'25 Portal Thread

[GVol1966]

Whether we were the lead dog or just in the pack does not matter, we were involved and it cost them 2 mil.

Once he exceeded our evaluation it does not matter.

So you’re basically saying that we might of had very little influence on them paying him $2 mil.

Once he exceeded our evaluation we were not a factor.

The threat from Texas or Oregon were most likely still there and were probably responsible for the $2 million being necessary.

Makes no difference to me but I find it funny that some on here think UT drives the Nil market.

 

[smokeyz1]

I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I'm happy UT will be forced to play young WRs + Boo. The only drawback is UT will have to pony up NIL next year to keep all the young breakout WRs already on the roster.

 

[Carp]

Tate would have helped a lot. But we still need to get more creative on offense. That's been a good bit of the problem

 

[WebbCobb]

Why is everyone saying “we” made Ohio st overpay?

Texas and Oregon were supposedly offering $1 million plus .
What did we offer?
Anyone got any evidence that we made them spend $2 mil?

We’re in a post-evidence world. People just spew conjecture, or outright falsehoods, loudly and often

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

My proof is I never referred to Randy Moss as a one-trick pony.

Just like I thought. You spewed more nonsense. Sorry Moss was a one trick pony. But yeah completely throw a red herring out there because of your dumb statement.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

View attachment 717133I feel like his post is similar to saying:

- to Tom Cruise "I am taller than you"

- to Derek Dooley "I recruited more offensive lineman you"

- to Jeremy Pruitt "I am familiar with more vegetables than you are"

- to Butch Jones "I am less insecure than you are"

- to Zach Edey "I foul more often than you do"

- to Will Levis "I am better at playing the game of football than you are"

- to Teddy Valentine "I screw up basketball games less than you do"

- to Sal Sunseri "I am better at building a defense than you are"

lol. Just keep looking dumb by using conjecture.

 

[TrippieRedd]

The 2026 receiver doesn’t help for next season. The issue is going into next season with only 7 receivers. The majority of those have little to no experience. On top of that, you are a couple injuries away from having no depth.

Like 96% of posters say, play the young guys.

Let’s see who ends being right at the end of next season.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Don’t sleep on Staley.

He’s gonna be the best slot receiver we’ve had since Hyatt/Velus.

It’s a contract year for Brazzell and receivers usually excel in the second year in the system. I bet we see the version of him that Tulane fans saw.

Mike Matthews is a bona fide stud and now it’s his time to shine.

And Ethan Davis creates mismatches with a second tight end on the field - just motion him out wide with a linebacker in coverage.

Generational talents not withstanding (Jeremiah smith/moss/jefferson etc), I’ve always felt wide receivers w the the hood ornament of a football team. They make it look good but so many other positions are more important - like QB and OL. Two positions we should be set at.

Think back to how with a good OL and Hooker at QB, guys like Tillman, Velus and Hyatt feasted. So will our current guys. They just need the opportunity.

And this isn’t even taking into consideration what he slim change Bru can come back, or the versatility Boo will prove.

Added bonus - it keeps our true freshman engaged because they’ll have to play. I like all three freshman.

TLR - we’re gonna be fine. Landing Moe and Pendleton is more important than landing Tate.

 

[JCVol00]

How come our young guys weren’t playing over the guys who Portaled if they are better than them? That’s why im not sold on the vision of just riding with what we have. Based on what the “insiders” said made me and others assume we put all our eggs in one basket for a receiver, who presumably was Tate, and now we are going into Spring Practice with Brazzell, who started last year and was decent. Matthews and Stayley, who didn’t see a significant amount of playing time. And 4 wr’s who have never seen a snap at the collegiate level. So yes, the crash outs and nega’s have a reason to be upset and worried, because we don’t know what we’ll have. And given the fact Nico supposedly flirted with hitting the portal, makes me think this will be our last season with him; whether he goes to the nfl or portal

 

[NighthawkVol]

The 2026 receiver doesn’t help for next season. The issue is going into next season with only 7 receivers. The majority of those have little to no experience. On top of that, you are a couple injuries away from having no depth.

Counting Boo, there are 8. Tennessee had an inordinate amount of WR injuries this year and still only gave meaningful minutes to 5 of them: Bru, Squirrel, Thornton, Brazzell, & Nimrod. Matthews and Webb played some. That’s 7.

