Recruiting Football Talk VII

[butchna]

"Has two years of remaining eligibility, including this season." Nope. And this isn't fretting or worrying, it's just concern that our $8 million dollar Bryce Young will be running for his life next season and take a season ending sack.

I remember the same fretting over Dobbs…and his OL was horrendous. Ours isn’t.

 

[ryan990]

Actually our most recent offensive line class is much better than our TE recruiting.

You think any of those recent linemen will be starting in the fall?

 

[SpringBokVol]

Everyone focusing on wanting defense staff changes.... the real change needs to happen with OL and Elerbee.

 

[Glitch]

It is good. No complaints with this year’s group of lineman. I think most people’s reasonable concerns are that none of those guys are likely ready until Nico is gone. We only have a one year stop gap on the line with the guys coming back and no buffer at all at RT. As we have learned this year, anytime a good OT/OL goes into the portal, big names are always going to be interested. There is no guarantee we hit in the portal next year, either.

We don't know what we have. The coaches do and it is their job and reputation on the lines. They are still out trying to add pieces but if they don't, I am willing to bet we still put an OL on the field August 31.

 

[butchna]

Everyone focusing on wanting defense staff changes.... the real change needs to happen with OL and Elerbee.

Then make it happen, Cap’n! And break it to Heupel gently…that’s his right hand man.

 

[volbeast33]

I couldn't care less about Echols, but I do care about Dayne Davis potentially protecting Nico next year.

well then….. i have good news for you

 

[Jack Burton]

Most posters on here are so focused on the immediate future. All the while Heup is playing the long game and building a program. Ole Piss pushing all their chips in for necks year hoping to bring in enough talent to force a NC. Heup is trying to set up a juggernaut but he is having to build it from ashes. Some of us may not have to disposition to handle it and maybe other hobbies should be considered.

How far into the future are we building? Right now there’s possibly a generational talent at QB on the Hill. He’ll likely only be here for two more seasons. The window is so small. At this point the 2025 signing class likely won’t contribute on the field with Nico.

I’m all for Heupel building a program, but I don’t think we should waste today in favor of tomorrow either. Maybe we need to stretch for a few pieces so we can make a run in 2024 and 2025.

I don’t want to look back after 2024-25 and say “we just needed another WR” or “if only our OL blocked a bit better”. It’s possible to be both happy that Heupel has brought us here and also recognize that the opportunity for the next step is right here if we can step it up a bit.

 

[Glitch]

Brother it is year 4 with an elite type QB. These two years are as good as chance as we're going to have and we're gonna trot out Dayne Davis at RT

This is the situation that these coaches walked into:

"Here is a mediocre roster and a pile of crap NCAA investigation that will be hanging over your head for half a decade. Go make trophies out of it. Also, the fan base will want those trophies before your first real recruiting class graduates so chop chop."

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Bennett Warren - OT - TX - 4 star
William Satterwhite - IOL - OH - 4 star
Max Anderson - IOL - TX - 4 star
Gage Ginther - OT - CO - 4 star
Jesse Perry - OL - TN - 3 star from a very small school

That seems like some pretty good OL cruitin to me. Maybe we all back up from the ledge a little bit before we start farhin one of the best OL coaches we have had in 20 years.

Would be cool to add Sanders or Petty in the 25 class.

 

[volbeast33]

You think any of those recent linemen will be starting in the fall?

that wasn’t what i replied too… i do think some can be quality depth and maybe even start….. freshman lineman start all over the country…. why not us?

 

[DD4ME]

My son says it's because the OL didn't want to compete. He has no info, but is a positive thinker.

 

[Glitch]

"Has two years of remaining eligibility, including this season." Nope. And this isn't fretting or worrying, it's just concern that our $8 million dollar Bryce Young will be running for his life next season and take a season ending sack.

We will be fine. We have a lot of young OL talent that will be stepping into their second year of college. Maybe some of them just needed a year to get bigger and stronger so they didn't have to compete against grown men and be at a huge disadvantage.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Most posters on here are so focused on the immediate future. All the while Heup is playing the long game and building a program. Ole Piss pushing all their chips in for necks year hoping to bring in enough talent to force a NC. Heup is trying to set up a juggernaut but he is having to build it from ashes. Some of us may not have to disposition to handle it and maybe other hobbies should be considered.

