'25 Portal Thread

#604
#604
UTK said:
WR WR WR WR WR WR sorry guys this year didn’t prove they could catch the ball consistently
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OL probably the most important position of need. WRs have zero chance of catching the ball if the OL can't protect Nico long enough to throw the ball.

DL would be second. We lose a lot from the DL rotation, and that rotation is the key to our defense's success.

After that, there are lots of ways we can go. A dynamic WR. A blocking TE, where maybe we get lucky and find another like Kitselman. A safety to help the back end of the defense. Even an experienced LB to help or rotation. But OL and DL have to be addresses, IMO. After that, we're looking for luxuries, barring unexpected transfers.
 
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#605
#605
As for the transfer portal, we expect Tennessee to be very active with interior offensive lineman and defensive lineman. Patrick Kutas is expected to hit the portal when it opens up next week and the Arkansas lineman is one that we can see Tennessee being interested in. We will see if he returns the interest and makes his way to campus for a visit.
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Those are the main two positions that we think they will focus on as of now. Other positions like wide receiver, safety or running back will depend on who leaves and who doesn’t at those positions. If Tennessee doesn’t lose anyone else at wide receiver, we are not sure that they will look to take anyone at that position because of who is returning and who is coming in.
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-VQ
 
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#607
#607
TrippieRedd said:
Glad they like what they have at WR. Matthews, Squirrel, Brazzell, Nimrod, Staley and Travis Smith should be fine.



Also…it doesn’t really sound like we’re going after starting type players, more so depth pieces.
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I agree. We don't need to survive off the portal anymore. Thank God those days are behind us.
 
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#608
#608
walkenvol said:
If you’re a top 10 ranked recruit out of hs, you don’t plan to hang around for your 4th season more less a fifth season. Red shirting him would be useless
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Hate to tell you but it’s pretty rare for true FR to start right off the bat out of HS on the OL in the SEC. Arch Manning barely played his freshman year and he was one of the highest rated recruits ever. RS year one and play two years. Tons of highly rated recruits have done that. Like I said, hopefully he red shirts.
 
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#609
#609
TrippieRedd said:
Glad they like what they have at WR. Matthews, Squirrel, Brazzell, Nimrod, Staley and Travis Smith should be fine.



Also…it doesn’t really sound like we’re going after starting type players, more so depth pieces.
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So I guess Conception is a no? Even though he is better than Squirrel or Nimrod?
 
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#610
#610
BigOrangeTrain said:
Hate to tell you but it’s pretty rare for true FR to start right off the bat out of HS on the OL in the SEC. Arch Manning barely played his freshman year and he was one of the highest rated recruits ever. RS year one and play two years. Tons of highly rated recruits have done that. Like I said, hopefully he red shirts.
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I think red shirts have more relevance in the NIL era instead of less. More players on the borderline of going pro are going to stay in school because you can still make tons of money and you are likely to help yourself.
 
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#611
#611
Weezer said:
OL probably the most important position of need. WRs have zero chance of catching the ball if the OL can't protect Nico long enough to throw the ball.

DL would be second. We lose a lot from the DL rotation, and that rotation is the key to our defense's success.

After that, there are lots of ways we can go. A dynamic WR. A blocking TE, where maybe we get lucky and find another like Kitselman. A safety to help the back end of the defense. Even an experienced LB to help or rotation. But OL and DL have to be addresses, IMO. After that, we're looking for luxuries, barring unexpected transfers.
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I’d actually put safety as my 3rd biggest want after the 2 lines of scrimmage. That is, if we can get an instant impact guy. Imagine a Jermod McCoy type talent, but at Safety.
 
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#612
#612
BigOrangeTrain said:
Hate to tell you but it’s pretty rare for true FR to start right off the bat out of HS on the OL in the SEC. Arch Manning barely played his freshman year and he was one of the highest rated recruits ever. RS year one and play two years. Tons of highly rated recruits have done that. Like I said, hopefully he red shirts.
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He didn't say he was going to start...just play and I think he will play more than the 4 game red shirt minimum to prepare him for starting in '26.
 
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#614
#614
BigOrangeTrain said:
Hate to tell you but it’s pretty rare for true FR to start right off the bat out of HS on the OL in the SEC. Arch Manning barely played his freshman year and he was one of the highest rated recruits ever. RS year one and play two years. Tons of highly rated recruits have done that. Like I said, hopefully he red shirts.
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Arch Manning is a QB. So there really isn't much opportunity to get in the game unless someone gets hurt ahead of you or they play poorly.

At OL, your 2nd string generally gets a lot of work. So if you are red shirting, it's because you aren't yet good enough to be in the rotation. It's very likely Sanders will be among the 4 best OTs on the team when he steps on campus. So it's unlikely he will be redshirting.
 
