Project how this class finishes

[RockyTopInBham]

Kyle Davis is no longer considering us per Orange Venom.

I know. That's why I put long-shot.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

I think we take a few more than 19. Maybe another WR, OL, and DL

Don't forget, we are approaching "transfer season" where some of the 3 deep types (like Peterman) move on to other programs. I can see up to 5 going that route.

So we could take more recruits than some realize.

 

[Catbone]

Don't forget, we are approaching "transfer season" where some of the 3 deep types (like Peterman) move on to other programs. I can see up to 5 going that route.

So we could take more recruits than some realize.

Definitely. I bet there will be a few surprises.

 

[highspeed]

Don't forget, we are approaching "transfer season" where some of the 3 deep types (like Peterman) move on to other programs. I can see up to 5 going that route.

So we could take more recruits than some realize.

I agree that there will be some attrition due to transfers etc., but I'm not so sure that impacts our overall number as much this year as it may have in years past.

According to some "in the know" we took multiple blue shirts the past couple of years (more than any of us outside the program realized) and are more limited in numbers this year as a result. The thinking goes that Butch doesn't want to use blueshirts as much this year because ATP he has basically flipped the roster (gotten rid of the guys that didn't belong for one reason or another and likes the guys he has now) and doesn't want to sacrifice any spots for next year's class, which is expected to be very VERY good. I was skeptical of this line of thinking at first, but I have basically bought in at this point.

Of course the numbers situation is always fluid, but I'm thinking 21-22 (including Z Stewart) is probably a pretty good guess right now.

 

[VolinArizona]

I think we take a few more than 19. Maybe another WR, OL, and DL

I don't really see any players at those positions coming here above the ones I listed. Strange recruiting season this year.

I think we want 20-22 but might take some kids lower on the board this year.

We'll see how wrong I am in February.

 

[lilesrt]

I think we'll take 21. Zach Stewart will probably count towards this class as a grayshirt. Maybe 1 blueshirt to get it above that 20 number.

17 current commits, probably lose a couple of those and sign 5 or 6 more, IMO.

I'd say right around 15th is probably right. Optimistic we can close with some studs-

Landon Dickerson
Marcus Tatum
Nigel Warrior
Velus Jones
Derrick Brown
Jonathan Kongbo
Jordan Bonner
Jeffery Simmons
Jamarcus King

Would love to close with a couple of the current "long-shots"-

Mecole Hardman
Kyle Davis
EJ Price
Nigel Knott

I agree. Regardless of the overall ranking, Butch Jones is signing quality prospects across the board, which is very encouraging. With the proper development, I have no worries about where this recruiting class ends up ranking-wise.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Because of the numbers, I think it will be somewhere between 12-19. JUCOS dont count and that sucks. There could be some NSD surprises that could get us into the top 10.

Like I have said before, Butch has problems but recruiting isnt one of them. I am not worried about this class at all.

 

[Biopsyman]

Now for sure the 1st weds of Feb

 

[MrVolton]

I'll give it a try:

WR - George
WR - Henderson
WR - Johnson
WR - Velus Jones
TE - Pope
TE - Brooks
OL - Johnson
OL - Landon Dickerson
QB - Guarantano
RB - Fils-Amie

DE - Chidi Okonya
DE - Kongbo
DT - Johnson
DT - Derrick Brown (sounds like some around Miss St., UGA, Auburn, and UT are all pretty confident that they're getting this guy. Might as well be us.) if not Brown, then Christmas-Giles
LB - Bituli or Blakely (seem like very similar prospects to me. With low #'s, would they take both?)
LB - Hart
S - Warrior
CB - Osborne
CB - Henderson
CB - Troy Pride Jr. (Va Tech knows corners and proximity might give us the edge vs. Notre Dame here. If they can't get this guy or King doesn't qualify, I say they stick with Marshall)

Seems like Hardman may be second only to Warrior on the coach's big board, but unfortunately, it sounds like we'll miss out there. Looks like 5 or 6 immediate contributors on D and 3 or 4 immediate contributors on O there. Overall, a pretty strong class iyam.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

WR- Hardman
WR - George (JUCO)
WR - Henderson
WR - Johnson
WR - V. Jones
TE - Pope
TE - Brooks
OL - Johnson
OL - Dickerson
OL- Tatum
QB - Guarantano
RB - Fils-Amie

DE - Okonya
DE - Kongbo (JUCO)
DT - Johnson (JUCO)
DT - Brown
DT - Christmas-Giles
LB - Bituli
LB - Hart
S - Warrior
CB - Osborne
CB - Henderson (JUCO)
CB - King (JUCO)


I think we close with Hardman and Brown on NSD. I also like the JUCOs we're targeting.

