'25 Portal Thread

[SoilVol]

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.

Are you saying it's very difficult for an OT over 300lbs to start in the SEC???

 

[pricevol5]

Ethan just needs to keep putting on weight he’ll be fine and probably the best TE Heupel has had.

I agree from a potential/pass-catching production standpoint. Unfortunately, pass-catching is secondary for a TE in this offense.

By no means am I saying he will, but I could see him looking at places like Penn St or Miami that utilize TEs in the passing game more and see how that is more tailored to his skill set.

 

[SoilVol]

Got to hand it to this kid. He did it the right way. He stuck with the team, earned his spot back, finished the season with a huge win over Bama and made bowl eligibility. He didn't quit midseason.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Want

Why?

 

[Carp]

The other way you get to a Guarantano situation is simply not having anyone better. Tennessee didn't. Which is pathetic.

We don't really know if we had anyone better because we never tried anyone else. It was always Guarantano or bust.

I'm not saying anyone else would have been any better. The Pruitt coaching staff was mostly abysmal and all the guys behind JG have gone on do nothing since leaving UT. But not even attempting to try other options is a plan destined to fail.

 

[SoilVol]

We don't really know if we had anyone better because we never tried anyone else. It was always Guarantano or bust.

I'm not saying anyone else would have been any better. The Pruitt coaching staff was mostly abysmal and all the guys behind JG have gone on do nothing since leaving UT. But not even attempting to try other options is a plan destined to fail.

"We never tried anyone else" and "not even attempting to try other options" are wild statements.

All of these guys either replaced JG during a game or started over him at some point.

- Brian Maurer played in 12 games while JG was here. Started a handful. Replaced in multiple.
- Harrison Bailey played in 6 games, starting at least 1.
- JT Shrout played in 8 games, I think he started 2 games. Replaced in a handful.
- Keller Chryst played in 6 games, replaced in 1 or 2.
- Quinten Dormady played in 6 games, started over JG to start the 2017 season after beating him in practice. Of course we sucked so Butch threw him under the bus and started playing JG. He later replaced JG in a game or 2 before Butch gave the keys fully to JG.

We tried no less than 5 guys from 2017-2020 in a combination of benching JG and giving guys full starts. It's revisionist history to say we didn't try anything. Nobody could win the job outright from him. He was legitimately our best option because Butch failed to replace Dobbs with an SEC caliber QB and Pruitt failed to recruit anyone better than JG until he got Hooker right before we fired him.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Yall got any more of them portal nugs?

 

[bpalmer28]

Why?

Look at the size of his arms. I haven't paid attention to him in games, but I just imagine him slinging blockers off of him like they're children.

 

[bigorangekicksazz]

"We never tried anyone else" and "not even attempting to try other options" are wild statements.

All of these guys either replaced JG during a game or started over him at some point.

- Brian Maurer played in 12 games while JG was here. Started a handful. Replaced in multiple.
- Harrison Bailey played in 6 games, starting at least 1.
- JT Shrout played in 8 games, I think he started 2 games. Replaced in a handful.
- Keller Chryst played in 6 games, replaced in 1 or 2.
- Quinten Dormady played in 6 games, started over JG to start the 2017 season after beating him in practice. Of course we sucked so Butch threw him under the bus and started playing JG. He later replaced JG in a game or 2 before Butch gave the keys fully to JG.

We tried no less than 5 guys from 2017-2020 in a combination of benching JG and giving guys full starts. It's revisionist history to say we didn't try anything. Nobody could win the job outright from him. He was legitimately our best option because Butch failed to replace Dobbs with an SEC caliber QB and Pruitt failed to recruit anyone better than JG until he got Hooker right before we fired him.

Everyone should periodically read this and remember what a cluster f… this football team and coaches were and be thankful for Danny White, JH, coaches and current team. We in the playoffs! Let’s go GBO

 

[Carp]

"We never tried anyone else" and "not even attempting to try other options" are wild statements.

All of these guys either replaced JG during a game or started over him at some point.

- Brian Maurer played in 12 games while JG was here. Started a handful. Replaced in multiple.
- Harrison Bailey played in 6 games, starting at least 1.
- JT Shrout played in 8 games, I think he started 2 games. Replaced in a handful.
- Keller Chryst played in 6 games, replaced in 1 or 2.
- Quinten Dormady played in 6 games, started over JG to start the 2017 season after beating him in practice. Of course we sucked so Butch threw him under the bus and started playing JG. He later replaced JG in a game or 2 before Butch gave the keys fully to JG.

We tried no less than 5 guys from 2017-2020 in a combination of benching JG and giving guys full starts. It's revisionist history to say we didn't try anything. Nobody could win the job outright from him. He was legitimately our best option because Butch failed to replace Dobbs with an SEC caliber QB and Pruitt failed to recruit anyone better than JG until he got Hooker right before we fired him.