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#615
#615
HoleInTheRoof said:
The problem with getting a portal receiver is, we’ve kind of seen that it takes until the second year in the system before a receiver can make an impact.
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Not sure I agree. Bru's most productive season was his first year here. And Tilman was a 1k receiver the first year in Huep's system.

I think QB is a larger issue why Thornton and Brazzell weren't more productive in year 1 than Tillman and Bru were their first year's on the system.. Thornton also had issues catching the ball early last year that probably cost him another 200 yards in receiving (not to mention likely caused Milton not to trust him as much). There were plenty of missed opportunities for Thornton that should have led to 2-3 games with 100+ receiving yards.

In some respect, we've seen similar issues with Brazzell and Nico. Though not as pronounced. I think having a stronger focus on the ground game this season along with Bru and Thornton being above him on the depth chart was more of a factor than anything else.
 
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#616
#616
Carp said:
Arch Manning is a QB. So there really isn't much opportunity to get in the game unless someone gets hurt ahead of you or they play poorly.

At OL, your 2nd string generally gets a lot of work. So if you are red shirting, it's because you aren't yet good enough to be in the rotation. It's very likely Sanders will be among the 4 best OTs on the team when he steps on campus. So it's unlikely he will be redshirting.
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LSU just went thru this with their 2 all american, 5* tackles.........they struggled big time as true freshmen. now, 2 years later, they're both a lot better.

we did the same thing with Wanya and Darnell...both now playing in the NFL, neither set the world on fire as true freshmen starters....both 5* OT's coming in.........

so i think a lot will depend on where Sanders is in his development, strength and conditioning etc. i don't know that they plan on using a RS with him next year, and i believe Sanders certainly thinks he'll be able to come in and contribute early. but in the 2nd group up, right off the bat? i dunno.

i'll say this....if anyone is capable, it's probably him. dude is a beast....so i hate to speculate one way or the other. experience tells me though, that true freshmen tackles.....even the best ones...still aren't ready, especially at this level against the type of DL/Edge guys they'll be up against. he'll get plenty of reps i'm sure, and he'll play, i have no doubt about that. part of the regular rotation, not so sure.
 
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#618
#618
jakez4ut said:
LSU just went thru this with their 2 all american, 5* tackles.........they struggled big time as true freshmen. now, 2 years later, they're both a lot better.

we did the same thing with Wanya and Darnell...both now playing in the NFL, neither set the world on fire as true freshmen starters....both 5* OT's coming in.........

so i think a lot will depend on where Sanders is in his development, strength and conditioning etc. i don't know that they plan on using a RS with him next year, and i believe Sanders certainly thinks he'll be able to come in and contribute early. but in the 2nd group up, right off the bat? i dunno.

i'll say this....if anyone is capable, it's probably him. dude is a beast....so i hate to speculate one way or the other. experience tells me though, that true freshmen tackles.....even the best ones...still aren't ready, especially at this level against the type of DL/Edge guys they'll be up against. he'll get plenty of reps i'm sure, and he'll play, i have no doubt about that. part of the regular rotation, not so sure.
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Kadyn Proctor also stuggled as a freshman. Of course he was a starter though. Francis Mauigoa also started for Miami and he excelled, earning All-ACC honorable at a true freshman RT.

So it's not exactly unheard of. Particularly for elite OT recruits.
 
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#620
#620
Carp said:
Not sure I agree. Bru's most productive season was his first year here. And Tilman was a 1k receiver the first year in Huep's system.

I think QB is a larger issue why Thornton and Brazzell weren't more productive in year 1 than Tillman and Bru were their first year's on the system.. Thornton also had issues catching the ball early last year that probably cost him another 200 yards in receiving (not to mention likely caused Milton not to trust him as much). There were plenty of missed opportunities for Thornton that should have led to 2-3 games with 100+ receiving yards.

In some respect, we've seen similar issues with Brazzell and Nico. Though not as pronounced. I think having a stronger focus on the ground game this season along with Bru and Thornton being above him on the depth chart was more of a factor than anything else.
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What's the one similarity between Tilman and Bru that allowed them to have success in their 1st year?

Hendon Hooker was the QB.
 
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#623
#623
TrippieRedd said:
@Vols410 where does Kutas grade?
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Right next to Spraggins.

Player: Rating / IOL Rk.
Karic: 84 / #74
Thompson (NW) : 83 / #85
Spraggins: 80 / #160
Kutas (ARK): 80 / #163
Lampley: 79 / #203

He is the #35 run-blocking IOL in gap/man schemes though, so seemingly a better fit for us than Thompson might be.
 
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#625
#625
Vols410 said:
Right next to Spraggins.

Player: Rating / IOL Rk.
Karic: 84 / #74
Thompson (NW) : 83 / #85
Spraggins: 80 / #160
Kutas (ARK): 80 / #163
Lampley: 79 / #203

He is the #35 run-blocking IOL in gap/man schemes though, so seemingly a better fit for us than Thompson might be.
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Hopefully we can do better. Spraggins underwhelmed this year.
 
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