Portal needs after ESD [Portal, numbers and late additions - merged]

#76
#76
I would love to see us add a MLB and a CB in the HS ranks…Dudley and Caldwell would be perfect IMO…that would bring the class to 22 total…

Then I would like to see us add a S, CB, OT, WR, and MLB from the portal…so far I’ve seen Mincey for the OT spot…I would like to see Jennings for the S spot…I don’t have any ideal candidates in mind for the other spots yet
 
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#77
#77
We will have to have some patience in regards to the portal. There will be a lot of players hit the portal after the bowls games, and then another crop of players this spring. This year in particular because of the crazy coaching carousel. And, I anticipate it being a large number of high quality players with starting experience.
 
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#78
#78
rdk4121 said:
Hopefully Marley and potentially Whitehead can give us something with a move to ILB. Whitehead did technically do well, I mean he did average 6.5 yards per carry, which is elite, but he doesn't have the speed to be a running back pretty clearly. Not a ton of wiggle either.

Safety would be a big pickup if Flowers is gone. We have plenty of bodies at WR and DL, just need to develop the ones we have (not that we haven't been doing that, they just need to continue to get better). Calloway, Hyatt, Holiday, Merrill, Coby, Keyton have to continue to develop. I think Webb could see some playing time early on the outside.
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Webb looks the most ready to contribute as a freshman, of the WR signees. Although I could also see White utilized as a freshman in certain situations in which his skill is just utilized and they get him the ball in space with screens, jet sweeps, etc.
 
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#79
#79
The Safety I have my eye on is Koby Perry, who has entered the portal from Austin Peay. He was the OVC defensive POY. Originally from Georgia. Kid can really play and was academic honor roll, so I’m thinking he’s a good culture fit. No idea if Tennessee has reached out.

Enzo Jennings from Penn State is another. 4* recruit out of high school. Tennessee was in the think of his recruitment, but Banks landed him at Penn State. That connection would make sense.
 
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#81
#81
jasonvol18 said:
The offense absolutely did not perform well under Milton. His deep ball is non existant and he's not the best decsion maker..as we saw against Ole Miss and Pitt. We don't go 7-5 this past season if Milton had started every game. Milton had the exact same issues at Mich.
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jasonvol18 said:
38 of those points came in 4 QTS against a bad B.Green team. And we only scored 24 pts the last 3 Qtrs of that game.In a quarter and a half our offense scored 13 on Pitt while Milton was in the game and the lone touchdown was from a blocked punt that we got the ball on Pitts 2. Have to respectfully disagree on Milton, our offense looked stagnant under Milton.
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Milton wasn't great, but the offensive numbers as a whole speak for themselves. 38 on BG and 13 in a quarter and half on Pitt is certainly not an offense that was struggling to move the ball with him at QB. Even against OM, he drove us down and got us in scoring position, and if Tillman catches that ball in the back of the end zone, people's view on Milton is drastically changed.

Look I'm not calling the kid a good QB or that I want him to be our starter. I'm just pointing out that he isn't remotely as bad as people are painting him out to be. For a back-up QB, he's very solid. Makes the right reads, doesn't turn the ball over often, can move the chains with his feet.
 
#84
#84
brentcontractor said:
From what I seen published, I dont think they are going to move Whitehead or Beckwith unless those players specifically request.
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You would think both of those guys would want to move there. RB is so hard on the body and only the elite guys really get drafted. So much of a better chance of playing time and to actually get drafted playing LB.
 
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#85
#85
Who are we looking at as to hopefully add to this class during the February signing period? If I am thinking correct, we can add 5 more to this class and also add 7 from the Transfer Portal.
 
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#86
#86
vegasvolfan said:
Do we know everyone that is leaving yet?
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I doubt it. There are guys who hit the portal early. Not sure what determines a guy's strategy for when to leave. There will be more guys in the portal after bowl season when things are more settled.

