'25 Portal Thread

#10,851
#10,851
Weezer said:
I'm all for Bru coming back if he can, but I think they need to get more creative with his role. Move him around the field, create some mismatches.
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Not just him. All of them.
Move em around, put em in motion , create mismatches, attack the weakest defenders.

Like the top level co-ordinaters do.
 
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#10,852
#10,852
Deathandtaxes said:
And that role keeps expanding. One of my favorite Vols to watch in an era we needed a guy to step up, he did.
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Same could be said for Bru. Some guys have a rare extra level when it comes to that competitive edge. It can overcome a lot of natural disadvantages.

Then you have guys that have that and the same type of differential in the athletic department. Superstars.
 
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#10,855
#10,855
Vols410 said:
Calling him blind, butthead, and claiming he doesn't know what he's talking about when you called Thornton a five-star is... quite something.

On3 Comp. / #71 / 4-star
On3 / #140 / 4-star
247 / #75 / 4-star
Rivals / #62 / 4-star
ESPN / #93 / 4-star

That said, outside of Jeremiah Smith (who is an absolute freak) you're right in claiming that the rooms aren't all that far apart purely in terms of recruiting grades. Ohio State's top 5 receivers average 97.5 (1st in the country) in the composite. Ours average 92.8 (7th nationally).
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#10,856
#10,856
TN-POSSUM said:
If Bru is healthy, then I definitely want him back. A healthy Bru McCoy, is like adding a high level 4* out of the portal. I saw someone post, UT should try him at tight-end and that's interesting to me. I do really like Bru and think he can be one of the best WRs in the SEC, if he's 100% healthy. I think Bru, Squirrel, and Thornton played injured way too much this season. I get "giving your all" but if you're a WR and wearing a cast on your wrist or can't move your shoulder or can't run as fast and cut, maybe you should sit that game out.
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Bru at TE just makes a lot of sense to me. He’s already 229 and 6 ft 3.

I think he could play a Princeton Fant type role and honestly it would be his best chance at the nfl. I don’t think he’s running faster than a 4.7. Hes quick enough to get by linebackers though and can drag a safety a few years across the middle on short passes. And we know he’s a plus blocker.

Curious if any or the insiders know has this ever even been talked about by the staff or him? Or is he dead set at wanting to be a WR? Think it became pretty apparent this year the separation isn’t there on the outside consistently enough for him.
 
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#10,860
#10,860
ForMyLosses said:
I’m not turning on him at all. I’m saying why would other teams in college football pay him. I still think he’s the future of this Vols football program. It was his first year starting for us. Some of you fans never see what’s actually on your screens or on the field in person. He’s young but still inconsistent with timing. Hes had trouble with reading defenses. Why would you as a coach give him millions of dollars to transfer to your school. Did he prove to be worth all that money this year? No. He has a chance in the future but it is not a 100% guarantee.
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Right, we only won 10 games.
 
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#10,862
#10,862
1world1love said:
I may be in the minority, but if we are just going to bring in a backup WR for depth, I’d much rather have Bru. Any receiver we bring in will need to learn the offense and there are no guarantees that they will be all in. With Bru, we have a guy that knows the offense, can help the younger guys, and he may not be what he was, but he plays his ass off every play.

I know spots are precious, but I feel like this team needs a few guys that know what it means to put on that jersey every week.

No guarantee we can get that from a short term rental.
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Couldn’t have said it better…and severe leg injuries often take longer to truly come back from…best case he takes a leap in his 2nd season post-injury…worst case he’s a depth piece that knows the offense inside and out and can be a great mentor to the youngins
 
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#10,863
#10,863
thunder5 said:
Couldn’t have said it better…and severe leg injuries often take longer to truly come back from…best case he takes a leap in his 2nd season post-injury…worst case he’s a depth piece that knows the offense inside and out and can be a great mentor to the youngins
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Dismissing this potential return before we find out what our investment is seems crazy. Could he feel he needs a second recovery year, a productive one physically and possibly educationally instead of making the jump to the next level now?

Have seen him on Knoxville TV a good bit and that COULD turn in to a NIL powered PWO deal. Quality mentor regardless. Be a great opportunity for a local business to feature a volunteer Volunteer in their ads. A Bishop like offset to the Pruitt penalty last year, maybe this year.

