Shortage of Scholy QBs and WRs

[Tman44]

UT currently has two scholarship QBs in Joe and Nico. As Wideouts go, we have eight, four of which are freshmen. Recruiting wise, we have a commitment from four star QB Jake Merklinger; however, there are no WRs in the 2024 class as of now. Look at SEC competition at the same spots: Bama has six QBs active, one recruit and fourteen WRs active and four recruits. On the other end of the spectrum look at SCar. They have five active QBs with two recruits. Spencer Rattler is NOT listed as a scholarship player at SCar, so five might as well be six. SCar has nine active WRs with three recruits. I'm not very concerned about our QB situation as Gaston Moore looks like he could come in and have success if Joe and Nico went down. Four true freshmen WRs could be a problem. I cannot understand why more skilled talent wouldn't jump at the opportunity to showcase their skills in CJH's high-powered offense. Even with CJH and company going after high character young men, I think we should have more. I understand the lure of Alabama and I understand their numbers; however, I find it crazy to be behind SCar. Any ideas VolNation? I'll link the scholarship info below if you wanna look at it yourself.

Tennessee 2023 Football ScholarshipDistribution
Alabama 2023 Football ScholarshipDistribution
South Carolina 2023 Football ScholarshipDistribution

 

[VolFanNC09]

This is a numbers game. We play a short rotation at WR, could use one more though. We are set on QBs for now. We have a boatload of DBs and DL though and that has an impact on our numbers available. My guess is they are comfortable with the first, second and third group of WRs and QBs, but still wading through the DB mixture.

 

[MegaVol615]

Going forward with the portal the way it is, 2-3 scholarship QBs is going to be pretty normal
Agreed that the WR room is a work in progress. Per AP we are projected to take 4 (HS recruiting, the portal or a combo). We are in on some big time guys at the WR position (Matthews, Wingo, Jefferson, Staley) so I’d say the chance to play in this offense is definitely resonating.. just takes some time.

 

[Preyed_On]

Any ideas VolNation?

No


Even if you did, what exactly are you going to do to put that idea into motion?

Shoot a message to the staff, I’m sure your concerns would be made a vital priority.

 

[sjt18]

The eventual make up of the roster will look different. You'll probably have 3 or 4 QBs and 10-12 WRs. The roster these guys inherited was completely discombobulated. Groups with numbers had poor quality. Groups with quality had low numbers. This is their 3rd year. They're definitely short at QB. An injury much less two creates a world of hurt. UT starts a walk on. That may well be the case in 24 as well. It should start to normalize after. The portal for a QB is going to be a tough draw as Nico is presumed to be a shoe in.

Spillman will make 9 scholarship WRs with Seldon and possibly even someone like Sampson an emergency back up at Slot.

It appears that UT is making an investment in building other areas and accepting some risk at WR and QB. Some of that may not be completely by choice but some probably is.

 

[MiramarVol]

What do we always say? It's early man.

 

[butchna]

Yet we have detractors on current commits like Merklinger. Ideally we land the best available target in each class and we’re looking at seasons where Nico is a two year starter with Merklinger ready when he declares and Deuce or McIntyre maybe getting into four games. In this portal era, having 4-6 starter worthy QBs waiting in line is not realistic.

 

[volroadwarrior]

Watch those excess players to hit the transfer portal next year. It will happen.

 

[stolitonic]

Therein lies the issue with the portal and to a lesser extent NIL.

Old days, backups-especially QBs would hang out and wait for their time.

Money is just too much now

1 or at most 2 years sitting on the bench and they are gone in search of playing time.

The fact that Heupel and Pruitt have diametrical offensive philosophies didn't help either. Other than Hooker-who had just arrived himself, there wasn't a QB on the roster when Heupel showed up who could really run his offense.

 

[TnVol!]

I think Coach Heupel and staff can manage.

 

[Rememberthelate90s]

Florida doesn't have a qb, wr, or a head coach. So I think we are looking better and better.

 

[IndianaVol]

I would be interested in looking deeper into the Defensive side of the ball.
Plus it seems like CJH and Company recruit a higher amount of "Athletes" than other programs that end up being WRs.

