'18 SC WR Bryce Thompson (UT commit 5/30/18)

But does he fit Pruitt’s profile? Obviously Taylor does, but he starts a lot heavier.

They’re about the same size.


It probably just comes down to need at CB vs WR. I doubt we see Thompson and Taylor on the same side of the ball either way. If they do end up on the same size, it will either mean none of our outside CBs are playing at the level Pruitt wants or that our CBs are surprisingly solid.
 
This guy is too good with the ball to stick on defense in my opinion, unless therev is just no other good option at CB and he is the best. This cat is explosive.

UEM nailed it, Thompson is too explosive not to have the ball in his hands. I think he will end up being huge on special teams in the return game and by the end of the season, one of UTs top 4 WRs, at least.
 
This guy is too good with the ball to stick on defense in my opinion, unless therev is just no other good option at CB and he is the best. This cat is explosive.

Helton has some experience with two-way players from USC. Put them both on D and give each some different packages to get them 5ish touches a game.
 
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Helton and Pruitt want versatile playmakers-- the Adoree' Jackson types that can play receiver, CB and special teams. Thompson and Tae can do that.

Same thing with LB. Pruitt wants guys who can play all LB positions so they can move them around. Peterson gives us that. Doing more with less.
 
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Helton and Pruitt want versatile playmakers-- the Adoree' Jackson types that can play receiver, CB and special teams. Thompson and Tae can do that.

Same thing with LB. Pruitt wants guys who can play all LB positions so they can move them around. Peterson gives us that. Doing more with less.

This a great point. It's a common theme in Pruitt's recruiting.
 
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This a great point. It's a common theme in Pruitt's recruiting.

Yep, bigger, stronger and more versatile-- that's the new philosophy. Wood-Anderson is another one-- a TE who's a good run blocker as well as pass catcher. We have some solid players who'll be better conditioned by fall, plus new playmakers just arriving on campus. We have more talent than people think.
 
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I come in peace.

First, let me answer those who question his ability because he had few offers. The reason is that nobody expected him to qualify academically.

Second, "yes," our fanbase is very salty that our staff chose to not take him.

Third, our athletic department has been very, very tight-lipped about why we did not take him. The rumors about sexual assault does not come from any true insider.

Fourth, I have heard a very speculative rumor from educators in South Carolina. Some of them have loose connections with our compliance department, but none claim that this info comes from the compliance department.

This comes down to a risk benefit analysis because the kids academic improvement during his senior year at Dutch Fork was amazing . . . maybe too amazing! he educators in the rumor mill believe that alarms are going to be going off all through the NCAA clearinghouse when they review his records.

RISK/BENEFITS for UT: The risk is low: he may not be low and UT will have an offer slot that he cannot carry forward to next year. Benefit is high. He is an amazing athlete.

RISK/BENEFIT for SCar: The risk is high. Not only would Scar lose an offer slot, there would be a risk of an NCAA investigation due to the number of teachers and administrators at Dutch Fork who are USC grads/fans. Although it does not appear that they qualify as "boosters" there is a possibility. Benefit would be great but the risk is too high.


It is not believed that Tennessee has any big fans working at Dutch Fork.

Again, this is a speculative rumor - not "insider" information.
 
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There is no risk-benefit differential. UT does not have an offer slot that can't carry forward. Thompson will blue shirt at UT and count against the 2019 class.

The difference is, Thompson chose to come to UT and UT chose to take him. He met the NCAA academic initial-eligibility standards, fulfilled UT's acceptance requirements-- which are comparable to SCAR's-- cleared compliance, enrolled without incident at UT and started class yesterday.

No reason to speculate. The facts are clear and the controversy is manufactured.
 
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I come in peace.

First, let me answer those who question his ability because he had few offers. The reason is that nobody expected him to qualify academically.

Second, "yes," our fanbase is very salty that our staff chose to not take him.

Third, our athletic department has been very, very tight-lipped about why we did not take him. The rumors about sexual assault does not come from any true insider.

Fourth, I have heard a very speculative rumor from educators in South Carolina. Some of them have loose connections with our compliance department, but none claim that this info comes from the compliance department.