Maurer was the only QB given a legit shot to replace JG. Unfortunately, he got injured and he was cooked after that last concussion.

Bailey didn't get any regular reps till the end of Pruitts last year when everything was already lost.

Shrout started 1 game and he wasn't good. I have no issue with Shrout never being given a shot.

Chryst was never given an opportunity. Get real. He replaced JG only in blowouts or if JG got injured.

Dormady and JG wasn't a Pruitt era scenario.

 

[SoilVol]

Maurer was the only QB given a legit shot to replace JG. Unfortunately, he got injured and he was cooked after that concussion.

Bailey didn't get any regular reps till the end of Pruitts last year when everything was already lost.

Shrout started 1 game and he wasn't good. I have no issue with Shrout never being given a shot.

Chryst was never given an opportunity. Get real. He replaced JG only in blowouts or if JG got injured.

Dormady and JG wasn't a Pruitt era scenario.

Great, so we've established saying "we never tried anyone else" was a wildly absurd statement. Because we did, and you've acknowledged that here. Yes, Pruitt was an idiot, and he failed to recruit a QB with a pulse. But he absolutely tried mutliple other options and benched JG multiple times.

We've also established saying things like "we don't know what we had" is absurd, because all those guys weren't better and showed they weren't better options. "Get real."

 

[LaagerVol]

There’s a chance the coaching staff, the ones who see the players and what they’re capable of all the time and not just 12 Saturdays per year, might not consider it simply rolling the dice.

But King said they’ll likely target a RB in the portal so it doesn’t matter.

Not to be argumentative but King said “maybe” a RB

 

[RDU VOL#14]

My guess is OU’s new OC brings in his QB.

I think that’s pretty much what could happen. Or maybe Arnold wanted Venables to make some promises he wasn’t willing to make.

 

[Carp]

Great, so we've established saying "we never tried anyone else" was a wildly absurd statement. Because we did, and you've acknowledged that here. Yes, Pruitt was an idiot, and he failed to recruit a QB with a pulse. But he absolutely tried mutliple other options and benched JG multiple times.

We've also established saying things like "we don't know what we had" is absurd, because all those guys weren't better and showed they weren't better options. "Get real."

Yes I used a bit of hyperbole in my orginal statement. But in 3 years, Pruitt "tried" 1 QB over JG before the wheels fell off. That QB was Maurer for about 2 games before he got concussed. I guess technically he tried 2 with Shrout starting vs SoCar in 2019, but that was only after Maurer was out with a concussion.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Ethan just needs to keep putting on weight he’ll be fine and probably the best TE Heupel has had.

Agree. He still looks like a WR blocking.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Look at the size of his arms. I haven't paid attention to him in games, but I just imagine him slinging blockers off of him like they're children.

Meh.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Yes I used a bit of hyperbole in my orginal statement. But in 3 years, Pruitt "tried" 1 QB over JG before the wheels fell off. That QB was Maurer for about 2 games before he got concussed. I guess technically he tried 2 with Shrout starting vs SoCar in 2019, but that was only after Maurer was out with a concussion.

Face it. JG was the best option we had at QB. Neither Shrout nor Maurer could beat him out. If they could have they would have.

 

[perico]

Maurer was the only QB given a legit shot to replace JG. Unfortunately, he got injured and he was cooked after that concussion.

Bailey didn't get any regular reps till the end of Pruitts last year when everything was already lost.

Shrout started 1 game and he wasn't good. I have no issue with Shrout never being given a shot.

Chryst was never given an opportunity. Get real. He replaced JG only in blowouts or if JG got injured.

Dormady and JG wasn't a Pruitt era scenario.

There was a reason for that. He couldn’t even win the job at UNLV

 

[Carp]

There was a reason for that. He couldn’t even win the job at UNLV

Still played better at the end of 2020 than JG did at pretty much any point in 2020.

 

[Ashevolle]

Guys Ettienne isn’t portal bound. That was a troll tweet from a Florida fan.

Always check who the tweet is from, internet noobs.

That would require venturing onto Twitter. Hard pass

 

[NighthawkVol]

Great, so we've established saying "we never tried anyone else" was a wildly absurd statement. Because we did, and you've acknowledged that here. Yes, Pruitt was an idiot, and he failed to recruit a QB with a pulse. But he absolutely tried mutliple other options and benched JG multiple times.

We've also established saying things like "we don't know what we had" is absurd, because all those guys weren't better and showed they weren't better options. "Get real."

And Harrison Bailey went to UNLV and couldn't win the backup job. He was terrible.

Tennessee was stuck with JG as its starting QB because he was the best QB on the roster. And it was never particularly close.

 

[NighthawkVol]

There was a reason for that. He couldn’t even win the job at UNLV

Or the backup job.

 

[Smokey'sHandler]

I think that’s pretty much what could happen. Or maybe Arnold wanted Venables to make some promises he wasn’t willing to make.