My last comment is yes, Alabama has 3x the number of WRs Tennessee has, but they also spend 3x longer on the field on Offense for the same amount of production.
CJH's system is not going to be WR heavy with 10 to 12 guys because if you are substituting WRs every play or two you are slowing the system down.

 

[bigorangepoppa]

I may be wrong, but I kinda think maybe other coaching staffs could be using the rhetoric we heard prior to the NFL draft, that the wide receivers were so effective because of Heupel's "system". Look at all the negativity Hyatt got from the pundits. The best wide receiver in college football in 2022 benefited from the system. Winning the Biletnikoff was a result of the system. Hyatt got a lot of negative comments from sports writers, they just can't stand Tennessee being on the increase in football.

 

[SpookyAction]

One thing I've noticed since Heupel was hired is our WRs can catch the ball. Our guys dropped far too many over the previous 15 seasons. It was frustrating.

Now, I expect them to catch and hold on. It reflects much better coaching for the entire offense.

The numbers aren't too concerning yet. I expect WRs and QBs to be interested in what we are selling.

 

[SN-A-C Orange]

This is a numbers game. We play a short rotation at WR, could use one more though. We are set on QBs for now. We have a boatload of DBs and DL though and that has an impact on our numbers available. My guess is they are comfortable with the first, second and third group of WRs and QBs, but still wading through the DB mixture.

Numbers is only a small part of this equation.
QBs: I assure you the number of scholarship QBs will climb over time. And no, we are not "set" on QBs for now! We are a little thin, but it cannot be helped at this juncture.
WR ... I am not sure how many CJH and staff would like in an idea situation. I do know that our system, limits the substitution of WRs - so that does affect recruits because of playing time!
The biggest thing ... culture ... you are talking about two groups with larger egos .... and current coaching staff is more influenced by cultural fit than getting the best talent. This is a huge factor in why we have fewer WRs.
These are my spitball opinions and I have absolutely no inside connections. So basically, I'm guessing.

 

[mitzustu]

We had 5 receivers with over 8 total receptions last year. So your top 5 this year are:

Bru McCoy
Ramel Keyton
Squirrel White
Donte Thornton
1 freshman contributor….

Freshmen:
Leacock (FR .95 rating 4 star)
Webb (Redshirt FR .93 rating 4 star)
Nimrod (Redshirt FR .87 3 star)
Spillman (FR .85 rating 3 star)

Gotta think either Leacock or Webb is the #5 but I’d say 3 of these Freshmen are servicable and two of those it will be their second year in the program.

 

[KINGSVOL]

I think we are gonna see this contnue. HYPEs offense runs well with hybrid TE/RB, 3 to 4 WRs, and 2 RBs (different styles, skill sets). I doubt that we EVER get past 2, 5 Star and a walkon or 2 star at QB. This allows him to do what he IS DOING NOW; loading up on DBs and DL. ITS GENIUS!!!! We only need 60% of the numbers at wide out and QB, based on other teams, so we can focus VERY CLOSELY on skill set and fit and we can recruit DL AND DB at 150% of other teams by promising PT and development!

BOOK IT, this defense is gonna be TOP 5 this year!!!

 

[BigVol88]

It is important that we have guys at the QB and WR positions, but I honestly think the scheme and general X and Os of Heupels offense will allow us to be successful with less. I am not worried about QB or WR at all. We could land a bunch of 3 stars and I think that would work with this offense. Now that's not to say some 5 stars like Nico or Mathews could not be a a game changer; they most certainly can take us to the next level. I am just not as concerned generally, due to Heupel being good on offensive every where he has been, regardless of talent.

What we need are dudes in the OL and everywhere on the defense. I kinda wonder if the end game is to have such a loaded D that we could interchange 1st and 2nd string to keep guys fresh without losing any real talent. Think about it: an aggressive D that does not get tired and can go hard and be fresh throughout the game, even if they play a lot due to the fast pace offense. We were so thin last year and those dudes were taking a ridiculous amount of snaps. Easy to see how they could be beat as they were often gassed.

Essentially, I think Heupel needs to focus on both sides of the trenches and the D in general. We really really need talent there more than WR or QB.

