'25 Portal Thread

[TrippieRedd]

What else was being debated?

Oh nothing !

We were all speculating in here who we would go after position wise.

Figured it would make the thread a little better knowing what positions we are gonna go after in the portal. That way we weren’t posting tweets for guys at DB or some other position we don’t need

 

[knoxvol52]

What else was being debated?

Believe some were debating a WR?

 

[KingVFL]

I could see a WR potentially although if everyone comes back I find it hard to see

 

[volsagain]

Need:
Guard
DT

Maybe:
LB
RB
S

That's great to hear. Not many needs so most seems to be happy and coming back. GBO

 

[PowerT.]

Need:
Guard
DT

Maybe:
LB
RB
S

Interesting no RT. So staff and you feel good about Perry or Warren?

 

[KingVFL]

Interesting no RT. So staff and you feel good about Perry or Warren?

I would bet David Sanders is a day 1 starter but we’re very happy with Perry and optimistic about JHeard and Warren

 

[VOLINVONORE]

I would bet David Sanders is a day 1 starter but we’re very happy with Perry and optimistic about JHeard and Warren

It is very difficult for a 300 pound offensive tackle to start in the SEC. Smith was the last one to do it at Tennessee and he weighed about 330 pounds. If Sanders enrlls in January and puts on about 20 pound in the off season, he may be able to see some playing time, but I don’t expect that to happen.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

.

 

[VolInDayton]

What else was being debated?

Obviously hard knowing until we know who leaves and who transfers, but how many spots are we expecting to be available?

 

[JT3]

There will be talent at WR in the transfer portal this season.

And we need another guy to add since we're losing Thornton. Webb/Nimrod don't have that big play ability.
It was supposed to be Leacock but hes been injured and even when healthy hasn't been able to get his way into the field like Mike Matthews.

Need a guy to pair with Matthews imo

Are we forgetting about Brazzell?

I'm afraid adding another outside guy stunts the growth of MM.

 

[JT3]

Did Spillman qualify for a redshirt? I.e., no more than 4 games played?

If I'm not mistaken I believe so. Pretty sure he only played 4 games.

 

[VolInDayton]

Are we forgetting about Brazzell?

I'm afraid adding another outside guy stunts the growth of MM.

Maybe one outside to replace the 2 leaving, but we got to give some you guys a chance. I would almost rather replace squirrel with a more explosive slot if there's not one on the roster. Not sure what Staley is and how he has looked.

 

[LittleVol]

Are we forgetting about Brazzell?

I'm afraid adding another outside guy stunts the growth of MM.

Mike Matthew’s will be starting next year regardless of any WR we may bring in.

 

[JT3]

Two unknowns kind of reinforces the fact we need more LB’ers.

And they’d be apart of the rotation, just as Brazzell was. Quite the risk to run it back knowing Nimrod and Webb would be apart of that rotation.

6 of our top 7 LBers are coming back. Adding a LBer probably means we lose one of those Mike LBers (Telander or Smith).

Brazzell came in as a starter tho. He started most of the season. I'm one of the few who don't like a heavy rotation at WR. If Nimrod/Webb/Leacock leave then yea we need a portal WR. I don't think most WRs want a Jalen McMurray role.

 

[JT3]

Maybe one outside to replace the 2 leaving, but we got to give some you guys a chance. I would almost rather replace squirrel with a more explosive slot if there's not one on the roster. Not sure what Staley is and how he has looked.

That's my whole thing, we have to play the guys on the roster.

I like Squirrel, his play was up and down but a lot of that was on the QB. Not sure we can do any better. He was our best WR in 2023.

 

[Carp]

We went into this year with Sampson (who was unproven as a bell cow, questionable in pass protection, and had been 3rd string behind Wright/Small), an injured Seldon, a RS freshman walk-on in Bishop, and a true freshman in Lewis. Oh, and Keith, another RS freshman.

That’s a bigger unknown situation than the one you describe for next year. Folks wanted UT to get a portal RB, but Heupel stood pat and we ended up seeing why.

They know what they have.

Sampson was far more proven at the end of last year than any other RB we have going into next year. Most people thought we should pick up a depth RB because Sampson was literally the only guy with a any experience. We didn't want to take a guy that was projected to start over Sampson.

Right now, we don't have a clear starter for next year and Seldon can't stay healthy. That's

 

[LittleVol]

Sampson was far more proven at the end of last year than any other RB we have going into next year. Most people thought we should pick up a depth RB because Sampson was literally the only guy with a any experience. We didn't want to take a guy that was projected to start over Sampson.

Right now, we don't have a clear starter for next year and Seldon can't stay healthy. That's

I’m 2021 we had basically no experience returning. Evans was a transfer.
Wright was a true freshman
Small had 100 yards previous year?

We then went on the break the UT rushing record IRRC in that season.

I think the portal need last season was because Sampson had been getting a lot of work as the spring RB and Fall Rb and they needed him fresh. So they rested him. But Seldon was injured. Lewis needed surgery. But then Bishop showed something in the spring and we we’re fine.

 

[jvols1999]

Need:
Guard
DT

Maybe:
LB
RB
S

Need, IMO:
Elite S - don't need just a body, we have plenty, only an upgrade. Would take defense to another level
1-2 OG - pending Karic appeal, but IMO we should be looking for an instant starter
1-2 Moi-type DL - don't need a starter per se, but a couple of rotation guys with years to play)
1-2 WR - I'm assuming 2-3 of 84/11/Leacock leave, which would mean we've got very few bodies. I'd love an upgrade over 3 to go next to 17/10

 

[Vols2DaWall]

I feel we are missing a true WR1.

Not sure who can step into that role from the current roster. We’d have to have an enormous leap from MM or CB

 

[jvols1999]

I feel we are missing a true WR1.

Not sure who can step into that role from the current roster. We’d have to have an enormous leap from MM or CB

I think both can make it, they're both incredibly talented and will be in their respective 2nd years in the system

 

[Brawlvol]

Hopefully the portal brings in a stud linebacker and a stud DT

 

[Vols410]

I feel we are missing a true WR1.

Not sure who can step into that role from the current roster. We’d have to have an enormous leap from MM or CB

I think MM is gonna take off next year

 

[KingVFL]

It is very difficult for a 300 pound offensive tackle to start in the SEC. Smith was the last one to do it at Tennessee and he weighed about 330 pounds. If Sanders enrlls in January and puts on about 20 pound in the off season, he may be able to see some playing time, but I don’t expect that to happen.

Thank you for sharing. Sanders will more than “may be able to see some playing time.”

Obviously hard knowing until we know who leaves and who transfers, but how many spots are we expecting to be available?

I don’t know the answer but my guess is 6ish

 

[NighthawkVol]

Need, IMO:
Elite S - don't need just a body, we have plenty, only an upgrade. Would take defense to another level
1-2 OG - pending Karic appeal, but IMO we should be looking for an instant starter
1-2 Moi-type DL - don't need a starter per se, but a couple of rotation guys with years to play)
1-2 WR - I'm assuming 2-3 of 84/11/Leacock leave, which would mean we've got very few bodies. I'd love an upgrade over 3 to go next to 17/10

This. Exactly.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Imma roll with King, he didn’t mention WR, so I’m fine rolling with who we have.

Giddy about a RB