'25 Portal Thread

[Jackcrevol]

It really is weird to me. This is at least the third year in a row we've looked for starting talent at WR and OL from the portal.

I feel like we've kicked this dead horse.

It's glaringly obvious to us fans. I'm being optimistic that Huepel can wrassle these morans into shape.

 

[Weezer]

This right here! Idk why people don’t understand this. Read between the lines, listen to what’s not being said, and recruiting is fluid. Most importantly, don’t get bent outta shape. You’re grown (probably) act like it.

I'm sure people get bent out of shape because they're paying for a service. Personally, I don't do VQ. I think people need to weigh for themselves if they think they're getting what they pay for, and if they feel cheated, then just cancel. But if I'm paying you for a service, I at least expect you to be nice to me, even if I'm being an annoying twat. It comes with being in a service industry. I've had to be nice to some real a-holes in my time, but I did it, because I was paid to.

 

[MarcoVol]

Bru came from the portal. Brazzell came from the portal. Now we're looking for another WR to start from the portal. We can go back further to Velus and JP also coming from the portal. As for OL, we keep going to the portal for starters there as well. The other positions seem to have stabilized, but WR and OL, not so much.

Right so we should stop using the portal and play the HS guys then, yes?

 

[Weezer]

Right so we should stop using the portal and play the HS guys then, yes?

We should develop the HS guys, so we have confidence in them playing. Obviously, Pope and Elarbee lack confidence in their HS recruits. Why? Is it because they've failed to develop them?

 

[MarcoVol]

We should develop the HS guys, so we have confidence in them playing. Obviously, Pope and Elarbee lack confidence in their HS recruits. Why? Is it because they've failed to develop them?

At some point they have to play to develop. So we should stop adding portal guys and let them play?

Can’t answer your question. Just waiting for mine to be answered that I asked in the beginning. Do we want the HS guys to play or do we want to keep adding from portal (which will then be used against the staff for not playing HS guys)?

 

[Orange_Crush]

And when the playoffs come and go with no real movement, what will be the excuse then? Don’t get me wrong, most players in the portal are there for a reason but the reality is you probably can’t win a NC without adding 3-4 quality additions even for teams with better recruiting numbers. Ohio State isn’t in the playoffs right now without their portal additions and neither is Notre Dame.

This is the same sort of "borrowing tomorrow's troubles" post that were hand-wringing about bringing MM back. That were asking how we'd get other recruits in if we can't retain our own... Then MM stayed. We got a big name WR portal in.

We all really should just settle down and trust the coaches. There's a lot of time and practice snaps between now and our next game, folks.

 

[Weezer]

At some point they have to play to develop. So we should stop adding portal guys and let them play?

Can’t answer your question. Just waiting for mine to be answered that I asked in the beginning. Do we want the HS guys to play or do we want to keep adding from portal (which will then be used against the staff for not playing HS guys)?

The problem is we don't rotate the HS guys in to get reps in real games, yet we expect them to develop. And that's on their position coaches. Why hasn't Elarbee taken the opportunity the last couple of years to put guys in here and there, line them up with some of the veteran guys, and get them valuable experience and let the vets help teach them? Same of the WRs. We've seen CRG rotate his guys. We obviously rotate RBs. We've seen secondary rotation and even some LB rotation. But Elarbee has left his HS recruits out to dry. Pope, I will say, has played his HS guys, very sparingly, but they just seem to be getting subpar coaching. I think we can do better at both positions.

 

[csprig9]

It's weird to me that we keep having to work the portal for WR and OL every year. It's almost like the people who coach those positions aren't developing the kids they recruit from HS.

I mean
Jeff brohm gets QBs to start from the portal and doesn’t kiffy do the same
Indiana, ND, OSU, Oregon also all did as well as Texas……. I’m pretty sure atleast


Why is the narrative not being said that they can’t develop QBs

 

[csprig9]

Right so we should stop using the portal and play the HS guys then, yes?

I think you take one at OL, DL, DB, and WR every year just to have experienced depth or possible starter and let your guys supplement that

Seems those are the positions you have the most bodies and not all guys develop

Idk maybe I’m an idiot

 

[Weezer]

I mean
Jeff brohm gets QBs to start from the portal and doesn’t kiffy do the same
Indiana, ND, OSU, Oregon also all did as well as Texas……. I’m pretty sure atleast


Why is the narrative not being said that they can’t develop QBs

Okay. I agree. They can't develop QBs. But being as I'm not a fan of their teams, I don't really talk about it, here, on VolNation, where we talk about the Vols.

 

[Weezer]

This is the same sort of "borrowing tomorrow's troubles" post that were hand-wringing about bringing MM back. That were asking how we'd get other recruits in if we can't retain our own... Then MM stayed. We got a big name WR portal in.

We all really should just settle down and trust the coaches. There's a lot of time and practice snaps between now and our next game, folks.

I trust most of the coaches.

 

[JustSomeVolFan]

Completely from waaaay out in the deepest part of left field, but…

I’m gonna be watching how this guy plays tonight.