 

[Catbone]

WR- Hardman
WR - George (JUCO)
WR - Henderson
WR - Johnson
WR - V. Jones
TE - Pope
TE - Brooks
OL - Johnson
OL - Dickerson
OL- Tatum
QB - Guarantano
RB - Fils-Amie

DE - Okonya
DE - Kongbo (JUCO)
DT - Johnson (JUCO)
DT - Brown
DT - Christmas-Giles
LB - Bituli
LB - Hart
S - Warrior
CB - Osborne
CB - Henderson (JUCO)
CB - King (JUCO)


I think we close with Hardman and Brown on NSD. I also like the JUCOs we're targeting.

Wow. That would be a home run top 10 class. I wish I was as optimistic.

 

[VAVolsFan2009]

WR- Hardman
WR - George (JUCO)
WR - Henderson
WR - Johnson
WR - V. Jones
TE - Pope
TE - Brooks
OL - Johnson
OL - Dickerson
OL- Tatum
QB - Guarantano
RB - Fils-Amie

DE - Okonya
DE - Kongbo (JUCO)
DT - Johnson (JUCO)
DT - Brown
DT - Christmas-Giles
LB - Bituli
LB - Hart
S - Warrior
CB - Osborne
CB - Henderson (JUCO)
CB - King (JUCO)


I think we close with Hardman and Brown on NSD. I also like the JUCOs we're targeting.

I like your projection, but we will not take 3 DTs. We're more likely to take 3 DEs than 3 DTs. Also we might take 2 safeties as well.

 

[vavolfan6]

I am optimistic that we land around #10-12 range.

I think we have some players whose ratings will improve. Here are my guesses on those.

Guarantono - currently 95; project to be 97
Fils-Aime - currently 90; project to be 97 (95 is more realistic in happening, but he deserves to be a 5*)
Bitulli - currently 92; projected 94
Christmas-Giles - currently 83; projected 93

I think these are the likely ones and much deserved. Also, my predictions for recruits are:
1. Landon Dickerson, OT
2. Derrick Brown, DT
3. Velus Jones, WR ( I think he gets a boost in the rankings from a 87 to a 94) He fits perfectly in our system and I think Tee Martin finds his way to TN as a coach. Won't happen until the end of the season.
4. EJ Price, OT - he seemed to say alot of nice things about UT. I feel he will come around to be a darkhorse.
5. JoeJuan Williams, CB
6. Nigel Warrior, S
7. Mecole Hardman, Ath

I bet we at least get 5 or 6. Bets are off for Kyle Davis IMO. I think he makes a poor decision to go to UGA.

 

[allvol90]

I am optimistic that we land around #10-12 range.

I think we have some players whose ratings will improve. Here are my guesses on those.

Guarantono - currently 95; project to be 97
Fils-Aime - currently 90; project to be 97 (95 is more realistic in happening, but he deserves to be a 5*)
Bitulli - currently 92; projected 94
Christmas-Giles - currently 83; projected 93

I think these are the likely ones and much deserved. Also, my predictions for recruits are:
1. Landon Dickerson, OT
2. Derrick Brown, DT
3. Velus Jones, WR ( I think he gets a boost in the rankings from a 87 to a 94) He fits perfectly in our system and I think Tee Martin finds his way to TN as a coach. Won't happen until the end of the season.
4. EJ Price, OT - he seemed to say alot of nice things about UT. I feel he will come around to be a darkhorse.
5. JoeJuan Williams, CB
6. Nigel Warrior, S
7. Mecole Hardman, Ath

I bet we at least get 5 or 6. Bets are off for Kyle Davis IMO. I think he makes a poor decision to go to UGA.

