Question on Hypothetical Finish...

[thunder5]

Let's say we don't hit on any of the remaining big fish but we get the following trade offs...

Nasir Smith and/or Okoye instead of Nwaneri or Franklin
Mikell instead of Wingo
Jordan Ross instead of Cole (I know what you all are thinking here...but IMO Ross will drop throughout the season and Cole will rise)

Let's also say we keep everyone that we currently have and Ginther bumps up to a composite 4*....that class consists of 1 5*, 17 4*'s and 5 3*'s...based on past finishes on 247 it would rank in the 8-10 range...

Would you feel satisfied, pissed or indifferent about a class like that?

 

[Ericvol2096]

I’d be satisfied and it would be a very good class but would still slightly disappointed at how close it was to being truly elite.

Good news is we can always go make splash in the portal a bit so it’s not end all be all now.

 

[thunder5]

I’d be satisfied and it would be a very good class but would still slightly disappointed at how close it was to being truly elite.

Good news is we can always go make splash in the portal a bit so it’s not end all be all now.

I believe I would be satisfied with a class like that...and the main reason would be the trenches...

We'd have four 4*'s at OL including two tackles in Warren and Ginther...we'd also have one (maybe two) high end projects at tackle in Perry and maybe Heard...

We'd have three 4*'s at the edge/DL position, a high end 3* in Smith and maybe a high end project in Heard depending on where they put him...

You've also added some serious speed and talent at the offensive skill positions and shored up LB and DB with multiple 4*'s...

Yeah...I'm with you that I would feel some disappointment at how close we were on some really big fish....but I would be very satisfied with this class

 

[Ericvol2096]

I believe I would be satisfied with a class like that...and the main reason would be the trenches...

We'd have four 4*'s at OL including two tackles in Warren and Ginther...we'd also have one (maybe two) high end projects at tackle in Perry and maybe Heard...

We'd have three 4*'s at the edge/DL position, a high end 3* in Smith and maybe a high end project in Heard depending on where they put him...

You've also added some serious speed and talent at the offensive skill positions and shored up LB and DB with multiple 4*'s...

Yeah...I'm with you that I would feel some disappointment at how close we were on some really big fish....but I would be very satisfied with this class

We would accomplish every positional goal and hit the number of quality prospects we needed.

We just would have missed on the extra additional high end piece at each position to once again create a truly elite class.

 

[VolNash17]

I’d be satisfied and it would be a very good class but would still slightly disappointed at how close it was to being truly elite.

Good news is we can always go make splash in the portal a bit so it’s not end all be all now.

Making portal splashes is tougher than some think because literally all the big dogs are after a select few top notch players that are in the portal. Starting up a massive bidding war

 

[TNHopeful505]

I'm going to be thrilled no matter what. In my mind, we already have a fantastic class. I think we need one more year of "prove it," to firmly put ourselves in that conversation of powers. People aren't sold on our offense yet, and will be looking to see what happens when we don't have Hendon or Hyatt or Tillman or Wright. I think the best possible thing for us would be for us to have a similar season to last year (or better) and for Joe to have an awesome year, to say "See what Joe was when we got here....and see what he is now?"

I also think that we need to show some defensive improvement to where kids know that they can make it to the league from here too, and that they can at all levels. Yes, I know we have some who did get drafted. I just think we need to have some improvement on that side of the ball.

Basically, this is a "prove it" year, and if it happens, we should see a massive jump in recruiting. That's JMO.

I would love to get the 5*, but I'm not to the point where I realistically expect more than 1 of them a year.

I am confident that whatever commits we get, the staff will develop and get the best out of.

 

[Vol4gzus]

Hypodermically speaking..we won't needle each other too much over what is versus what wasn't

 

[thunder5]

I'm going to be thrilled no matter what. In my mind, we already have a fantastic class. I think we need one more year of "prove it," to firmly put ourselves in that conversation of powers. People aren't sold on our offense yet, and will be looking to see what happens when we don't have Hendon or Hyatt or Tillman or Wright. I think the best possible thing for us would be for us to have a similar season to last year (or better) and for Joe to have an awesome year, to say "See what Joe was when we got here....and see what he is now?"

I also think that we need to show some defensive improvement to where kids know that they can make it to the league from here too, and that they can at all levels. Yes, I know we have some who did get drafted. I just think we need to have some improvement on that side of the ball.

Basically, this is a "prove it" year, and if it happens, we should see a massive jump in recruiting. That's JMO.

I would love to get the 5*, but I'm not to the point where I realistically expect more than 1 of them a year.

I am confident that whatever commits we get, the staff will develop and get the best out of.