This comes down to a risk benefit analysis because the kids academic improvement during his senior year at Dutch Fork was amazing . . . maybe too amazing! he educators in the rumor mill believe that alarms are going to be going off all through the NCAA clearinghouse when they review his records.

RISK/BENEFITS for UT: The risk is low: he may not be low and UT will have an offer slot that he cannot carry forward to next year. Benefit is high. He is an amazing athlete.

RISK/BENEFIT for SCar: The risk is high. Not only would Scar lose an offer slot, there would be a risk of an NCAA investigation due to the number of teachers and administrators at Dutch Fork who are USC grads/fans. Although it does not appear that they qualify as "boosters" there is a possibility. Benefit would be great but the risk is too high.


It is not believed that Tennessee has any big fans working at Dutch Fork.

Again, this is a speculative rumor - not "insider" information.
Thanks for the outside perspective.
 
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If he sticks at WR, is this correct:

Juaun Jennings (RJr)
Marquez Calloway (Jr)
Brandon Johnson (Jr)
Tyler Byrd (Jr)
Josh Palmer (So)
Jordan Murphy (So)
Latrell Williams (RSo)
Jaquez Jones (RFr)
Bryce Thompson (Fr)
Cedric Tillman (Fr)
 
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11 rec, 233 rec yards, 2 rec tds, 3 rushes for 23 yards and a td, 1 for 2 passing for 30 yards and a TD. But we won the game thanks to Dobbs.

Dobbs completed 22 of 39 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 166 yards on 24 carries with three more touchdowns. The Gamecocks' struggling defense surrendered 645 total yards. :)

One of my favorite games ever. I have watched it at least ten times. Never gets old.
 
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If he sticks at WR, is this correct:

Juaun Jennings (RJr)
Marquez Calloway (Jr)
Brandon Johnson (Jr)
Tyler Byrd (Jr)
Josh Palmer (So)
Jordan Murphy (So)
Latrell Williams (RSo)
Jaquez Jones (RFr)
Bryce Thompson (Fr)
Cedric Tillman (Fr)

Looks to me like Callaway and Jennings are the starters outside and Thompson starts in the slot.
 
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Don’t sleep on Jordan Murphy either...and hopefully Tyler Byrd can get it together...the WR core looks pretty dang good to me yo be honest...and we’re about to add Keyton, Wilhoite and Curry to that mix next year (go ahead and book those last two 😎)
 
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Don’t sleep on Jordan Murphy either...and hopefully Tyler Byrd can get it together...the WR core looks pretty dang good to me yo be honest...and we’re about to add Keyton, Wilhoite and Curry to that mix next year (go ahead and book those last two 😎)
And Latrell williams. Just get the ball in that guy’s hand and let him make plays with his speed. Jacquez Jones could be really good too if his knee is healed up
 
YAC will have a good rotation this year. They have to earn their playing time, so the competition will be really good to see them pushing each other. Cream rises to the top.
 
And Latrell williams. Just get the ball in that guy’s hand and let him make plays with his speed. Jacquez Jones could be really good too if his knee is healed up

I hope Jacquez can get his explosiveness back. One of the best HS tapes I have ever seen.
 
If he sticks at WR, is this correct:

Juaun Jennings (RJr)
Marquez Calloway (Jr)
Brandon Johnson (Jr)
Tyler Byrd (Jr)
Josh Palmer (So)
Jordan Murphy (So)
Latrell Williams (RSo)
Jaquez Jones (RFr)
Bryce Thompson (Fr)
Cedric Tillman (Fr)

I believe it is. I see Tillman and Thompson getting some playing time both are good receivers and Tillman is a "Big Receiver" already weighs in the 200s.
 
There is no risk-benefit differential. UT does not have an offer slot that can't carry forward. Thompson will blue shirt at UT and count against the 2019 class.

The difference is, Thompson chose to come to UT and UT chose to take him. He met the NCAA academic initial-eligibility standards, fulfilled UT's acceptance requirements-- which are comparable to SCAR's-- cleared compliance, enrolled without incident at UT and started class yesterday.

No reason to speculate. The facts are clear and the controversy is manufactured.

Off the top rope
 

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