Recruiting Forum Football Talk [RIP 9.3.2019]

[jakez4ut]

Butch was supposed to fix Dooleys mess, Dooley was supposed to fix Kiffin’s mess, Kiffin was supposed to fix Fulmer’s ambivalent Recruiting in his last years.

That part is a fact of life in coaching changes. It’s what they sign up for, and are well compensated for it.

Yep. But all situations aren't created equal.. Safe to say ours has degraded with each change....

And imo we may have to look to other things, short term anyway, for progress vs. Championship contention or wins over the big three.

The goal being to get back to those things... As soon as possible....

Maybe I'm just jaded by the last decade. I just don't see the bar for ut football set at what bama, UGA are doing... Right now.

Best muschamp... Vandy...mo...UK...

 

[Big Gucci Sosa]

With exams over, all eyes are on the arrival of the newcomers, who will be here the end of May for the start of summer school on May 30th. Those taking mini-term classes started class on Wednesday. As of today, outside of Anthony Harris, we expect the remaining members of the 2019 class — Aaron Beasely, Darnell Wright, Melvin McBride, Jackson Lampley, Henry To’oto’o, Savion Williams, Roman Harrison, Sean Brown, Elijah Simmons, Jerrod Means and Darel Middleton — to arrive ready to go at the end of the month.

Now that the spring semester is over, the thought is that things might get active with the transfer portal, but as of Thursday night there was no new UT names in the portal, according to multiple sources.

It’s important to note that Tennessee has to be at 85 scholarships or below in August, not in the summer.

As players departed for their homes for a couple weeks away from school. It’s not all R&R. Players know what’s coming June 1st with the start of strength coach Craig Fitzgerald’s summer workout schedule — a plan that not only features lots of conditioning in preparation for the season but also plenty of weight room work as getting stronger remains a huge priority for this team, which is not where they need to be at this point.

Fitzgerald and his staff made it clear to those heading home for a couple of weeks to get in their conditioning work and remain in shape in the couple of weeks they are away from the strength staff.

Tennessee coaches continue to be on the road recruiting and head coach Jeremy Pruitt has been around town doing speaking engagements, as well as some media work/commercials etc done in what is his “down time” from the team. Pruitt, other UT coaches and athletic department officials will spend Friday evening at the annual “Friends of the Smokies” fund raising event.

Tennessee will get started on their summer camps earlier this year. Camps start on May 31st and run basically through the month of June with multiple one day camps. Obviously, getting guys on campus in the month of June has become a huge priority in recruiting.

VQ

 

[Big Gucci Sosa]

Basketball stuff: VQ saying its basically a done deal that we add Uros Plavsic, Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Center (BK)

 

[Mullins2010]

Basketball stuff: VQ saying its basically a done deal that we add Uros Plavsic, Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Center (BK)

Can he shoot

 

[nicksjuzunk]

Anyone else thinks all the Florida stuff is more bark than bite and in the end there won’t be near as much fall out from whatever as people are rumoring?

Absolutely. But don't you dare try to stop me

 

[chargervol]

Absolutely. But don't you dare try to stop me

I didn't catch all the rumors but apparently a few highly ranked
players being gone is real.

T'was a good day.

 

[nicksjuzunk]

I didn't catch all the rumors but apparently a few highly ranked
players being gone is real.

T'was a good day.

 

[Devo182]

Anyone else thinks all the Florida stuff is more bark than bite and in the end there won’t be near as much fall out from whatever as people are rumoring?

 

[vol2002]

I’ve always been of the opinion that if we are not competing for titles, then the next most important thing in a football season is how you do against your rivals. There are three games that matter every year in that regard, and that three doesn’t include Vandy or UK. Doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy winning or watching those games too, but I’m never going to use those as a benchmark or indicator of success.

There was a ranking of the top coaching jobs in CFB that came out recently. Said UGA was 1, Alabama was 2, and Florida was 5. I can’t necessarily disagree with that assessment.

That’s what we’re up against. And those games are front loaded on our schedule.