Those are all good points...and for the record I expect a substantial improvement in our D this year...we finally have the sort of depth needed at every position to keep up with the type of O we play...and we got rid of some significant distractions in the LB room specifically...I think you will see our D start to be a very nice compliment to our O this year and moving forward instead of it being a liability

 

[MarcoVol]

Let's say we don't hit on any of the remaining big fish but we get the following trade offs...

Nasir Smith and/or Okoye instead of Nwaneri or Franklin
Mikell instead of Wingo
Jordan Ross instead of Cole (I know what you all are thinking here...but IMO Ross will drop throughout the season and Cole will rise)

Let's also say we keep everyone that we currently have and Ginther bumps up to a composite 4*....that class consists of 1 5*, 17 4*'s and 5 3*'s...based on past finishes on 247 it would rank in the 8-10 range...

Would you feel satisfied, pissed or indifferent about a class like that?

Check back in 3-4 years when all these dudes have actual on-field results we can analyze

 

[TNHopeful505]

Those are all good points...and for the record I expect a substantial improvement in our D this year...we finally have the sort of depth needed at every position to keep up with the type of O we play...and we got rid of some significant distractions in the LB room specifically...I think you will see our D start to be a very nice compliment to our O this year and moving forward instead of it being a liability

I mean....if we could get a few more 3 and outs, and a few more turnovers, it'd be a massive improvement. I'm very thrilled with our depth. AND how young that depth is. We are very senior heavy, and then we've got a bunch of FR/Soph coming up. If we can have a solid year and get guys meaningful playing time and comfortable in our system, the future (and present) looks very bright.

 

[Cosmo Kramer]

Making portal splashes is tougher than some think because literally all the big dogs are after a select few top notch players that are in the portal. Starting up a massive bidding war

TN has done pretty good getting guys in the portal the last few years. Cade Mays, Velus Jones, Kamal Haden, Javonta Peyton, Juwan Mitchell, Hendon Hooker, Chase McGrath, Andre Turrentine, Wesley Walker, Bru McCoy, Gerald Mincey, Joe Milton, Gabe Jeudy Lally, John Campbell, Keenan Pili, Andrej Karic, Omar Norman Lott, Donte Thornton, Charles Campbell, McCallan Castles.

 

[MarcoVol]

TN has done pretty good getting guys in the portal the last few years. Cade Mays, Velus Jones, Kamal Haden, Javonta Peyton, Juwan Mitchell, Hendon Hooker, Chase McGrath, Andre Turrentine, Wesley Walker, Bru McCoy, Gerald Mincey, Gabe Jeudy Lally, John Campbell, Keenan Pili, Andrej Karic, Omar Norman Lott, Donte Thornton, Charles Campbell, McCallan Castles.

 

[miket4god]

TN has done pretty good getting guys in the portal the last few years. Cade Mays, Velus Jones, Kamal Haden, Javonta Peyton, Juwan Mitchell, Hendon Hooker, Chase McGrath, Andre Turrentine, Wesley Walker, Bru McCoy, Gerald Mincey, Gabe Jeudy Lally, John Campbell, Keenan Pili, Andrej Karic, Omar Norman Lott, Donte Thornton, Charles Campbell, McCallan Castles.

Joe Milton

 

[Orange_Crush]

Joe Milton

Joe Milton wasn't recruited. He was engineered and grown in a lab.

 

[Vol423]

Joe Milton wasn't recruited. He was engineered and grown in a lab.

If that's the case, they should have engineered and grown the multi-year college starter model.

 

[swampfoxfan]

Just give me Nwaneri and Franklin. Other than Dline I would be happy if we are able to keep our current commitments.

 

[Shades]

That would be about 78% blue chip players, which would be a fabulous finish.

In the past decade, the Vols have averaged only about 30-50% blue chip, either per class and/or for the entire team.

I realize that your question is only for the 2024 class, but if Heupel did this for four straight years, then our overall team at about 75-80% blue chip players would be in elite territory. Historically, there are only about 2-3 teams per year that have an entire team with higher than about 70% blue chip, and one or more of them usually makes the championship game.

I can only imagine what Heupel could do with this type of talent. In 2022, he took a team of about 35% blue chip to 11-2 with wins over Bama, Fla, and LSU.

 

[VolNash17]

That would be about 78% blue chip players, which would be a fabulous finish.

In the past decade, the Vols have averaged only about 30-50% blue chip, either per class and/or for the entire team.

I realize that your question is only for the 2024 class, but if Heupel did this for four straight years, then our overall team at about 75-80% blue chip players would be in elite territory. Historically, there are only about 2-3 teams per year that have an entire team with higher than about 70% blue chip, and one or more of them usually makes the championship game.