If tee martin finds his way to tn his son will be playing for us.

 

[Volnerd]

We might see a few more players this year who don't sign the NLI. If that becomes a trend, recruiting is going to be a complete mess.

 

[DiderotsGhost]

If I had to guess, I'd say we end up between #12 - #15. Our best chance to advance in the rankings is upgrades. We have quite a few recruits that could get bumps. Think that's a great testament to our staff's ability to evaluate recruits, as they've been ahead of the curve on several guys (JG, Christmas-Giles, CFA, etc).

Other than that, I'm not really convinced that we'll land any big 5 stars. Hoping Butch can pull a rabbit out of his hat like he did with Richmond last year, but I'm not getting too optimistic. Have a good feeling about Brown, but that's not going to be an easy battle to win.

Hopefully, we land Dickerson, V. Jones, and Joejuan Williams. Nigel Warrior seems on the fence, but he'd be a great pickup, too. If we can add 4 prime players like that, it seems like we have a shot at being just outside the top 10. Getting in the top 10 is going to be tough though, without winning some of these big battles with Georgia (Brown, Hardman, maybe K. Davis), and that's going to be really difficult. But we do know that this staff is better at closing than just about any staff in America, so maybe we get a few January or February miracles.

Otherwise, I'm content that we add solid depth this class and hopefully 2017 can be another monster 2015 type class.

 

[ThreeStar]

I just hope we finish out with l dickerson, d brown, and n warrior. Throw any WR and DE in there with what we've got and I think this year is a sucess.

 

[JohnD13]

WR- Hardman
WR - George (JUCO)
WR - Henderson
WR - Johnson
WR - V. Jones
TE - Pope
TE - Brooks
OL - Johnson
OL - Dickerson
OL- Tatum
QB - Guarantano
RB - Fils-Amie

DE - Okonya
DE - Kongbo (JUCO)
DT - Johnson (JUCO)
DT - Brown
DT - Christmas-Giles
LB - Bituli
LB - Hart
S - Warrior
CB - Osborne
CB - Henderson (JUCO)
CB - King (JUCO)


I think we close with Hardman and Brown on NSD. I also like the JUCOs we're targeting.

so you just ignore the 85 scholarships the NCAA limits u to?

 

[Orange to the Bay]

We won't finish as high as we have recently. The past few years, the staff could sell "Immediate Playing Time" to the recruits. Now, most of the positions are already filled with starters.
What 5* or 4* wants to come to U.T. and sit behind Todd Kelly or Josh Malone?????????

Bama (and LSU and FSU and insert any other program consistently recruiting at a high level) doesn't seem to have problems selling the 'come sit as a 4 or 5* and learn how to ball out behind our current blue chippers for a year' pitch. Just sayin'.

 

[Orange to the Bay]

For anyone really in the know about how the staff is prioritizing (or lackthereof) TN this year, how are we doing (and how do we want to do) this year in our state? I notice Stanford got a 4* guy out of Chattanooga, and quite a few of the top 10 in the state of TN have committed elsewhere. Are we in on any of these guys? Can we steal any committed elsewhere back? Do we even want to, or are we not recruiting them for some reason (character, system fit, eval of talent vs. star rating, etc)? Any of the remaining highly-ranked TN guys we want/are in on?

 

[unioncityvol]

Looks like a nice foundation with JG, CFA, Warrior, Osbourne etc with some Juco studs to help now. No worries 15-0.

 

[bigsteve13]

Does anyone see us benefiting from the debacles at LSU and UGA?

 

[bigsteve13]

I will gladly trade an increase in W's for a lower ranked recruiting class but you don't get one without the other. I hope the coaching staff can find a way to keep the pedal down with recruiting. This class is Dooley-like outside of a few key gets.

 

[chattavol420]

We won't finish as high as we have recently. The past few years, the staff could sell "Immediate Playing Time" to the recruits. Now, most of the positions are already filled with starters.
What 5* or 4* wants to come to U.T. and sit behind Todd Kelly or Josh Malone?????????

Saban get them to sit behind 3 5*'s

 

[VolFootballnut]

Tennessee needs to sign some more running backs if the rumor about Jalen Hurd leaving is true.