'25 Portal Thread

[HighRockvol]

Well that game shows we need to hit the portal hard who cares who’s feelings get hurt, it’s about winning games not pleasing everyone

 

[VolByLaw]

Can we get some portal commitments now?

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

Going to take some big boosters going all in on NIL because the fans won't do it after that game. That's what it will take to successfully use the portal.

 

[rdk4121]

Certainly need a big time WR, probably another RB (though Lewis looks good and bishop is solid), another O lineman. We could use a difference maker at LB.

 

[Blake25p]

Portal philosophy needs to change

 

[Memphisvol87]

We’ve played with our pecker the last two weeks letting everyone go elsewhere

They definitely didn’t spend it game planning for tonight

 

[JCVol00]

Portal philosophy needs to change

Absolutely, im tired of the constant talent gap when we play top 15 teams

 

[Type Orange+]

As @TrippieRedd mentioned in another thread, there are some great playmakers out there in the portal. And we could use a few on both sides of the ball.

I just wished the Vols would start shopping at Neiman Marcus and stay out of the Dollar Tree.
We're going to have to start cutting loose of some NIL funds to get better, faster. That's all there is to it.

 

[UTK]

Who’s the current best WRs in the portal? Back up the brinks truck to two of them. Period. End of discussion.

 

[UTK]

SEC to freaking Incarnate Word back to the SEC is quite the journey. Kentucky is extremely desperate if they’re taking his commitment.

When the hell was the last time Kentucky didn’t start a portal QB?

 

[UTK]

Not sure how you define "really contributed"

2021, first year with Heupel
Velus Jones Jr. - 62 receptions, 807 yards, 7 TDs (2nd in yards that year)
JaVonta Payton - 18 receptions, 413 yards, 6 TDs (3rd in yards that year)

2022
Bru McCoy - 52 receptions, 667 yards, 4 TDs (2nd in yards that year)

2023
Dont'e Thornton - 13 receptions, 224 yards, 1 TDs (only played in 9 games) - 4th in yards that year

2024
Brazzell - 28 receptions, 325 yards, 2 TDs (4th in yards this year)

We need to get a WR that will come in and get 1000 yards. Nico has grown up a lot over the season, he’s ready to take off next year. Needs a weapon to help him out

 

[orangerush]

We need to get a WR that will come in and get 1000 yards. Nico has grown up a lot over the season, he’s ready to take off next year. Needs a weapon to help him out

We need real competition at the QB position.

 

[UTK]

We need real competition at the QB position.

We have our QB. Needs WRs and better protection. Nico has grown up a lot over the year and has looked very solid since the second half of Bama. He’s going to be very good, but only if we get players around him obviously.

 

[orangerush]

We have our QB. Needs WRs and better protection. Nico has grown up a lot over the year and has looked very solid since the second half of Bama. He’s going to be very good, but only if we get players around him obviously.

As I said, we need competition at the QB position.

 

[UTK]

As I said, we need competition at the QB position.

Yes for a solid backup in case Nico can’t go lol

 

[WesTnVol]

So, Sampson saying “I’m good to go” and “I haven’t felt this good in weeks”
Was just total BS
That was soooooo disappointing!!!
Portal->RB,WR,OT - DT,LB(2?)
The bones are there just need support.

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

A few of you are talking about throwing money at these recruits, my question is: what money? We’re getting beat in the NIL game just like we are on the field. Someone posted the breakdown of NIL funding a few weeks back and we weren’t smelling the top 10. I feel like we were hovering around 15th. That’s not acceptable by any means of the imagination.

 

[TheBigOne10]

A few of you are talking about throwing money at these recruits, my question is: what money? We’re getting beat in the NIL game just like we are on the field. Someone posted the breakdown of NIL funding a few weeks back and we weren’t smelling the top 10. I feel like we were hovering around 15th. That’s not acceptable by any means of the imagination.

If you believed that NIL list I’ve got some ocean front property to sell you.

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

If you believed that NIL list I’ve got some ocean front property to sell you.