I can only imagine what Heupel could do with this type of talent. In 2022, he took a team of about 35% blue chip to 11-2 with wins over Bama, Fla, and LSU.

If Tennessee ever gets that type of talent again it’ll be something else

TN has done pretty good getting guys in the portal the last few years. Cade Mays, Velus Jones, Kamal Haden, Javonta Peyton, Juwan Mitchell, Hendon Hooker, Chase McGrath, Andre Turrentine, Wesley Walker, Bru McCoy, Gerald Mincey, Joe Milton, Gabe Jeudy Lally, John Campbell, Keenan Pili, Andrej Karic, Omar Norman Lott, Donte Thornton, Charles Campbell, McCallan Castles.

yeah pretty decent, also missed on a few all Americans as well that made significant impacts at other top schools around the country as day 1 starters

 

[DaddyChad]

Hypodermically speaking..we won't needle each other too much over what is versus what wasn't

Don’t be a prick with the puns.

 

[DaddyChad]

Just give me Nwaneri and Franklin. Other than Dline I would be happy if we are able to keep our current commitments.

Pretty much agree here. I’m not going to be disappointed or pissed Heupel is wayyyy ahead of schedule imo. That said I would love to give Garner a few elite Dline players to develop and see where this defense can go from there.

 

[Ericvol2096]

That would be about 78% blue chip players, which would be a fabulous finish.

In the past decade, the Vols have averaged only about 30-50% blue chip, either per class and/or for the entire team.

I realize that your question is only for the 2024 class, but if Heupel did this for four straight years, then our overall team at about 75-80% blue chip players would be in elite territory. Historically, there are only about 2-3 teams per year that have an entire team with higher than about 70% blue chip, and one or more of them usually makes the championship game.

I can only imagine what Heupel could do with this type of talent. In 2022, he took a team of about 35% blue chip to 11-2 with wins over Bama, Fla, and LSU.

Anyone figured out this rosters blue chip ratio?

 

[VolNash17]

Anyone figured out this rosters blue chip ratio?

I think it’s around 45% for this season. I heard Pate or someone of that nature talking about it. Don’t remember who but Tennessee is close to 50%

 

[Jackcrevol]

Let's say we don't hit on any of the remaining big fish but we get the following trade offs...

Nasir Smith and/or Okoye instead of Nwaneri or Franklin
Mikell instead of Wingo
Jordan Ross instead of Cole (I know what you all are thinking here...but IMO Ross will drop throughout the season and Cole will rise)

Let's also say we keep everyone that we currently have and Ginther bumps up to a composite 4*....that class consists of 1 5*, 17 4*'s and 5 3*'s...based on past finishes on 247 it would rank in the 8-10 range...

Would you feel satisfied, pissed or indifferent about a class like that?

Very happy at OL, QB, and LB. Very not so happy with top 100 guys we seem to routinely miss on. Very upside down smiley on defense, especially the line.

B, not a minus or plus. Just a B.

 

[GBO121]

I'm going to be thrilled no matter what. In my mind, we already have a fantastic class. I think we need one more year of "prove it," to firmly put ourselves in that conversation of powers. People aren't sold on our offense yet, and will be looking to see what happens when we don't have Hendon or Hyatt or Tillman or Wright. I think the best possible thing for us would be for us to have a similar season to last year (or better) and for Joe to have an awesome year, to say "See what Joe was when we got here....and see what he is now?"

I also think that we need to show some defensive improvement to where kids know that they can make it to the league from here too, and that they can at all levels. Yes, I know we have some who did get drafted. I just think we need to have some improvement on that side of the ball.

Basically, this is a "prove it" year, and if it happens, we should see a massive jump in recruiting. That's JMO.

I would love to get the 5*, but I'm not to the point where I realistically expect more than 1 of them a year.

I am confident that whatever commits we get, the staff will develop and get the best out of.

I would add to this that we really need our recent draft picks to make some noise in the League.

 

[LittleVol]

That would be about 78% blue chip players, which would be a fabulous finish.

In the past decade, the Vols have averaged only about 30-50% blue chip, either per class and/or for the entire team.

I realize that your question is only for the 2024 class, but if Heupel did this for four straight years, then our overall team at about 75-80% blue chip players would be in elite territory. Historically, there are only about 2-3 teams per year that have an entire team with higher than about 70% blue chip, and one or more of them usually makes the championship game.

I can only imagine what Heupel could do with this type of talent. In 2022, he took a team of about 35% blue chip to 11-2 with wins over Bama, Fla, and LSU.

and Clemson. we always forget to mention that lol