'25 Portal Thread

[landscapingvol]

Don’t complain about high school recruiting if you don’t want the staff to play their high school recruits.

Not complaining but we are falling behind the big boys in high school recruiting as well and the portal is one of those areas where the playing field could be evened a bit

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Keeping Matthews, and adding Amari Jefferson and Inniss would be huge upgrades to the WR room.

Bring in Pergnon and I’m feeling real good.

I am all for Inniss if the coaches want him. When a WR ...especially a 5* WR...ONLY returns kicks and punts though it automatically worries me that they're like CP and arent capable of learning the playbook mentally. Which means they'll never play WR at UT.

I understand that OSU is a special case though and he might not get to play due to having Tate and the 2 starters in front of him. Thats kinda possible...BUT...your #4 WR gets lots of reps normally. Your #5 and #6 WR get plenty of reps...because there are 3 WR spots so thats just being a backup to the 3 starters. So is he the 7th or 8th best WR at OSU as a sophomore? Or is he just not smart enough to learn a playbook? I have no idea. Would like to have him either way though if the coaches want him and think he can contribute

 

[Pawleysvol]

Not complaining but we are falling behind the big boys in high school recruiting as well and the portal is one of those areas where the playing field could be evened a bit

We literally just signed the best class since Heupel has been here. We are improving in that area.

 

[wrangler]

This whole "boomer" schtick needs to stop. It's a doomed culture that mocks those who have lived long enough to gain experience and wisdom.


* I am not a boomer, by the way.

Any type of name-calling elicits a negative reaction from me, and reflects poorly on the poster's credibility.

 

[SpringHill_VFL]

@dascoop @KingVFL @Ericvol2096 @JAllen18 Any traction on portal WR addition soon???

 

[landscapingvol]

We literally just signed the best class since Heupel has been here. We are improving in that area.

Not compared to the rest of the SEC, we finished 8th in the SEC which I am going to assume would not be a satisfactory result on the field if we finished 8th in the conference

 

[volbound1700]

Not to be that guy, but last time I checked they don't hand out 10 championships in college football.

Look, I get that the unit played well at times. But they also got their lunch $ taken at GA and at OSU. I can't pretend the questions about Elerbee aren't justified. If you all can convince yourselves there are no issues in that room, more power to you.

They were definitely inconsistent all year. I will say they were great against the run and I saw some improvement (especially on the unnecessary penalties). Surprised we are in the running for the award though.

 

[Weezer]

Not sure what the Joe Moore people were watching, unless they were just watching Cooper, but our OL was wildly inconsistent and folded like a cheap suit against good DLs.

 

[RiseToTheTop]

Not sure what the Joe Moore people were watching, unless they were just watching Cooper, but our OL was wildly inconsistent and folded like a cheap suit against good DLs.

100%

 

[Weezer]

Part of me wonders if we would be better off thinking of next year as a year to gain experience. Instead of getting a one-year rental like Prego for our OL, maybe we would be better off playing our young guys and getting them experience. Then convince Nico to come back for another season. It would give the entire offense much needed experience.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Part of me wonders if we would be better off thinking of next year as a year to gain experience. Instead of getting a one-year rental like Prego for our OL, maybe we would be better off playing our young guys and getting them experience. Then convince Nico to come back for another season. It would give the entire offense much needed experience.

If we can get Preg and stud Wr we should be looking pretty good next season.

 

[deatojl]

Not to be that guy, but last time I checked they don't hand out 10 championships in college football.

Look, I get that the unit played well at times. But they also got their lunch $ taken at GA and at OSU. I can't pretend the questions about Elerbee aren't justified. If you all can convince yourselves there are no issues in that room, more power to you.

The question you posed was "Has one objective expert say TN's OL play was championship caliber?" When provided evidence of objective, and credible, experts who ranked our OL as one of the 10 best in CFB, you then changed it to "last time I checked they don't hand out 10 championships in college football and followed that up with a statement claiming we are convincing ourselves there are no issues in that room. None of those things are equivalent, at all. For one, "championship caliber" and "championship winning" are two different things. If being championship caliber only applies to the championship winning team, then that's quite an exclusive club. I don't think you will find a person on here that believes there weren't any issues with the OL but that does not mean that no objective experts viewed that unit as capable of competing for a championship. In case you are interested, here is the write up on the Joe More award site regarding the reasons our OL was selected as a semifinalist:
Tennessee (8-1)

• Only 18% of runs saw contact at or behind the line of scrimmage (9th lowest in FBS).
• Averaging 2.66 seconds to pressure (14th best in FBS).
• The Vols are rushing for 257.0 rush yds per game at home this season (9th in FBS).
• At least 140 rush yds in every game this season.
• Tennessee offense is averaging, 471.6 yards per game, which is 3rd in the SEC and eighth in the FBS.
• The catalyst for a rushing offense that is leading the SEC in rushing for the second straight year, averaging 235.1 yards per game, which is also 9th in the FBS.
• Highlighted by an impressive 214-yard rushing performance against No. 9 Alabama, the most rushing yards allowed by the Tide all season.