Alright, show me where we’re top of the nation? Because so far all I’m seeing is 1 maybe 2 IOL from the portal and 1 5* in the recruiting class, while everyone else is out here picking high caliber talent.

 

[CNeagleVolFan]

I hate to say it, but we gotta start spending like ole miss is if we want to compete and go further. Ohio State had underperformed all year, but last night when it mattered their talent showed through. I’m just as upset as anybody about last night, but some hard questions need to be asked by Heup. Do I need to call plays differently? Do I need a new offensive line coach? Do I need a new receivers coach? Do the receivers we have get us to where we want to go? Changes need to be made. Not wholesale changes but changes need to be made. There was a clear talent gap on that field last night, and if you couldn’t see it then you need glasses lol. To me that was the biggest thing that decided the game. Schematically we need to change some things on offense, and defensively we need to stop playing so much zone and attack the opposing offense. We did not blitz near enough last night, and Howard picked us apart. The offensive line, the WRs, and our defense need to all be addressed further. I hope Tennessee boosters are willing to open up their pockets to make this program go from good to elite, because that’s what it’s going to take.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I hate to say it, but we gotta start spending like ole miss is if we want to compete and go further. Ohio State had underperformed all year, but last night when it mattered their talent showed through. I’m just as upset as anybody about last night, but some hard questions need to be asked by Heup. Do I need to call plays differently? Do I need a new offensive line coach? Do I need a new receivers coach? Do the receivers we have get us to where we want to go? Changes need to be made. Not wholesale changes but changes need to be made. There was a clear talent gap on that field last night, and if you couldn’t see it then you need glasses lol. To me that was the biggest thing that decided the game. Schematically we need to change some things on offense, and defensively we need to stop playing so much zone and attack the opposing offense. We did not blitz near enough last night, and Howard picked us apart. The offensive line, the WRs, and our defense need to all be addressed further. I hope Tennessee boosters are willing to open up their pockets to make this program go from good to elite, because that’s what it’s going to take.

We gotta spend where it matters. Do we need two RB's like Judkins and other guy? No.

Do we need a line that gets a consistent push against good AND great teams? Yes.

Do we want WR that can separate? Yes.

We are close.

 

[MarcoVol]

I hate to say it, but we gotta start spending like ole miss is if we want to compete and go further. Ohio State had underperformed all year, but last night when it mattered their talent showed through. I’m just as upset as anybody about last night, but some hard questions need to be asked by Heup. Do I need to call plays differently? Do I need a new offensive line coach? Do I need a new receivers coach? Do the receivers we have get us to where we want to go? Changes need to be made. Not wholesale changes but changes need to be made. There was a clear talent gap on that field last night, and if you couldn’t see it then you need glasses lol. To me that was the biggest thing that decided the game. Schematically we need to change some things on offense, and defensively we need to stop playing so much zone and attack the opposing offense. We did not blitz near enough last night, and Howard picked us apart. The offensive line, the WRs, and our defense need to all be addressed further. I hope Tennessee boosters are willing to open up their pockets to make this program go from good to elite, because that’s what it’s going to take.

Ole Miss = not in the playoffs

 

[Vols2DaWall]

We gotta spend where it matters. Do we need two RB's like Judkins and other guy? No.

Do we need a line that gets a consistent push against good AND great teams? Yes.

Do we want WR that can separate? Yes.

We are close.

There has been debate whether we should even take a WR. I haven’t seen us with any legit traction with the high end portal options.

Some insider literally mentioned that we “haven’t scratched the surface” with Brazzell.

Going into next year with Brazzell, White, Matthews, Staley, and 3 freshmen is a recipe for disaster

 

[NighthawkVol]

We gotta spend where it matters. Do we need two RB's like Judkins and other guy? No.

Do we need a line that gets a consistent push against good AND great teams? Yes.

Do we want WR that can separate? Yes.

We are close.

Stop being sensible. Fahr ever-body! Buy all the players!

 

[volfan411]

As I said, we need competition at the QB position.

I agree Nico has not shown he can be an SEC QB at this point. I have said all season that Heupel either needs to adjust to Nico or find a QB that can execute his system.