IMO there's a good chance that UT is done with HS/JUCO signees. They would probably take a guy like M'ba. But really there aren't a ton of immediate impact guys left. I'm sure there may be some 3* gems around but the vast majority of 247's 4/5* guys are already signed. I didn't count but I'd guess at least 90%.

After bowl season and when guys have a chance to assess how they fit where they are and the opportunities available, more will enter the portal. UT will lose players... and I suspect most will either be mutual or because they were told they no longer had a scholarship next year. That's the really tough thing with the changes. Competition won't allow you to honor commitments to guys who turned out to not be as good as you hoped. On the other side, it will redistribute talent more accurately. Some 2* guys who showed out in FCS are going to get promotions... and overrated 4* guys could find themselves at Western Carolina.
 
#88
#88
Helton1 said:
Not sure why everyone is hung up on landing another WR…if Tillman comes back, we have more than enough talent and depth there.
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I agree. Hyatt should be a very good number 2. I think people are sleeping on him. If we're adding a transfer, I would prefer a another speedy, gadget type of WR, like Velus Jones. Mycah Pittman comes to mind here. More realistically, I think Cam Johnson is more likely given that he's from TN.
 
#89
#89
Fatman Photos said:
Who are we looking at as to hopefully add to this class during the February signing period? If I am thinking correct, we can add 5 more to this class and also add 7 from the Transfer Portal.
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Moten is definitely one from the HS ranks, there may be other HS kids that didn’t sign yesterday that they take another swing at.
 
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#90
#90
Carp said:
You would think both of those guys would want to move there. RB is so hard on the body and only the elite guys really get drafted. So much of a better chance of playing time and to actually get drafted playing LB.
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I'm not completely sure why so many people diss Whitehead. He needs to keep developing but he did some good things when called on. Maybe he would be a better LB. I don't know. But he doesn't "suck" as a RB. And as you note, one of the best things you can be as a RB... is available to play. Not sure why they didn't trust Beckwith but I think the rest of the scholarship players and a walk-on played due to injury.

If its true that Beckwith doesn't like contact then I'm not sure what you do with him. WR? Niche flex TE? FG blocking specialist? Loan him to the basketball team?

If true... very disappointing waste of athleticism and size.
 
#91
#91
Helton1 said:
Not sure why everyone is hung up on landing another WR…if Tillman comes back, we have more than enough talent and depth there.
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You can always use depth but UT is pretty close to full at WR. But there could be another strategy in play. Maybe someone is going to move to CB? Maybe they already know someone is going to be in the portal?
 
#93
#93
Carp said:
I agree. Hyatt should be a very good number 2. I think people are sleeping on him. If we're adding a transfer, I would prefer a another speedy, gadget type of WR, like Velus Jones. Mycah Pittman comes to mind here. More realistically, I think Cam Johnson is more likely given that he's from TN.
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I think you are correct about Hyatt. I'm not ready to write Calloway off. He kind of got shuffled out when they decided to trim the rotation and get better continuity. But he's still got a ton of talent and Heupel publicly said that he believed he was going to be a great player. I hope he sticks it out and excels.

Of all the things I'm worried about though... Heupel's decisions concerning WR and QB aren't among them.
 
#95
#95
I think they’re waiting on who all comes back for next year. I saw a list yesterday that shows 68 currently. So if you add 20 from yesterday to that we are at 88. So if the limit is 85, for everyone we lose from here on out will determine how many more. So when people like Tillman, Mayes, come back that reflects on the total number. Also if players like Page, Flowers, Calbert, Labruzza, who still have a year left come back that hurts our total numbers. So the coaches need to decide if they can get better players they may need to push out some guys that should be recruited over.
 
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#98
#98
valoisvol said:
I think they’re waiting on who all comes back for next year. I saw a list yesterday that shows 68 currently. So if you add 20 from yesterday to that we are at 88.
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I thought that the Covid year didn't count toward the numbers, or was it for only the 2021 Season?
 
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