Offensive line coach: Glen Elarbee

In case you have any questions regarding the credentials for the Joe Moore selection committee, Cole Cubelic is their selection chairman and guys like Aaron Taylor, Lance Zierlein and Harry Heistand were on the voting committee.

 

[JMSqb11]

Part of me wonders if we would be better off thinking of next year as a year to gain experience. Instead of getting a one-year rental like Prego for our OL, maybe we would be better off playing our young guys and getting them experience. Then convince Nico to come back for another season. It would give the entire offense much needed experience.

Good thing is with a line, you have 5 guys. So even if we get a 1 year deal in Prego, we can develop elsewwhere

 

[Weezer]

If we can get Preg and stud Wr we should be looking pretty good next season.

Not convinced. We'll be starting an OL that hasn't played together. Center and RT will have little starting experience. Young WRs. The offense will be so inexperienced. I would love to be surprised, but I don't think we make the playoffs next year. And if that's the case, I can't help but wonder if we should lay off the one-year guys and just get our guys experience so the following season, we'll be ready.

 

[vol9799]

Yeah, just 2 of the highest blue chip teams in the entire country. Most OLs had that issue against them.

Top 10 OL 3 straight years means objectively they’re pretty good. I thought that’s what ya asked for?

My original post just said that OL criticism wasn't unfounded. I still believe questioning their performance is reasonable based on results

You finding one award doesn't change my position although I admit, I am surprised we made CC's top 10.

At the end of the day, I don't care about winning debate points on here, I just want us to win ballgames.

 

[MrVolton]

I am all for Inniss if the coaches want him. When a WR ...especially a 5* WR...ONLY returns kicks and punts though it automatically worries me that they're like CP and arent capable of learning the playbook mentally. Which means they'll never play WR at UT.

I understand that OSU is a special case though and he might not get to play due to having Tate and the 2 starters in front of him. Thats kinda possible...BUT...your #4 WR gets lots of reps normally. Your #5 and #6 WR get plenty of reps...because there are 3 WR spots so thats just being a backup to the 3 starters. So is he the 7th or 8th best WR at OSU as a sophomore? Or is he just not smart enough to learn a playbook? I have no idea. Would like to have him either way though if the coaches want him and think he can contribute

Watching OSU in these playoffs, and I’d say it’s a good possibility their #4 WR is a starter for just about every other program in the country.

 

[Orange_Crush]

The question you posed was "Has one objective expert say TN's OL play was championship caliber?" When provided evidence of objective, and credible, experts who ranked our OL as one of the 10 best in CFB, you then changed it to "last time I checked they don't hand out 10 championships in college football and followed that up with a statement claiming we are convincing ourselves there are no issues in that room. None of those things are equivalent, at all. For one, "championship caliber" and "championship winning" are two different things. If being championship caliber only applies to the championship winning team, then that's quite an exclusive club. I don't think you will find a person on here that believes there weren't any issues with the OL but that does not mean that no objective experts viewed that unit as capable of competing for a championship. In case you are interested, here is the write up on the Joe More award site regarding the reasons our OL was selected as a semifinalist:
Tennessee (8-1)

• Only 18% of runs saw contact at or behind the line of scrimmage (9th lowest in FBS).
• Averaging 2.66 seconds to pressure (14th best in FBS).
• The Vols are rushing for 257.0 rush yds per game at home this season (9th in FBS).
• At least 140 rush yds in every game this season.
• Tennessee offense is averaging, 471.6 yards per game, which is 3rd in the SEC and eighth in the FBS.
• The catalyst for a rushing offense that is leading the SEC in rushing for the second straight year, averaging 235.1 yards per game, which is also 9th in the FBS.
• Highlighted by an impressive 214-yard rushing performance against No. 9 Alabama, the most rushing yards allowed by the Tide all season.

