s an “insider”?
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Meh, I don’t get too bothered with all that. Used the term lightly. I take everything I see on here with a grade of slaw.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

In this age of college football you need to keep your highly rated recruits on the field or they will leave

Nico red shirted. Matthews barely saw the field. Have we lost any highly rated recruits because of lack of playing time?

 

[jasonvol18]

Literally no. Look at the highly ranked guys that have sat for us for a year or played limited snaps. Majority of them are still here.

Highly rated doesn't guarantee success or playing time, unfortunately. Recruiting and evaluating is an inexact science. There's been thousands of 4* and 5* guys amount to nothing.

 

[RiseToTheTop]

Highly rated doesn't guarantee success or playing time, unfortunately. Recruiting and evaluating is an inexact science. There's been thousands of 4* and 5* guys amount to nothing.

exactly


i mean Vanderbilts whole portal strategy is to take former high rated guys that could not touch the field at their first school. Ratings really dont mean too much once you get to school.

 

[BelievetheHeup2022]

Applying for a medical redshirt. Likely to get it. That’s the thing we know that you don’t.

Well, I’m out of gold stars or I would give you one

 

[Volben00]

Sanders will start at RT next year, if he isn't the starter game 1, then he will be before long

How do you think we got Lance Heard? He was a 5* freshman that played some, but didn't start. So we offered him a bag to come be our starting LT

What do you think a Tackle desperate team with money is going to do next offseason, if we repeat what LSU did with Heard? Completely overpay and promise to let him be their starter and Sanders will be gone. Its one of the main reasons we are getting experienced, transfer college players in for visits to play at RG, and not a first time starter from our depth chart

 

[Weezer]

With Karic back:

LT: Heard
LG: Karic
C: Satterwhite
RG: Moe
RT: Thompson


Without Karic:

LT: Heard
LG: Moe
C: Satterwhite
RG: Thompson
RT: Sanders


Thompson can play both spots and I’d imagine if he does come here and Karic comes back, he’s at the RT spot over a young guy.

I think the assumptions that Sanders will start are premature. Are we assuming Elarbee hasn't developed Perry or Bennett or someone else on the roster?

 

[TrippieRedd]

I think the assumptions that Sanders will start are premature. Are we assuming Elarbee hasn't developed Perry or Bennett or someone else on the roster?

I was just throwing a random name out there.

It probably will be Perry or Warren. Who knows.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I think the assumptions that Sanders will start are premature. Are we assuming Elarbee hasn't developed Perry or Bennett or someone else on the roster?

Very happy to get these transfer brutes. Yet, it is very frustrating that we cannot lean on dudes WE recruited to contribute.

Either way, happy to get help.

 

[Weezer]

I was just throwing a random name out there.

It probably will be Perry or Warren. Who knows.

If Elarbee doesn't have some of his high school guys ready to play by now, he has no business being our OL coach.

 

[DaddyChad]

Sanders will start at RT next year, if he isn't the starter game 1, then he will be before long

How do you think we got Lance Heard? He was a 5* freshman that played some, but didn't start. So we offered him a bag to come be our starting LT

What do you think a Tackle desperate team with money is going to do next offseason, if we repeat what LSU did with Heard? Completely overpay and promise to let him be their starter and Sanders will be gone. Its one of the main reasons we are getting experienced, transfer college players in for visits to play at RG, and not a first time starter from our depth chart

I’m sorry but this is just stupid AF. You don’t promise a kid to start as a true freshman especially at OT. If he’s ready to start of course you play him. If you guarantee a starter position to someone that isn’t ready it’s a disservice to the starting Qb and the entire program.

 

[Volben00]

I’m sorry but this is just stupid AF. You don’t promise a kid to start as a true freshman especially at OT. If he’s ready to start of course you play him. If you guarantee a starter position to someone that isn’t ready it’s a disservice to the starting Qb and the entire program.

He is going to be ready, helped by getting here this month.

It is 2024 and we are in the semi-pro era, you don't waste the effort and money it takes to recruit a 5* OT if you don't think they can play as a freshman. He will be the RT starter next season or he will be playing LT somewhere else in 2026, with an even healthier bank account

The exact situation that happened with our starting LT

 

[LaagerVol]

He is going to be ready, helped by getting here this month.

It is 2024 and we are in the semi-pro era, you don't waste the effort and money it takes to recruit a 5* OT if you don't think they can play as a freshman. He will be the RT starter next season or he will be playing LT somewhere else in 2026, with an even healthier bank account

The exact situation that happened with our starting LT

It is not the exact situation as Heard. LSU had someone who would have been in front of him his sophomore and maybe Jr years. Sanders path to starting LT his sophomore year is clean and clear

 

[volKano]

Ask OSU about how it feels to only have 5 quality starting lineman.

Ok. I’ll be right back.

 

[Volben00]

It is not the exact situation as Heard. LSU had someone who would have been in front of him his sophomore and maybe Jr years. Sanders path to starting LT his sophomore year is clean and clear

Lance Heard is a Sophomore, so there is absolutely no guarantee of that

 

[LaagerVol]

Lance Heard is a Sophomore, so there is absolutely no guarantee of that

What would you say are the odds Heard comes back for his senior season?

I don’t know if Sanders starts next year or not. I imagine he will get plenty of playing time either way. Who have we lost in the NIL era that we have REALLY wanted to keep?