 

[ob79]

Anyone else thinks all the Florida stuff is more bark than bite and in the end there won’t be near as much fall out from whatever as people are rumoring?

Uh...

 

[vol2002]

Anyone else thinks all the Florida stuff is more bark than bite and in the end there won’t be near as much fall out from whatever as people are rumoring?

Yes. And I always have to remind myself that a 2-star from Florida is equivalent to a high 3-star from most of the rest of the country and so forth. So, recruiting rankings seem not to tell the full story with a UF roster. Butch out recruited Florida on paper for years, and they usually looked equal to or better than us talent wise the whole time. They are clearly ahead of us now.

 

[CAVPUT]

Apparently Chris Steele has already gone home to Cali and is contemplating his future per one of their mods. Doesn't sound like he'll be back. He was their prize recruit, 5 star CB flipped from USC. He was already in the 2 deep this spring as an EE. Throw in Jadon Hill possibly leaving, a couple other grade issues might make guys go JUCO is the word, then the rumors of Mullen being put on admin leave? We're not lucky enough for all that to happen but maybe...

It's Florida not UT, USC, Arky, etc. While not "royalty" per se, they still won't face the firestorm UT would from this. It will be backpage news for a bit then it fades into nothingness. Nothing is going to happen. It's akin to UNC and 'Cuse skating in basketball. Everyone was calling it a big deal, but we see how that turned out. Just like our govt....there are two sets of rules. What's okay for me is not okay for thee.

 

[millst987]

VQ war room was pretty depressing on the recruiting front. We have no momentum going right now for some reason.

 

[McGeesPub]

There was a ranking of the top coaching jobs in CFB that came out recently. Said UGA was 1, Alabama was 2, and Florida was 5. I can’t necessarily disagree with that assessment.

That’s what we’re up against. And those games are front loaded on our schedule.

And we were 15th, which is remarkable for a team having the decade we’ve had. Alabama would have been 15th or worse in 2006. Then they got a coach that knew what they were doing. Those rankings mean nothing. Besides, I’ve seen some say that there isn’t much difference between 5 and 15 in the Recruiting rankings, so what’s the big deal here?

 

[VflPT22]

There was a ranking of the top coaching jobs in CFB that came out recently. Said UGA was 1, Alabama was 2, and Florida was 5. I can’t necessarily disagree with that assessment.

That’s what we’re up against. And those games are front loaded on our schedule.

Not for long..UGA moving to November

 

[InVOLuntary]

Basketball stuff: VQ saying its basically a done deal that we add Uros Plavsic, Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Center (BK)

Now there's me a 5.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Yep. But all situations aren't created equal.. Safe to say ours has degraded with each change....

And imo we may have to look to other things, short term anyway, for progress vs. Championship contention or wins over the big three.

The goal being to get back to those things... As soon as possible....

Maybe I'm just jaded by the last decade. I just don't see the bar for ut football set at what bama, UGA are doing... Right now.

Best muschamp... Vandy...mo...UK...

I think Pruitt had a better roster last season than what Dooley had in his first season. At best they may have been about even. Really looked like Pruitt had lost a big chunk of the team in a couple of those late season losses. Maybe he never had them to begin with, being Butch's guys and all? How the heck did Dooley manage to keep his good players motivated enough to finish the season and a meaningless bowl game strong?

 

[Nashvegas31]

Anyone else thinks all the Florida stuff is more bark than bite and in the end there won’t be near as much fall out from whatever as people are rumoring?

Losing your top signee especially a stud CB is enough bite. Anything else is gravy

 

[Sleegro]

Really good article in the Athletic about the Steele transfer. One bit I didn't expect is they said with that transfer that Florida doesn't have a single 5 star on their roster. And each of the last 3 years they've lost one of their highest rated recruits before even playing a game.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Losing your top signee especially a stud CB is enough bite. Anything else is gravy

Oh I know thats big. Especially considering how well he (allegedly) played in their spring game and was basically penciled in as a starter.

But there's all this talk of multiple people not qualifying academically, Mullen might get reprimanded, other players transferring out, etc etc etc. Seems too good to be true.