I don’t see the reason for hand-wringing over depth. We have enough bodies. What we need is for the young, talented guys (Matthews, Staley, Jefferson) to develop and Brazzell to be what he’s supposed to be. If that happens and one of the freshmen like Smith can be a good depth piece, fantastic.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Don’t sleep on Staley.

He’s gonna be the best slot receiver we’ve had since Hyatt/Velus.

It’s a contract year for Brazzell and receivers usually excel in the second year in the system. I bet we see the version of him that Tulane fans saw.

Mike Matthews is a bona fide stud and now it’s his time to shine.

And Ethan Davis creates mismatches with a second tight end on the field - just motion him out wide with a linebacker in coverage.

Generational talents not withstanding (Jeremiah smith/moss/jefferson etc), I’ve always felt wide receivers w the the hood ornament of a football team. They make it look good but so many other positions are more important - like QB and OL. Two positions we should be set at.

Think back to how with a good OL and Hooker at QB, guys like Tillman, Velus and Hyatt feasted. So will our current guys. They just need the opportunity.

And this isn’t even taking into consideration what he slim change Bru can come back, or the versatility Boo will prove.

Added bonus - it keeps our true freshman engaged because they’ll have to play. I like all three freshman.

TLR - we’re gonna be fine. Landing Moe and Pendleton is more important than landing Tate.

Good post. Agree with all. Except Bru can’t come back. There is no slim chance, he’s done.

 

[knoxvol52]

How come our young guys weren’t playing over the guys who Portaled if they are better than them? That’s why im not sold on the vision of just riding with what we have. Based on what the “insiders” said made me and others assume we put all our eggs in one basket for a receiver, who presumably was Tate, and now we are going into Spring Practice with Brazzell, who started last year and was decent. Matthews and Stayley, who didn’t see a significant amount of playing time. And 4 wr’s who have never seen a snap at the collegiate level. So yes, the crash outs and nega’s have a reason to be upset and worried, because we don’t know what we’ll have. And given the fact Nico supposedly flirted with hitting the portal, makes me think this will be our last season with him; whether he goes to the nfl or portal

"It is what it is" why the constant dwelling over the situation. Let the young guys play and if Nico goes Pro or hits the Portal after next season "so be it". It's not like Tennessee doesn't have 5* quarterbacks waiting their turn. Plus one 4* QB.

 

[NighthawkVol]

How come our young guys weren’t playing over the guys who Portaled if they are better than them? That’s why im not sold on the vision of just riding with what we have. Based on what the “insiders” said made me and others assume we put all our eggs in one basket for a receiver, who presumably was Tate, and now we are going into Spring Practice with Brazzell, who started last year and was decent. Matthews and Stayley, who didn’t see a significant amount of playing time. And 4 wr’s who have never seen a snap at the collegiate level. So yes, the crash outs and nega’s have a reason to be upset and worried, because we don’t know what we’ll have. And given the fact Nico supposedly flirted with hitting the portal, makes me think this will be our last season with him; whether he goes to the nfl or portal

The young guys are Staley and Matthews.

The plan was to redshirt Staley from the beginning. Matthews didn’t pay early because he dealt with an injury which slowed his progress. By the Vandy game, I believe he had passed Nimrod. He had definitely passed Webb.

They were freshman. They will be better. Plenty of great WRs don’t play as freshman over guys who they later pass. Peerless Price had just 6 catches and was behind Nilo Silvan and Benji Shuler as a freshman. Who ended up better?

 

[VolsLFC]

 

[TrippieRedd]

I do find it funny how everyone is now trying to hype up the WR room after missing on Tate.

 

[CAVPUT]

I hope I'm wrong, but everyone saying, "Spring portal!", I think you're going to be disappointed. I don't think we get much from the Spring portal. But I think our roster is almost fine as is. We could still make a few key adds from this portal session before all is said and done.

Agreed. UT was never going to do a "splash" hire. Heupel will use the portal to fill holes and depend on his HS recruiting...for better or worse. I'd feel a lot better if we could snag a CB tho. That's the one area we haven't addressed in light of the injury. Still trying to figure out who plays if he's not ready to roll by August...and I'd be shocked if he is up to speed by the start of the season. Surely Heupel won't risk going into the season without addressing the possibility he won't be ready? Rhetorical?