Offensive line coach: Glen Elarbee

In case you have any questions regarding the credentials for the Joe Moore selection committee, Cole Cubelic is their selection chairman and guys like Aaron Taylor, Lance Zierlein and Harry Heistand were on the voting committee.

It is a miserable group that won't stop b****ing, moaning and crying until there are no "issues" that will allow them to b****, moan and cry. Sadly, they insist on spreading their misery.

 

[JMSqb11]

Not convinced. We'll be starting an OL that hasn't played together. Center and RT will have little starting experience. Young WRs. The offense will be so inexperienced. I would love to be surprised, but I don't think we make the playoffs next year. And if that's the case, I can't help but wonder if we should lay off the one-year guys and just get our guys experience so the following season, we'll be ready.

Because our line that had started together was such a big thing to write home about

 

[Orange_Crush]

My original post just said that OL criticism wasn't unfounded. I still believe questioning their performance is reasonable based on results

You finding one award doesn't change my position although I admit, I am surprised we made CC's top 10.

At the end of the day, I don't care about winning debate points on here, I just want us to win ballgames.

We've won 30 over the past 3 years, and made the playoffs this year. That's the best stretch in decades during a rebuild PROCESS after we'd been left for dead, under NCAA investigation, having been found to have paid players, while recruiting against negative recruiting rumors of an impending practical death penalty, and the fans wondering if we'd EVER be relevant again.

But by all means, let's pick at scabs.

 

[Orangeslice13]

Not convinced. We'll be starting an OL that hasn't played together. Center and RT will have little starting experience. Young WRs. The offense will be so inexperienced. I would love to be surprised, but I don't think we make the playoffs next year. And if that's the case, I can't help but wonder if we should lay off the one-year guys and just get our guys experience so the following season, we'll be ready.

Good thing it’s not up to us and we pay a guy 9 mil a year to make those decisions.

I wouldn’t count us out next year as we weren’t supposed to be anywhere near the playoffs this year

 

[MarcoVol]

Not to be that guy, but last time I checked they don't hand out 10 championships in college football.

Look, I get that the unit played well at times. But they also got their lunch $ taken at GA and at OSU. I can't pretend the questions about Elerbee aren't justified. If you all can convince yourselves there are no issues in that room, more power to you.

OSU vs Vols: 4 sacks, 6 TFLs

OSU vs Oregon: 8 sacks, 13 TFLs

OSU vs TX: 4 sacks, 9 TFLs

Does anybody have a good OL coach?

 

[Weezer]

Good thing it’s not up to us and we pay a guy 9 mil a year to make those decisions.

I wouldn’t count us out next year as we weren’t supposed to be anywhere near the playoffs this year

I doubt Heupel is reading VN for advice, so it should still be okay for us to express our opinions.

 

[Weezer]

OSU vs Vols: 4 sacks, 6 TFLs

OSU vs Oregon: 8 sacks, 13 TFLs

OSU vs TX: 4 sacks, 9 TFLs

Does anybody have a good OL coach?

Apparently, Ohio State does.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

My original post just said that OL criticism wasn't unfounded. I still believe questioning their performance is reasonable based on results

You finding one award doesn't change my position although I admit, I am surprised we made CC's top 10.

At the end of the day, I don't care about winning debate points on here, I just want us to win ballgames.

You asked ME for an objective source that believes our OL is good. The Joe Moore award is THE award for OL play, nothing higher exists in college football.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Not convinced. We'll be starting an OL that hasn't played together. Center and RT will have little starting experience. Young WRs. The offense will be so inexperienced. I would love to be surprised, but I don't think we make the playoffs next year. And if that's the case, I can't help but wonder if we should lay off the one-year guys and just get our guys experience so the following season, we'll be ready.

QB: Nico
RB: Bishop / Lewis
WR: Portal Guy / Matthews / Brazzell
TE: Kit / Davis
LT: Heard
LG: Preg
C: Satterwhite
RG: Moe
RT: Sanders

Maybe we find another OL in the spring portal, I do think we need another.

I think next year’s run game will be a lot like 21.
- Small had 700+ yards / Bishop
- Evans had 500+ yards / Lewis
- Wright had 400+ yards / Transfer RB

I think WRs will be improved if we can land the stud portal WR. Brazzell and Matthews both being in their 2nd year in our system. Plus you add Boo.


I don’t need to do defense, I think we’re gonna be solid once again. Josephs, Eason, Bailey, West, Hobbs, Carter, Boo, McCoy, Gibson, etc, etc