It's going to be interesting to see how long of a leash Venables has at OU. He has two potential "passes" given with Year 1/players following Lincoln to USC and this being their first year in the SEC but if they lose in their bowl game he will have losing records in 2 of the 3 years that he has been there. Next year is a nightmare of a schedule for them as well. Go look at their SEC schedule unless they have significant improvement I see only 1 win. If that's the case I would assume that seat is going to really start to heat up.

 

[SoilVol]

Yes I used a bit of hyperbole in my orginal statement. But in 3 years, Pruitt "tried" 1 QB over JG before the wheels fell off. That QB was Maurer for about 2 games before he got concussed. I guess technically he tried 2 with Shrout starting vs SoCar in 2019, but that was only after Maurer was out with a concussion.

Can't believe in 2024 we are still b*tchin about JG. But revisionist history is a powerful drug, so let me set the record straight. You are pretty wrong here:

2018 was a primary year for JG. He started the entire season.

Keller Chryst played 3 quarters against Bama and Mizzou in 2018. When he came in against Mizzou it was 6-0 in the 2nd quarter and JG had led 9 plays for -17 yards so he got benched. Chryst had 2 INTs and a fumble and it ended up 50-17. He absolutely was given a shot and played poorly. He looked decent against Bama but the game was already out of hand in the 2nd quarter when he came in.

2019, Pruitt tried multiple times to let another QB take the job.

Against Florida in 2019, Pruitt benched JG. Maurer started the 2nd half. He led a field goal drive and threw an INT before getting benched for JG.

Then Maurer started the next week against Georgia. Led 2 TD drives but also threw an INT, and lost a fumble returned for a TD and had another fumble. He got benched for JG at the end of the game.

The next week Maurer started again against MSU. This is the game he got concussed. He threw 2 INTs in the first half. JG came in and finished the game, leading the 91yd TD drive to push us up 20-10. W.

Maurer started AGAIN the following week against Bama. He threw an INT and ran for a TD before JG replaced him at the end of the 1st quarter.

The next week JG started against Soith Carolina (you said Shrout started, he didn't) with Maurer out and Shrout came in mid-3rd after JG got injured on the JJ TD pass. Shrout finished the game solidly against South Carolina in a W coming in the 3rd Q.

The next week against Kentucky Maurer started AGAIN. Vols were losing 13-3 at half and not moving the ball well. JG came back in and led the Vols to a 17-13 W on the road.

JG earned his start back after that finishing with Ws against Mizzou and Vandy and Indiana. However after throwing a pick-6 against Indiana (2nd INT) Pruitt benched him for Maurer. He came back in down 19-9 and led the Vols to a comeback W in the bowl game.

2020, Pruitt fully put JG aside for younger QBs, and neither of them held onto the job.

In 2020 JG earned the start. Exclusively played in the first 3 games going 2-1. Of course he had his worst game of his career against Kentucky in wk4 throwing 2 pick-6's back to back. Got benched. Shrout went full Gaston Moore Leroy Jenkins and threw an INT next possession. JG returned. Nothing doing. Harrison Bailey finished the game.

The following week was Bama. JG started. Went poorly.

The next week was at Arkansas. JG started and we were up 13-0 at half. After half Arky went up 21-13. Maurer came in and did nothing (3 drives, 10 plays, 14yds). Bailey came in for the final 2 drives and finished both drives with interceptions. JG might've won us that game had he been allowed to finish it (maybe he was injured).

JG started against Auburn. Bailey came in down 27-10. Led a TD drive. Lost 30-17.

Next week against Florida, Bailey STARTED the game. We were down 31-7 in the 4th. Shrout came in for the final two drives and led 2tds. Lost 31-19.

Bailey started again against Vandy the next week. Shrout came in in the 2nd quarter down 7-10. Did nothing. Bailey came back in. Vols up 35-10 and Shrout comes back in for 1 play and throws INT. Bailey finished the game with the big win.

Bailey started again against Texas A&M. After fumbling down 17-7, Shrout came in. Went 4-5 possessions and threw a TD to Tillman. Bailey came back out. Did nothing. Shrout came back out and threw an INT. Lost 34-13.

But suuuuureeee.... We had NO idea what we had in the other QBs. They never got quality reps in meaningful games. Never started a different QB. Yeah, they all went on to do nothing at their future stops with lesser programs but who knows if they would've been better here.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

It's going to be interesting to see how long of a leash Venables has at OU. He has two potential "passes" given with Year 1/players following Lincoln to USC and this being their first year in the SEC but if they lose in their bowl game he will have losing records in 2 of the 3 years that he has been there. Next year is a nightmare of a schedule for them as well. Go look at their SEC schedule unless they have significant improvement I see only 1 win. If that's the case I would assume that seat is going to really start to heat up.

I still can’t figure out why they gave him an extension after last season. Where was he going to go? He waited for years and years to take the right job that he wanted. He wasn’t going to get up and leave. He may be able to climb out of this, but they’re going to have make some big strides.