 

[JCVol00]

"It is what it is" why the constant dwelling over the situation. Let the young guys play and if Nico goes Pro or hits the Portal after next season "so be it". It's not like Tennessee doesn't have 5* quarterbacks waiting their turn. Plus one 4* QB.

It just sets a bad precedent imo if he does portal out, hopefully we have good enough of a season where he is able to declare for the draft

 

[knoxvol52]

I do find it funny how everyone is now trying to hype up the WR room after missing on Tate.

Well I never believed Tate was coming from the start of this, although it seems many got into a big "tizzy" on the thoughts of Tate coming.

 

[JCVol00]

The young guys are Staley and Matthews.

The plan was to redshirt Staley from the beginning. Matthews didn’t pay early because he dealt with an injury which slowed his progress. By the Vandy game, I believe he had passed Nimrod. He had definitely passed Webb.

They were freshman. They will be better. Plenty of great WRs don’t play as freshman over guys who they later pass. Peerless Price had just 6 catches and was behind Nilo Silvan and Benji Shuler as a freshman. Who ended up better?

Price ig, he played well before I was born if im being completely honest

 

[NighthawkVol]

I do find it funny how everyone is now trying to hype up the WR room after missing on Tate.

I’m not trying to hype it up. People just need to stop thinking in extremes. The truth is, we don’t know how good these guys will be next year. But we have a lot of highly rated recruits who can be very good if they reach their potential. But maybe they won’t?

I realize people are people, and most of them are only capable of thinking in terms of black and white, but it isn’t one or the other.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Price ig, he played well before I was born if im being completely honest

I use him as an example because most think he is either the best or one of the top two WRs in Tennessee history. When he played doesn’t change the point.

It’s also true of other positions. Players develop. Freshmen are not sophomore who are not juniors, etc. I don’t know why so many of our fans think that what a kid is as a freshman is what he will always be.

 

[CAVPUT]

Tate would have helped a lot. But we still need to get more creative on offense. That's been a good bit of the problem

Doesn't matter who the WRs are if the QB has all of 2 seconds to get the ball off. Hope we actually upgraded on the OL and not just added bodies. Even if they are upgrades, how long will it take for the additions to adjust to the system, speed and league. Will they hit the ground running or is it another "adjustment" year ala Heard?

 

[JCVol00]

I use him as an example because most think he is either the best or one of the top two WRs in Tennessee history. When he played doesn’t change the point.

It’s also true of other positions. Players develop. Freshmen are not sophomore who are not juniors, etc. I don’t know why so many of our fans think that what a kid is as a freshman is what he will always be.

I hope the wr’s do take a leap, it’s just hard for me to see the vision rn, hopefully after spring ball we see improvement

 

[JlorVol]

Honestly dont remember, did we get Heard in the winter or spring portal window?

 

[TrippieRedd]

I’m not trying to hype it up. People just need to stop thinking in extremes. The truth is, we don’t know how good these guys will be next year. But we have a lot of highly rated recruits who can be very good if they reach their potential. But maybe they won’t?

I realize people are people, and most of them are only capable of thinking in terms of black and white, but it isn’t one or the other.

Wasn’t directed at you, I didn’t even realize you posted lol

Kind of crazy in my opinion. I’m usually the bitchy one and I’m kind of like whatever, but I guess that’s because I kind of expected to get waxed by Tate, oh well.

I think the only thing I can complain about is putting all of our eggs in that basket and not having a backup plan

That Omari Evans kid, granted wouldn’t be the best get, but we could’ve at least had an extra older body in that room. Sure, an older body doesn’t always mean something, but according to a ton of posters it’s gonna help the RB room. Actually surprised we didn’t at least try to hit him up and say “hold off for another week” just in case we missed on Tate.

I’m hoping one of the insiders come in and say we do have a backup plan, because I’m not as hopeful about our WR unit. Posters can send there paragraph long reasons why I’m wrong, but I don’t see that room being any better than this past season.

Hope this post “ages well” and we have 2-3 guys have 700+ yards.