I know a lot will say something about the level of competition he’s been playing against. But from what several videos I watched, seems to be pretty decent to my untrained evaluating eyes. But has put up pretty decent numbers the past few games in the FCS championship playoffs. Shows this to be his junior year. But only has stats basically from this year. Had 1 catch for 7 yards last year. But could probably be a sneaky, under the radar, decently priced 1-2 year player. Just probably needs to add 10-20 pounds.

 

[landscapingvol]

Right so we should stop using the portal and play the HS guys then, yes?

You mean like Nimrod and Leacock who left?

 

[Weezer]

I think you take one at OL, DL, DB, and WR every year just to have experienced depth or possible starter and let your guys supplement that

Seems those are the positions you have the most bodies and not all guys develop

Idk maybe I’m an idiot

JMO, but portal should mainly be for depth, with the occasional game changing player sprinkled in. An example, when Caleb Downs entered the portal last year, I was all about wanting to pursue him because he's a game changer at safety. If Jeremiah Smith were to enter the portal tomorrow, I'd be all about chasing after him, he's an absolute game changer. If you're recruiting HS well, the hope is you shouldn't have to look to the portal for many starters. You solidify your depth and look for guys who change the game just by being on the field.

 

[csprig9]

Okay. I agree. They can't develop QBs. But being as I'm not a fan of their teams, I don't really talk about it, here, on VolNation, where we talk about the Vols.

I’m saying we create our own loud narrative sometimes that is picked up on and floods recruiting lol

Yes we all know that certain guys don’t seem to be pulling their weight but our fanbase loudness is both a positive and negative

 

[MarcoVol]

You mean like Nimrod and Leacock who left?

Nimrod played plenty. Leacock not so much.

But yes if you want the HS guys to play to stop taking portal guys (I do not think taking portal guys is an issue personally) they actually have to ….. play.

 

[aRmo]

The problem is we don't rotate the HS guys in to get reps in real games, yet we expect them to develop. And that's on their position coaches. Why hasn't Elarbee taken the opportunity the last couple of years to put guys in here and there, line them up with some of the veteran guys, and get them valuable experience and let the vets help teach them? Same of the WRs. We've seen CRG rotate his guys. We obviously rotate RBs. We've seen secondary rotation and even some LB rotation. But Elarbee has left his HS recruits out to dry. Pope, I will say, has played his HS guys, very sparingly, but they just seem to be getting subpar coaching. I think we can do better at both positions.

If you cant do it in practice why would we put you in during game time?

 

[Weezer]

If you cant do it in practice why would we put you in during game time?

If they can't do it in practice, the position coach has failed somewhere along the way. Whether it was in his initial evaluation that made him think the player should be recruited or his inability to teach said player, the position coach has failed.

 

[rockytop25]

The problem is we don't rotate the HS guys in to get reps in real games, yet we expect them to develop. And that's on their position coaches. Why hasn't Elarbee taken the opportunity the last couple of years to put guys in here and there, line them up with some of the veteran guys, and get them valuable experience and let the vets help teach them? Same of the WRs. We've seen CRG rotate his guys. We obviously rotate RBs. We've seen secondary rotation and even some LB rotation. But Elarbee has left his HS recruits out to dry. Pope, I will say, has played his HS guys, very sparingly, but they just seem to be getting subpar coaching. I think we can do better at both positions.

What schools do you see routinely rotate in OL during a game? If you can find me a team that does that as a gameplan and not because of injury I would love to hear it

OL is a position where you try and find your best 5 and play them as much as possible so they can get used to playing together.

 

[Weezer]

What schools do you see routinely rotate in OL during a game? If you can find me a team that does that as a gameplan and not because of injury I would love to hear it

OL is a position where you try and find your best 5 and play them as much as possible so they can get used to playing together.

We had no problem rotating in Dayne Davis or Jackson Lampley.

 

[GVol1966]

Seeing where our transfer WRs have ended up tells you all you need to know about the talent problem we had…..

Addition by subtraction……

Just like last years DB room…..

Not at all like.

We brought in starters for the DB room.
Our biggest departures at WR were not transfers but graduates. Squirrel at FL st.
They land big time transfers every year, some we want so that doesn’t say anything about us upgrading.
The rest that left, career backups .

What we have now. 1 guy that’s played more than a few snaps and a bunch that haven’t hardly played or haven’t played at all.

 

[C-town Vol]

So the resident insiders have been quiet the last couple days

 

[titansvolsfaninga]

We had no problem rotating in Dayne Davis or Jackson Lampley.

That was due to injury. It has been said ad nauseum that Campbell has to rotate in and out because of knee problems. Also other guys were also dealing with injuries. Do you donate so much, that you think you should be consulted about personnel decisions?

 

[De La Cloobs]

Someone please give me some good news for the portal. This is discouraging so far

How have we landed nobody at WR yet?

 

[Weezer]

That was due to injury. It has been said ad nauseum that Campbell has to rotate in and out because of knee problems. Also other guys were also dealing with injuries. Do you donate so much, that you think you should be consulted about personnel decisions?

Do you not realize the purpose of a message board is for fans to discuss the team?