Recruiting Forum Football Talk VI

[itsme]

Mississippi State coach Leach dies at age 61

I wish more people had his outlook on life and work. Just enjoy your time and don't take it too serious.

 

[TheRain]

 

[ricepatty]

I find it interesting that they call the former coaches. I mean, they might get a straight answer and they might not. Not sure that Saban would tell Heup, "yeah, that dude could help you."

Possibly head coaches but I initially thought more of position coaches and staffers too

 

[TheRain]

 

[drvenner]

Rest well, Pirate. Thank you for all the laughs.

 

[JohnnyD1024]

 

[JohnnyD1024]

 

[TheRain]

 

[JohnnyD1024]

 

[ricepatty]

Recruiting will pick up. The coaches wouldn't be holding off on taking the commitments of players ready to transfer in if they didn't think they could land guys who better fit team needs. And some of the better portalers are opportunists with an inflated view of their value. Apparently, the coaches don't think a lot of them are worth the ask. Other programs might. Different strategies.

Talking out of my ass but I wonder if there’s a correlation of this players entering the portal before and after ESD/Bowls and quality.

Are early portal guys already out on their team? Trying to maximize NIL value?

Are late portal guys grittier and still try to work it out and participate in bowl practices? Need more film? Maybe they know their value and can enter the portal whenever.

Obviously generalizing here and won’t know for many years

 

[SoilVol]

He deserves to be in the CFHOF.

 

[BigSteve09]

247 saying Vols are looking at portal WR - Rara Thomas, Dominic Lovett, Donte Thornton, Ryan O'Keefe. Need a plug and play guy. Still trying to find another TE - Morlock. OT looking for at least 1, maybe more - Ajani Cornelius, Gunner Britton.

Thinks we're more interested in DE than interior DL. LB not a huge priority at the moment but wouldn't turn down a veteran.

So far Tennessee isn’t expected to lose any cornerbacks. Why not upgrade through the portal, you ask. Well, there’s three touted freshmen who are about to join the program in four-stars Jordan Matthews and Rickey Gibson plus Cristian Conyer.

We believe Tennessee is evaluating plenty of portal cornerbacks, but there doesn’t appear to be much traction with anybody yet. Others have been scouted and likely discussed and that will be an ongoing process.

The situation perhaps isn’t a slam-dunk like a lot of fans might want it to be. Tennessee isn’t hurting for numbers at cornerback, but more importantly there’s the three freshmen coming in, so maybe this is a case where the Vols play the long game and see how the position evolves through the spring – does anyone leaves, does a player like Slaughter or Charles go back to being more of a safety, how do the freshmen look – and continually assess. If the right portal opportunity presents itself, though, it’s hard to see Tennessee turning it down.

Because Tennessee probably shouldn’t be choosy here if a cornerback transfer of any quality wants to jump in – the Vols need help there, whether it’s a portal addition, the freshmen being legit right away or some current players making a jump.

It seems like cornerback is the bigger priority for Tennessee in the portal at this point – the Vols did take two safeties in the portal a year ago, after all.

Taking a plug-and-play this cycle might have Walker exploring his options or require Tennessee having a tough conversation with McCollough, a team captain and 37-game starter. So the alternative is a multi-year player with some upside as depth in 2023 and starter potential (at best) or competition (at worst) beyond next season.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

Farts are always funny...... Until they runny.

 

[SoilVol]

Talking out of my ass but I wonder if there’s a correlation of this players entering the portal before and after ESD/Bowls and quality.

Are early portal guys already out on their team? Trying to maximize NIL value?

Are late portal guys grittier and still try to work it out and participate in bowl practices? Need more film? Maybe they know their value and can enter the portal whenever.

Obviously generalizing here and won’t know for many years

Or, how many players are going to jump from UGA, Mich, TCU, and OSU after the playoffs? If Bama had made the playoff they wouldn't have a dozen players in the portal right now.

I definitely think what you're saying is the case. Not everyone is in the portal right now. We also have to see who we sign, who flips (to and from), and who portals after the Orange Bowl.

 

[yourstruly23]

Hope everyone enjoys eating their fish sandwiches with their fat girlfriends today. I have had a great time reading all the Mike Leach stories and listening to his "greatest hits" interviews. One of a kind.

 

[drvenner]

If Mike Leach had not had any more memorable quotes, this one alone would engender huge appreciation from the Volunteer faithful.

 

[SoilVol]

I wonder where Mississippi State goes from here?

I would expect them to stick with Zach Arnett through the bowl game, and probably retain Arnett as interim through next season. No need to rush into a hire this late in the game, with an interim AD, especially after the emotional loss of Leach.

 

[UTMVol76]

He deserves to be in the CFHOF.

Especially considering all his wins are at traditional horrible programs

 

[jave36]

South Carolina fans are taking the news well:

Here's a better question, how does a guy who fails over and over as an NFL OC get FOUR DIFFERENT NFL OC jobs?!

 

[Glitch]

Farts are always funny...... Until they sharen't.

Fify

 

[BigSteve09]

Here's a better question, how does a guy who fails over and over as an NFL OC get FOUR DIFFERENT NFL OC jobs?!

Nepotism and personal contacts run rampant in the NFL. It's kind of crazy.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I know at this point in the secondary McDonald at STAR and Walker at Safety are the only two guys I think have earned their starts.

I could see Jaylen transferring out to play another season somewhere else. He's been solid, but at this point better talent can't be left sitting while he's on the field.

 

[UTMVol76]

I would expect them to stick with Zach Arnett through the bowl game, and probably retain Arnett as interim through next season. No need to rush into a hire this late in the game, with an interim AD, especially after the emotional loss of Leach.

Or, to put it another way, what we should have done when Lane bolted.

OTOH, Heup was a late cycle pickup…

I do think Dan Mullen would make sense

 

[ACvol3]

Leach was an awesome personality and his stories will be told forever, but let’s be real - he’s not a hall of fame coach

 

[butchna]

Leach was an awesome personality and his stories will be told forever, but let’s be real - he’s not a hall of fame coach

I’m completely real…and he is.