'25 Portal Thread

[MoCo_Vol]

Tinfoil hat time, with @TN-POSSUM:

Like the rest of you, I was excited last season when Bru announced he was coming back. In hindsight, I think Matthews probably was expecting that was "his spot" when he originally committed and Bru's extra year put MM off/behind. I'm also starting to think the lack of MM's playing time and him possibly leaving, have something in common with Bru's extra year. I don't know what he was told when he committed but (if true) that would rub me the wrong way. He was a legit 5 star coming out of HS and probably expected to play. It didn't make sense for him to sit when lesser receivers were the 1st ones off the bench. Maybe his attitude was bad because of what happened during the Spring over McCoy. Like I said, it's a "tinfoil" theory but kids are kids.

I don't care how grown up they look or sound, they're still young. I've got 2 sons, 20 and 17 yrs old, and they're moody/emotional just like other kids that age. Giving a good high school player a lot money doesn't make them mature. Maturity comes from experience, trials, and earning your way through life. You throw in agents instead of role models and you get the current state of NIL

Yeah, I think my biggest annoyance with it isn't so much that Bru, Brazzell, White, or Thornton were ahead of him. Most had proven something already in this offense OR in college. But when the injuries started piling up and we're seeing Nimrod & Webb getting targets over MM or we're playing with guys that are clearly (White) not even close to 100% instead of letting the young talent get reps that's annoying.

 

[PTSDVOL]

You think @dascoop is FOS? I would assume that means you don't pay any attention.

Inciting the scoop mafia is painfully easy lol.

 

[LotteryPick]

Lmao count me IN on Jefferson.

Y’all need to go back to that thread and remind yourselves how much he was wanted a year ago.

Remember, we need three guys. Jefferson is polished and comes from arguably the most talented football program in the state (Baylor).

 

[DaddyChad]

Can’t say Amari Jefferson moves the needle for me at all.

Meh, coaches really wanted him. Probably him possibly Gilmore. We need at least two WRs imo via portal. Jefferson you likely get a full four years out of if he’s the guy and everything lines up like he’s they guy.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I think he’s a good player but idk if we can afford to take him because he obviously need proven grown men at this point

We need 3 WRs if MM leaves. At least 1, maybe 2, need to be “proven grown men.” But we also need depth with talent. Jefferson could be that.

 

[allvolrecruiting]

I thought the portal was closed for us

Maybe this means the Branch brothers are coming

Closed to enter

 

[RyanWalkerPGH]

Mehhhhh

 

[CamVol8]

We need 3 WRs if MM leaves. At least 1, maybe 2, need to be “proven grown men.” But we also need depth with talent. Jefferson could be that.

If we could guarantee to get 2 experienced studs and Jefferson then i would be extremely happy

 

[KingVFL]

Doubtful. We’ve known this was coming for a long time.

I take this back. We'll be interested here, but I view this as more depth personally for next year.

 

[TrippieRedd]

I take this back. We'll be interested here, but I view this as more depth personally for next year.

You saying this may have just confirmed scoop

 

[DaddyChad]

I think he’s a good player but idk if we can afford to take him because he obviously need proven grown men at this point

As many WRs as we lost we probably need to make room for two or three. I do agree with you though you need someone that’s ready to go right now.

 

[Mr305Vol]

What if the "WR room getting better" isn't about a player, but that Pope is out and we're getting a new WRs coach?

Y'all are thinking about this all wrong, obviously

What if the room just got a new coat of paint and they replaced the carpet with wood laminate?

 

[Mator]

@dascoop did they add padded seats for all the queens in the WR room?

 

[Mr305Vol]

I taught HS for 6 years and now work with them on another level not in the classroom. That’s exactly why I don’t get heated when kids (yes they’re still kids) pull these types of stunts. It sucks and I hate it, but I’m not gonna hate on the kid because they either don’t have the support group to give them good advice, or they do and the advice they’re getting isn’t in their best interests. Either way, they’re going to make dumb decisions and it’s my hope the adults in the room have a plan for when that happens.

This. After teaching high school in Florida and being towered over by freshmen (I'm 6'3" 220), it changed my view on recruiting. Sometimes kids are mature beyond their years. Sometimes, they are more like me in high school, emotionally immature and just looking for attention.

 

[DaddyChad]

Just going to put this out there King hears a lot from the UT program side, scoop seems to get info from player side somehow. Probably knew Amari was going into the portal and knew he would be interested in Tennessee. I have no insider info just adding things up in the most logical way I can. Probably didn’t name anyone bc of the potential for tampering claims to be made.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Curious how much eligibility Benson has left with the JuCo ruling (he played 2 years there before going to Bama then FSU).

Not sure how I feel about an in-state kid that picked Bama OVER us and then sat there for a year to RS when he could have been here learning the offense. But any top 250 player is a take IMO regardless of how much he's played or not.

Take Benson (was the top JuCo player in 2023) and take Jefferson (was top 200 in his class).

I also like that both were Pope recruits originally, so he's likely kept contact and has a relationship built.

 

[JT3]

You saying this may have just confirmed scoop

Don't think it's Jefferson. Would assume it would be more of a proven guy.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Don't think it's Jefferson. Would assume it would be more of a proven guy.

Just adding everything up.

Scoop says room got better
This kid enters
King flips and says this kid may actually be a take

 

[Jackcrevol]

They definitely are but if he’s made a decision to go to one of them why not be in the portal already?

TN

 

[DaddyChad]

Curious how much eligibility Benson has left with the JuCo ruling (he played 2 years there before going to Bama then FSU).

Not sure how I feel about an in-state kid that picked Bama OVER us and then sat there for a year to RS when he could have been here learning the offense. But any top 250 player is a take IMO regardless of how much he's played or not.

Take Benson (was the top JuCo player in 2023) and take Jefferson (was top 200 in his class).

I also like that both were Pope recruits originally, so he's likely kept contact and has a relationship built.

He’s been through two schools already and got what one year of eligibility with limited top side?

 

[foxtrot]

 

[Orangeblood75]

Pass

Rather have benson

Good enough for Bama but not us ? Kid is a perfect slot with multiple years to play. Probably won’t break the bank either. We will definitely take more receivers but this kid would be a super SOLID pickup. By the way he’s a STUD baseball player also.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Yup it’s him.

Oh well.

 

[DaddyChad]

Well that happen fast.

 

[MarcoVol]

Meh, coaches really wanted him. Probably him possibly Gilmore. We need at least two WRs imo via portal. Jefferson you likely get a full four years out of if he’s the guy and everything lines up like he’s they guy.

Hardley Gilmore? Committed to Nebraska