I remember last year there was all this talk of supposed fall out from the credit card incident, but in the end really not much came of it.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Basketball stuff: VQ saying its basically a done deal that we add Uros Plavsic, Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Center (BK)

Transfer? Looks like he was at ASU for 2018-19 season.

 

[Big Gucci Sosa]

Transfer? Looks like he was at ASU for 2018-19 season.

yes

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I think Pruitt had a better roster last season than what Dooley had in his first season. At best they may have been about even. Really looked like Pruitt had lost a big chunk of the team in a couple of those late season losses. Maybe he never had them to begin with, being Butch's guys and all? How the heck did Dooley manage to keep his good players motivated enough to finish the season and a meaningless bowl game strong?

Uhh...what? Dooley didn't finish that first season strong. Vandy (2-10) & Kentucky (6-7) were both awful that year and that high powered offense (who hung 50+ 3 times that year) sputtered to 24 in both games, then lost to UNC and only managed 27 points, but took double overtime to get there. Also drew Ole Miss (4-8) during what could be argued to be their worst season in program history as our 2nd west team.

I do think until he "proves it" on the field Pruitt's style of no nonsense and straight forward approach is harder to pull in kids, they are so used to being coddled and having smoke blowed up their backside. Saban can do it because he's a winner and the NFL is drafting his interns basically.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

yes

Great size and he's local so that's awesome...but if he has to sit next season I'm not sure how excited I can be. Hopefully Burns, Fulkie, and Kent can play and stay healthy. ORN is the only "day 1" ready body I see incoming other than James.

 

[ChattaTNVol]

Losing your top signee especially a stud CB is enough bite. Anything else is gravy

They lost Mullen’s choice for candidate QB of the future. Jalon was committed to Mullen at Mississippi State. He decommitted and followed him to Florida. Jalon camped with us under Butch Jones in June of 2017 and was offered by the new staff in February of 2018.

Obviously they lost Steele which by all accounts was an exceptional talent, all conference type potential, at cornerback.

So far they have wasted (lost) 2 initial counters in recruiting that they will never get back. They still could lose more.

There is an ongoing investigation on campus by UF’s office of student conduct and conflict resolution with respect to one of the alleged assaults and so that’s another shoe that may eventually drop.

They lost a commitment from a 5-star defensive end in the 2021 class.

Their image took a significant blow and I don’t think all the questions have even come close to being answered yet? I think the timeline is going to be important in regards to staff conduct aside from the handling of the dorm change request.

April 6, 2019 Jalon Jones allegedly assaults two female students in dorm. Roommate Chris Steele and Jaydon Hill were present at the residence and may have interrupted/stopped one or both incidents. Two victims go to hospital speak with police and victim's advocate but decline to pursue charges.
April 9, 2019 "[With both victims] declining to pursue charges, both cases are exceptionally cleared according to the police reports."-------- "At least one of the cases was referred to UF’s office of student conduct and conflict resolution. That happened at 10:24 a.m., according to the documents." -TBTimes
April 13, 2019 UF spring game (Steele, Hill, and Jones all participate)
April 30, 2019 Jalon Jones enters transfer portal (coincides with middle of exam week)
May 2, 2019 News reports surface regarding sexual assault incidents of Apr-6. Reports cite police reports that list Chris Steele and Jaydon Hill as witnesses.

How does Mullen explain keeping the guy on the team and even giving him reps in the Spring game in the midst of this entire fiasco?

We’re obviously several days or a few weeks behind in this story and I’ve seen a number of long time Florida fans that are perceived to have some connections (sort of like LAVol, Larry, AtlantaVol, Hank, MockingVol, etc.) say there is more to come.

Of course they still have issues unrelated to this incident involving the arrest of one of their other defensive backs. They have questions about whether certain 2019 recruits will qualify or have to go JUCO or somewhere else. Then there’s Jadon Hill. I’m sort of not expecting him to leave voluntarily but some are expecting he may not have a choice. Oh yeah? Why is that? We don’t know, at least not yet.