Simply have to let this play out before playing a homer or Nega card. Odds are it would end up in the middle. Can’t measure ROI till the end of the saga, IF his extended stay comes to pass. Can’t devine the R or the I. Could not hurt our west coast sales pitch.
 
#10,864
#10,864
I said earlier in this thread that I'd be all on board for Bru returning, and I still am. But I was a little surprised when I looked at his stats more in-depth from his pre-injury and post-injury time here. There actually wasn't much of a difference in terms of yards per catch, which surprised me because I expected to see a significant difference this season compared to the previous two:

2020 (USC): 11.2 YPC
2022: 12.8
2023: 12.8
2024: 12.1

Stats obviously aren't everything, and anyone who watched him this season and in 2022/23 could see there was a difference in how he moved and played compared to pre-injury. A drop in 0.7 YPC isn't nothing, but it wasn't as drastic as I expected. But his stats show that he was more or less used the same way this season and was pretty much just as effective in his role.

I agree with the several people who have said they'd like to see him used more creatively in 2025, along with continuing to use him as a big "yards after contact" guy and 3rd down option.
 
#10,869
#10,869
AngryButchJones said:
I said earlier in this thread that I'd be all on board for Bru returning, and I still am. But I was a little surprised when I looked at his stats more in-depth from his pre-injury and post-injury time here. There actually wasn't much of a difference in terms of yards per catch, which surprised me because I expected to see a significant difference this season compared to the previous two:

2020 (USC): 11.2 YPC
2022: 12.8
2023: 12.8
2024: 12.1

Stats obviously aren't everything, and anyone who watched him this season and in 2022/23 could see there was a difference in how he moved and played compared to pre-injury. A drop in 0.7 YPC isn't nothing, but it wasn't as drastic as I expected. But his stats show that he was more or less used the same way this season and was pretty much just as effective in his role.

I agree with the several people who have said they'd like to see him used more creatively in 2025, along with continuing to use him as a big "yards after contact" guy and 3rd down option.
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Yes, he is great after contact. He is a bull!! Reminds me of how Jauan Jennings ran after he caught the ball. Just refused to go down!! I don't care what people say about starting over and letting him walk. That's the dumbest thing, imo, when we don't have a veteran in the WR room and a leader to show the young guys how to play hard and what it means to be a Volunteer!! Heck, he could probably move to TE, tbh, and be effective. Could actually be the move to make if he wants to play in the NFL. Can block extremely well and is strong as an ox. Has good hands, and again, he is hard to bring down. I hope he comes back 100%. I think we would be crazy to pass on bringing him back and I doubt the coaches would do that anyways.
 
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#10,872
#10,872
Does anyone know if we are interested in Ryan Pellum? He seems to have a decent relationship with Nico and visited us before he ended up with Oregon. Wouldn't be mad if we took him.
 
#10,873
#10,873
goadfish said:
Bru at TE just makes a lot of sense to me. He’s already 229 and 6 ft 3.

I think he could play a Princeton Fant type role and honestly it would be his best chance at the nfl. I don’t think he’s running faster than a 4.7. Hes quick enough to get by linebackers though and can drag a safety a few years across the middle on short passes. And we know he’s a plus blocker.

Curious if any or the insiders know has this ever even been talked about by the staff or him? Or is he dead set at wanting to be a WR? Think it became pretty apparent this year the separation isn’t there on the outside consistently enough for him.
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Id rather us feature Ethan Davis then parse out a portion of his opportunities to Bru
 
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#10,874
#10,874
Does anyone know if we have been in contact with Ryan Pellum? He supposedly has a decent relationship with Nico. Both from Cali. He visited us back in 2023 before he committed to Oregon. Wouldn't hate the idea of landing him. But would still rather have Tate or Wingo if they enter. Also, has anyone heard if Pregnon made it to campus last night? Hope he did and gets snowed in and decides to just permanently stay in TN!!
 
#10,875
#10,875
Weezer said:
I'm all for Bru coming back if he can, but I think they need to get more creative with his role. Move him around the field, create some mismatches.
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This would require creativity, using more than just the boundaries of the field and a bit of self scouting. Not sure they are into that. They can barely run the 6 plays they have in place.
 
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