You're comparing 2 programs with totally different ceilings tho.
In all reality OM is at as good as its ever going to get for them.
TN has a national title ceiling.

 

[ryan990]

well then….. i have good news for you

Is this the good news of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

I get that OL is a spot where it is good for guys to have some level of trust with one another, but we have good players on our roster. Some of them are just now heading into their sophomore years. It is entirely likely that some of them take starting and back up rolls that they weren't quite ready for yet. It is frustrating to see posters calling our coaches trash for not closing or wanting to replace them when we have just had 3 of the most successful years in the last 20. We are #1 in recruiting and we didn't make the playoffs so we have to burn it to the ground and start over is exactly why we have had to watch out football team stumble and struggle for two decades while other teams and fan bases laughed at us. Folks need to relax. In recruiting, you win some but you lose a lot more. I am not in sales but I do know that salesmen get told no a lot more than they hear a yes, but the yeses are the ones that matter.

And why are they acting like we won't go after anymore portal offensive linemen?

They need to pay penance if we land two starters here soon.

 

[MarcoVol]

Everyone focusing on wanting defense staff changes.... the real change needs to happen with OL and Elerbee.

Haven’t been happy with OL play?

Vols led the league in rushing this season.

#1 offense in the country last season.

I mean, what are your expectations for an OL coach?

 

[ryan990]

We will be fine. We have a lot of young OL talent that will be stepping into their second year of college. Maybe some of them just needed a year to get bigger and stronger so they didn't have to compete against grown men and be at a huge disadvantage.

Your lips to God let's all hope they step up!

 

[GVol1966]

Yep just like I posted earlier. Dude wanted to go back home to Texas and needed someone to set a price A&M had to meet and UT fit the bill.

 

[MarcoVol]

And why are they acting like we won't go after anymore portal offensive linemen?

They need to pay penance if we land two starters here soon.

Think the staff likes Karic. I’m sure they’d like more for competition but I’m not certain there will be 2 new guys starting at OL

 

[GVol1966]

Haven’t been happy with OL play?

Vols led the league in rushing this season.

#1 offense in the country last season.

I mean, what are your expectations for an OL coach?

Pass blocking, ability to punch it in from the 1 yard line.

 

[Vols2DaWall]

This is the situation that these coaches walked into:

"Here is a mediocre roster and a pile of crap NCAA investigation that will be hanging over your head for half a decade. Go make trophies out of it. Also, the fan base will want those trophies before your first real recruiting class graduates so chop chop."

The coaching staff is not absolved from any criticism just because of the circumstances they came into. They are getting paid handsomely. We've seen a recurring issue with recruiting high level players and our staff's inability to close. There is not a single HS recruit that has played in 4 years on the OL from Ellarbee. That's concerning. Plenty of other staffs would love to have our NIL program.

We have glaring holes on the OL and targeted our top 3 guys, only to whiff on all 3 when reportedly NIL is not an issue here. That's a red flag. Part of Fulmer's downfall was staying with ineffective coaches. Having some staff turnover is a good thing when expectations are not being met.

 

[Devo182]

Everyone focusing on wanting defense staff changes.... the real change needs to happen with OL and Elerbee.

Blue font blindness

 

[Glitch]

Absolutely!

Lane was the only OL out of eligibility. Mincey decided to chase more money which is his prerogative but really is the sole move causing this freak out from others.

What is funny is that most of the folks freaking out have no clear what our OL roster looked like outside of Cooper, Dayne, Mincey, and Lampley.

 

[GVol1966]

Think the staff likes Karic. I’m sure they’d like more for competition but I’m not certain there will be 2 new guys starting at OL

You’re probably right but there should be.

 

[RiseToTheTop]

Yes our OL class looks nice this yr but it’s a massive problem that we gotta wait until atleast yr 5 at best until any HS OL recruit actually contributes under this current OL Coach. Terrible.