'25 Portal Thread

[KingVFL]

This portal season will be very telling to the fans on how serious and dialed in this staff and admin is on really wanting to take that next step to get to a championship. We clearly now have gaping holes/depth issues in certain position groups, no one can argue against that, so it will be interesting to see what we do.

I personally think the days of doing more with less and "winging it with what we've got" mentality Heup had the first few seasons has now expired, even though he did an excellent job. He has proven that they can do an above average job of recruiting out of high school and have filled some spots with portal players here and there, being careful of the existing team chemistry of the current roster and pay grades... Now though, with another season under our belt and seeing where we fell short in certain areas of the game and still weren't quite there talent wise against some teams, they will need to step up and really get aggressive to get who they want to not only fill the gaps, but have the mindset to make it UPGRADES, which is certainly doable if we are willing to pay and play the game.

We take a lax approach again and let talent get scooped up where it could have helped upgrade this roster, and IMO it sends the message of ehhh, we're doing pretty good right now, let's just see what happens. With the clear rising costs of tickets/concessions and everything in between compared to other SEC schools, this isn't gonna fly and again, IMO, is the wrong approach that could end up biting them in the ass. We lose a few games next year like we did at Arky because we didn't have the talent on the field and could have gotten it if we wanted, it won't take long for the fanbase to take a step back.

Really hoping with all the funds we have at our disposal, our program being on the rise, in the playoffs, and making plenty of positive noise across all sports, this is the time to take advantage of our brand and go get who we want and indeed take that next step. We shall see soon enough!

Two of our three best seasons since we won a national title and “this portal season will be very telling to the fans on how serious and dialed in this staff and admin is on really wanting to take that next step to get to a championship”

 

[RandomUTfan]

That is why I said it will be interesting to see what we do this portal season. This is a pivotal year to upgrade who we are losing. If we are fine talking about championships, but not really taking that extra step by upgrading talent we lose like our competitors who are in that elite/championship category, then it's just talk. We aren't willing to walk the walk.

If we go out and fill and upgrade the spots of need, no questions left, then yes, this shows we are serious about taking that next step and doing whatever is necessary to stay with and maybe even ahead of the competition to get that 'ship. That's paying the full price to get who we want and maybe taking a risk on chemistry and hope the coaches and team keep them in check... For huge rewards we all know there is always at least a little risk.

My Guy.

My issue, and what I'm trying to illustrate, is that your perception of the holes in the roster, are not the same as mine. I see a few. I see a really talented team coming back. I think our biggest area to address is IOL and I expect we'll address it well. We always do. A RB for depth, maybe a WR for depth but notice the depth theme here. Most of what we are going to return is going to be championship-level starters. The guys waiting in the wings after coming in as highly regarded recruits get their shot too. You don't just keep bringing in transfers to replace every starter you lose to graduation.

 

[rockytop25]

That is why I said it will be interesting to see what we do this portal season. This is a pivotal year to upgrade who we are losing. If we are fine talking about championships, but not really taking that extra step by upgrading talent we lose like our competitors who are in that elite/championship category, then it's just talk. We aren't willing to walk the walk.

If we go out and fill and upgrade the spots of need, no questions left, then yes, this shows we are serious about taking that next step and doing whatever is necessary to stay with and maybe even ahead of the competition to get that 'ship. That's paying the full price to get who we want and maybe taking a risk on chemistry and hope the coaches and team keep them in check... For huge rewards we all know there is always at least a little risk.

My Guy.

Do you not remember the Jeremy Banks fiasco? It is absolutely not worth jeopardizing the chemistry in the locker room.

Ole Miss tried to do that this year and look where it got them

 

[Glitch]

The portal is still open.

 

[bpalmer28]

Are we like the only team that doesn't tamper? You see guys enter the portal and automatically be seen as locks to this school or that school, but that school never seems to be Tennessee. Are we being overly cautious due to being on probation?

Idk what we’re doing but it’s resulted in a really good team this year

 

[deatojl]

That is why I said it will be interesting to see what we do this portal season. This is a pivotal year to upgrade who we are losing. If we are fine talking about championships, but not really taking that extra step by upgrading talent we lose like our competitors who are in that elite/championship category, then it's just talk. We aren't willing to walk the walk.

If we go out and fill and upgrade the spots of need, no questions left, then yes, this shows we are serious about taking that next step and doing whatever is necessary to stay with and maybe even ahead of the competition to get that 'ship. That's paying the full price to get who we want and maybe taking a risk on chemistry and hope the coaches and team keep them in check... For huge rewards we all know there is always at least a little risk.

My Guy.

I'm just wondering who out of Miles Kitselman, Holden Staes, Jermod McCoy, Jakobe Thomas, Chris Brazzell, Jaylen McMurray, Lance Heard and Jaxson Moi do you feel fell short of upgrading our returning talent for this year? What tabout the 2023 transfer haul of Gabe Jeudy-Lally, John Campbell, Omar Norman-Lott, Dante Thornton, Keenan Pili, Andrej Karic, Charles Campbell, McCallan Castles? It seems to me every one of those has either been an immediate starter or contributor.

 

[volinexile17]

Here's the Truth that few fans consider:

Just because some guys coming back who are poised to start/play major snaps next year aren't well known to us, that doesn't mean they aren't well known to the coaches. The coaches know what they have. They have a good idea who will develop and by how much. And if they determine that what they have and what those players will be in 2025 is better than what they'd get by going to the portal, they won't go to the portal...even if fans who don't know what UT has think we should.

