'25 Portal Thread

[Weezer]

We need to replace Elarbee. And Pope.

I also think we need to find a really good defensive analyst who can help Banks with the safeties. Let Banks concentrate on his DC duties.

 

[DaddyChad]

What about RB for proven depth?

Depth my behind, I would bring in the best I could and let them sort it out on the practice field.

 

[deatojl]

Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, and Brian Jordan all played both sports. Professionally.

I'm well aware of that. The discussion was about UT/Helton, though. If Amari Jefferson is good enough to be grouped with those guys, it should be a generational type portal pickup.

 

[Orangeslice13]

Royalty.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Someone let us know what Sean Sparks has been saying about the MM situation. I’m sure it’s great info

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

Depth my behind, I would bring in the best I could and let them sort it out on the practice field.

The best come with cost, I’m not sure we spend big at RB.

 

[deatojl]

Coming back for same $

It's almost like people should have just been patient and waited for everything to play out(yet again), rather than trashing MM, the coaches, Spyre, and whomever else they could think of.

 

[99vawl]

So if Safety isn’t a priority, does that disqualify us from the Branch sweepstakes?

Certainly not.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I would love to add safety help, but we have to be pushing our scholarship numbers as is.

If we add the 5 needs King mentions, that puts us at 86. Add a Safety, we're at 87. I don't think the staff really cares about the numbers at this point. They can sort the numbers out. Grant, Reddick, and Okoye are guys who are expendable. If you add a good Safety and Slaughter doesn't improve much over the Spring, he's expendable too. With NIL, you can also take guys off scholarship and pay their tuition with NIL money. If they don't agree to that, they leave. Either way, you've reduced the number of players on scholarship.

In today's world, I don't see them letting the numbers stop them from getting what they need.

All that said, maybe they're high enough on Farooq and the two Thomas' (or even Slaughter) to believe they don't need to add a Safety from the portal.

 

[volpride1998]

Kudos to staff and Spyre navigating this portal. At different points in time I was concerned about 2/3+ of the guys I thought we needed for 2025 (and beyond). We lost none.

From here, I’d expect us to go after:
1. Starter quality WR
2. Starter quality G
3. Depth DT
4. Depth RB
5. Depth WR

King- why is safety not also a focus? Are hopeful that if we bring in both Branches that would alleviate safety and WR concerns?

 

[Vawlz]

-AP

Wait, so we're good again?

 

[TrippieRedd]

Certainly not.

Kewl beans

 

[Stoked]

Love the MM news but the best part about all of this is from the sound of it both Nico and MM weren’t happy with the style of offense we ran last year. It was understandable for Heupel to go even more run heavy than he has previously because of how green Nico was and because of how dominant Sampson was, plus how elite our defense was.

With that said I’m ready to see if he goes back to 2022 and lets Nico sling it like Hooker did, and run more uptempo. With what AP said and the main reason MM came here was because of what Hyatt got to do… I have faith that Heupel assured MM that this will be the case!

 

[Weezer]

Well, Vols appear to be back on track. Now, if the Braves would start addressing their needs, I could really be happy.

 

[Vawlz]

Todd Helton played both. It can be done. Not saying AJ will, but let's not act like it's unheard of or impossible.

Helton played in a much different time. Who was the last UT football player that also played baseball since Helton?

 

[JT3]

Kudos to staff and Spyre navigating this portal. At different points in time I was concerned about 2/3+ of the guys I thought we needed for 2025 (and beyond). We lost none.

From here, I’d expect us to go after:
1. Starter quality WR
2. Starter quality G
3. Depth DT
4. Depth RB
5. Depth WR

Do you know if Karic is expected back?

 

[JT3]

Welcome back Mike Matthews!!!!!!!!

 

[Vawlz]

No, we aren't "back"..... Meaning competing for championships.

So being one of the 12 teams in the CFB Playoffs isn't "competing for championships"? LMAO.

Some of you are so desperate to be negative you lose all perspective.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Love the MM news but the best part about all of this is from the sound of it both Nico and MM weren’t happy with the style of offense we ran last year. It was understandable for Heupel to go even more run heavy than he has previously because of how green Nico was and because of how dominant Sampson was, plus how elite our defense was.

With that said I’m ready to see if he goes back to 2022 and lets Nico sling it like Hooker did, and run more uptempo. With what AP said and the main reason MM came here was because of what Hyatt got to do… I have faith that Heupel assured MM that this will be the case!

I had the same thought...they assured those guys of a different style, which means that's the intent.

Buy we can't just simply go back to doing what we did in 2022. Defenses have adjusted to the way they defend Tennessee. They're taking away the deep shots and daring Tennessee to sustain long drives. So what is our counter-punch?

 

[NighthawkVol]

Also anyone that cancelled their Vol Club sub in outrage remain morons

I increased mine.

 

[Vawlz]

Coming back for same $

But VN told me that Pope was toxic and all the WRs hated him.

 

[JT3]

Still need a starter for the slot and I would still take another outside guy to compete with Brazzell. If we are good with Brazzell, I can see us just adding a starter at slot. This is assuming we land Jefferson.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Depth my behind, I would bring in the best I could and let them sort it out on the practice field.

You're not wrong.

Remember when we brought in Kitselman for depth and he turned into the starting TE and a good one? That could also happen again at another position.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Still need a starter for the slot and I would still take another outside guy to compete with Brazzell. If we are good with Brazzell, I can see us just adding a starter at slot. This is assuming we land Jefferson.

Between Staley and Jefferson, we may have one already.

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

So is Jefferson a done deal or just huge speculation?