'25 Portal Thread

[TrippieRedd]

They can bring Jeanty with them.

Dreams are nice to have

 

[OrangeMoundTNVol]

Love to have Branch still if the staff wants him...but we need outside WRs more for several reasons IMO.

1. Staley and Dodson likely 1and 2 in the slot next year.

2. We need 2 outside WR and only 1 Slot WR on each play from the spread. So we need twice as many good outside receivers as slots. Ideally at least 4 of them. 2 for X, 2 for Y.

3. When we go 12 personnel, we don't have a slot on the field. Yet we have 2WR outside in either formation we run. This means more chances for injuries, and more depth needed for substitutions to keep the WRs fresh all game.

Love to have Branch because he is obviously talented. Hopefully we grab an outside receiver and a slot from the portal. Time will tell...

More than anything we need a guy that can line up against Jawja, and can catch one of those 5 yard hitches Heup LOVES to run, make two DBs miss and get up field in a hurry. That’s why our offense looked so bland, there were no run after catches or jukes unless Nico hit a guy on a post route and he(Thorton) outruns the defense.

 

[JAllen18]

Branch is our Squirrel replacement but there are other WR’s we’re targeting as well.

 

[Type Orange+]

I’m sure by the coaches and Nico. zachariah branch played with Nico in the Polynesian Bowl. Brothers are also for the same HS as Cedric Tillman.

And back in 2021, @allvolrecruiting posted the Tillman's father was Zachariah Branch's track coach.

‘23 - NV WR Zachariah Branch

Zachariah Branch, 2023 Athlete - Rivals.com Zachariah Branch on Hudl

www.volnation.com

So e do have some indirect connection here that we might take advantage of.

 

[eVOLve]

Branch is our Squirrel replacement but there are other WR’s we’re targeting as well.

Definitely an upgrade.

 

[Blake25p]

Branch is our Squirrel replacement but there are other WR’s we’re targeting as well.

Latest on MM?

 

[VolByLaw]

USC WR Zachariah Branch
Zachariah Branch and his brother Zion have yet to commit as the dead period comes to a close. Sources tell On3 that Tennessee is going all-in to land a visit, using a recruiting pitch involving receiver Bru McCoy. Nico Iamaleava’s Dad is also making a push, sources told On3. The brothers previously visited Arizona State and Georgia.

Tennessee WR Mike Matthews
Tennessee true freshman wide receiver Mike Matthews announced his plans to enter the transfer portal late Saturday night. But sources told On3 on Sunday afternoon that negotiations are still ongoing on a new NIL contract that would see him return to Knoxville. As of Monday morning, he’s yet to officially enter the portal. Speaking to a source again, there remains some confidence of a return but nothing has been finalized.

-Pete Nakos

 

[Jimmy Football]

Latest on MM?

Still acceptable to have a glass dish with just red and green ones set out through the early part of January. Will let you know when they’re out of season.

 

[volinbama256]

I know this…

When a player like Matthews does what is alleged… at the midnight hour hold the program hostage for more cash… that player might be retained but the program has no allegiance to him.

When college athletes start to “conduct business” like a “professional” then I think coaches have to take the professional, NFL approach.

Find the best guy in the portal you can and give the portal guy a chance to beat him out.

If I’m the coaches and guys are wanting renewed contracts every offseason, I’m not longer concerned about their feelings or making them comfortable. Go sign anyone and everyone from the portal that you can and if it scares them off… so be it.

These guys aren’t kid amateurs anymore.

Absa- F'n- lutely

 

[aRmo]

Absa- F'n- lutely

Players dont practice in the NFL and refuse to play until their contract is re-negotiated. Happens all the time. This is the only leverage MM had. Dont blame the kid, just hope if he stays, the production matches the risk.

 

[MarcoVol]

Players dont practice in the NFL and refuse to play until their contract is re-negotiated. Happens all the time. This is the only leverage MM had. Dont blame the kid, just hope if he stays, the production matches the risk.

What risk?

 

[rockytop25]

 

[knoxvol52]

What risk?

The poster is correct NFL players do refuse to practice and play. What the poster forgot to add the NFL teams fine the players @$$ for every game missed if holding out ..

 

[PTSDVOL]

Latest from VQ on MM

 

[marcusluvsvols]

IMO, there have been only 2 WRs that have hit the portal that have proven to be a legitimate WR1 type of guy at the Power 4 level. Those 2 players are Singleton and Concepcion. Branch and Robinson from USC are quality guys with 5 star pedigrees, but their production thus far hasn't reflected their recruiting ranking. Nic Anderson has 1 year of pretty good production and zero production his other 2 seasons. Dane Key has been productive at UK, but also hasn't exactly put up eye popping numbers. And Micah Hudson did virtually nothing his freshman year at Texas Tech. Maybe you could argue Kevin Coleman. But that's it.


Do people really want to pay a million (or more) for WRs in the portal who have largely not lived up to their hype?

This is totally valid, with good references.

Counter argument would be Tillman, Bru, Brazzell, Thornton etc. Don't think any of them were paid huge money though.

My take is that if we do grab portal WRs, they need to have at least 2 years eligibility left. Preferably 3. Takes a while to pick up this system for WRs unless they are smart in addition to being amazing athletes IMO. Thornton, hopefully Brazzell etc couldnt perform at a really high level here in their 1st year. The coaches are adamant that Brazzell has only scratched the surface of his potential so far. Hope he has a dominant, breakout season in 25.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

If MM goes in there’s not a path for him to return?

You serious Clark? Why

 

[Blake25p]

Latest from VQ on MM

View attachment 710393View attachment 710394

That’s not an update, that’s telling us something we already know. That’ll be $9.99

 

[volamite86]

That’s not an update, that’s telling us something we already know. That’ll be $9.99

To be fair, I don’t know what people are wanting. They all for am upset every hour.

 

[Tennessee Golfer]

Idk some guy here said it earlier so I'm just going to run with it. That's how this website works, right?

 

[PowerT.]

Hopefully a player we tampered with is about to enter portal

 

[bpalmer28]

We about to be stacked at WR.... My guess is we add Branch and someone we don't know about yet.

 

[RockyTop411]

Latest from VQ on MM

View attachment 710393View attachment 710394

Wtf does APs post even mean

 

[Carp]

If MM goes in there’s not a path for him to return?

You serious Clark? Why

I would think it would be because we negotiated and couldn't come to an agreement. Obviously some players find their way back after going into the portal, but it would be unlikely we improve our offer.

 

[PTSDVOL]

That’s not an update, that’s telling us something we already know. That’ll be $9.99

They, nor I, claimed it to be an update or anything new either...Someone just asked that if MM entered officially that mods let the board know. They just both responded in the thread and I thought I'd share their responses. You said update..


I won't share anything again...

 

[mr.checkerboards]

I hope we tampered with Ryan Williams