We don't know what holes are "gaping." We don't truly know what our needs are. But the guys who recruited the current roster and coaches them every day...they know. Even if we don't.

So no, the activity or lack thereof in the portal says absolutely nothing about how committed this staff is to winning championships. To even consider that they aren't is absurd. The amount of portal activity will reflect how confident this staff is in the players coming back for 2025 and where there are immediate needs. That's it.

This. The upgrades OP is looking for very possibly are already on the roster. Staff showed last year they will upgrade where needed when they replaced the entire secondary. No reason to doubt them now IMO.

 

[Weezer]

I agree with almost none of this but I'll just pick out "take that next step..." My guy, what step has this program not taken yet that would prove to you it's all in on winning championships? I bet there isn't one. Because if you haven't figured out already we are in the elite category when it comes to having the ability to win titles, I doubt anything would convince you short of winning it, which isn't entirely out of the realm of possibility THIS year! There's a whole lot more wrong with this but I'm just going to leave it there.

The next step is beating Georgia. Winning the SEC. Winning the National Championship. And consistency. We're doing great, but there are still goals to reach.

 

[KingVFL]

Transfers are fools gold. We've relied on it too much to date and should far less going forward.

Transfers in the starting 22 by the team's ahead of us in the CFB Playoffs:

1. Oregon - 14
2. Georgia - 2
3. Texas - 6
4. Penn State - 3
5. Notre Dame - 4
6. Ohio State - 3

We have 8.

We need to recruit high school better and develop better. Not do more the portal.

 

[knoxvol52]

Transfers are fools gold. We've relied on it too much to date and should far less going forward.

Transfers in the starting 22 by the team's ahead of us in the CFB Playoffs:

1. Oregon - 14
2. Georgia - 2
3. Texas - 6
4. Penn State - 3
5. Notre Dame - 4
6. Ohio State - 3

We have 8.

We need to recruit high school better and develop better. Not do more the portal.

Agree 1000%

 

[Smokey'sHandler]

Transfers are fools gold. We've relied on it too much to date and should far less going forward.

Transfers in the starting 22 by the team's ahead of us in the CFB Playoffs:

1. Oregon - 14
2. Georgia - 2
3. Texas - 6
4. Penn State - 3
5. Notre Dame - 4
6. Ohio State - 3

We have 8.

We need to recruit high school better and develop better. Not do more the portal.

Bingo!

 

[JT3]

I don't see the glaring holes on the roster.

I'm all for playing the young guys on the roster. I think we got a lot of talent that haven't had an opportunity to get on the field yet. Don't think we need much going into 2025.

If we can get Sampson, Karic, Eason, and Bailey to return, we will be in great shape (I think 3 of those are very likely).

 

[Weezer]

Transfers are fools gold. We've relied on it too much to date and should far less going forward.

Transfers in the starting 22 by the team's ahead of us in the CFB Playoffs:

1. Oregon - 14
2. Georgia - 2
3. Texas - 6
4. Penn State - 3
5. Notre Dame - 4
6. Ohio State - 3

We have 8.

We need to recruit high school better and develop better. Not do more the portal.

It's funny. When other posters comment on how we need to recruit HS better, they're instantly attacked for "questioning" the staff.

 

[KingVFL]

It's funny. When other posters comment on how we need to recruit HS better, they're instantly attacked for "questioning" the staff.

We need last year or better to be the rule and not the exception.

And we need to play those kids

 

[TrippieRedd]

I’m just curious to see who tf we getting at RB lmaoo

At this point it’s gonna be someone outta left field like Jerrick Gibson

 

[JT3]

We need last year or better to be the rule and not the exception.

And we need to play those kids

THIS PART!!!! Been saying it all year.

 

[Weezer]

We need last year or better to be the rule and not the exception.

And we need to play those kids

We need to be able to land some top 5 classes. The difficulty is finding the right type of guys. Our strength is we play as a team. We don't have pre-madonnas (VN lexicon) on the team. Everyone pulls in the same direction. But if we could land more elite talent, we could truly be a force.

 

[JT3]

I’m just curious to see who tf we getting at RB lmaoo

At this point it’s gonna be someone outta left field like Jerrick Gibson

With Cam in the portal, we will probably get a RB now unless Samp returns.

 

[LaagerVol]

I couldn’t agree more. I got attacked for saying something similar I love our WR core but like you said injuries are inevitable… if one or more of of our top 3 goes down we are in big trouble

“Attacked” lol

 

[TrippieRedd]

With Cam in the portal, we will probably get a RB now unless Samp returns.

I know that, we were already looking at RBs even before Seldon. We had already contacted that Bothwell kid, but that could’ve been because we already knew Seldon was leaving.

I was just saying, I’m surprised we didn’t at least reach out to that Justice kid. They must have someone in mind.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Mbakwe in the portal


Would be a perfect safety for us, but sounds like Ole Miss.

 

[Weezer]

Mbakwe in the portal


Would be a perfect safety for us, but sounds like Ole Miss.

Isn't the rumor that Ole Miss enticed him into the portal?

 

[TrippieRedd]

Isn't the rumor that Ole Miss enticed him into the portal?

Yup. Kiffin throwing around the cash

 

[JT3]

I know that, we were already looking at RBs even before Seldon. We had already contacted that Bothwell kid, but that could’ve been because we already knew Seldon was leaving.

I was just saying, I’m surprised we didn’t at least reach out to that Justice kid. They must have someone in mind.

Justice asking price was probably too high. I would prefer Samp returns but if I'm him, I would declare.

 

[JT3]

Wonder if Thompson or Suggs is the first to jump in or would we take both. Probably depends on Eason.