 

[ThreatLevelOrange]

UT currently has two scholarship QBs in Joe and Nico. As Wideouts go, we have eight, four of which are freshmen. Recruiting wise, we have a commitment from four star QB Jake Merklinger; however, there are no WRs in the 2024 class as of now. Look at SEC competition at the same spots: Bama has six QBs active, one recruit and fourteen WRs active and four recruits. On the other end of the spectrum look at SCar. They have five active QBs with two recruits. Spencer Rattler is NOT listed as a scholarship player at SCar, so five might as well be six. SCar has nine active WRs with three recruits. I'm not very concerned about our QB situation as Gaston Moore looks like he could come in and have success if Joe and Nico went down. Four true freshmen WRs could be a problem. I cannot understand why more skilled talent wouldn't jump at the opportunity to showcase their skills in CJH's high-powered offense. Even with CJH and company going after high character young men, I think we should have more. I understand the lure of Alabama and I understand their numbers; however, I find it crazy to be behind SCar. Any ideas VolNation? I'll link the scholarship info below if you wanna look at it yourself.

Tennessee 2023 Football ScholarshipDistribution
Alabama 2023 Football ScholarshipDistribution
South Carolina 2023 Football ScholarshipDistribution

Bama does not have 6 scholarship QB. Never.

If you include walk ons, we have at least 4.

 

[jasonvol18]

This is a numbers game. We play a short rotation at WR, could use one more though. We are set on QBs for now. We have a boatload of DBs and DL though and that has an impact on our numbers available. My guess is they are comfortable with the first, second and third group of WRs and QBs, but still wading through the DB mixture.

We do not play at short rotation at WR. The only reason it appears that way is we don't have any behind Bru, Keyton, White and Bru that are ready. I guarantee he would rotate more if he had ones that were ready and they trusted.

 

[jasonvol18]

UT currently has two scholarship QBs in Joe and Nico. As Wideouts go, we have eight, four of which are freshmen. Recruiting wise, we have a commitment from four star QB Jake Merklinger; however, there are no WRs in the 2024 class as of now. Look at SEC competition at the same spots: Bama has six QBs active, one recruit and fourteen WRs active and four recruits. On the other end of the spectrum look at SCar. They have five active QBs with two recruits. Spencer Rattler is NOT listed as a scholarship player at SCar, so five might as well be six. SCar has nine active WRs with three recruits. I'm not very concerned about our QB situation as Gaston Moore looks like he could come in and have success if Joe and Nico went down. Four true freshmen WRs could be a problem. I cannot understand why more skilled talent wouldn't jump at the opportunity to showcase their skills in CJH's high-powered offense. Even with CJH and company going after high character young men, I think we should have more. I understand the lure of Alabama and I understand their numbers; however, I find it crazy to be behind SCar. Any ideas VolNation? I'll link the scholarship info below if you wanna look at it yourself.

Tennessee 2023 Football ScholarshipDistribution
Alabama 2023 Football ScholarshipDistribution
South Carolina 2023 Football ScholarshipDistribution

We will be fine at WR, we are taking atleast 4 this class. We will take 2 QB's in 2025. 2 Scholls QB's is a little more worrisome, but Moore looked like he could be a solid #3. Next year will be more concerning, depending on if Nico has to play much this year. If Nico doesn't get many reps, then next season we have 2 QB's with no college starts. Could possibly go the Transfer portal route next year just to add some depth. This year could get dicey if Milton was to go down. We would be one ankle getting rolled up from having to play a walkon QB.

 

[butchna]

We will be fine at WR, we are taking atleast 4 this class. We will take 2 QB's in 2025. 2 Scholls QB's is a little more worrisome, but Moore looked like he could be a solid #3. Next year will be more concerning, depending on if Nico has to play much this year. If Nico doesn't get many reps, then next season we have 2 QB's with no college starts. Could possibly go the Transfer portal route next year just to add some depth. This year could get dicey if Milton was to go down. We would be one ankle getting rolled up from having to play a walkon QB.

That’s why Nico will get all available reps this season…running the full offense. Better a more prepared starter next season than a nominal redshirt to preserve a season he won’t use anyway.

 

[keenobserver]

Moving forward, one would imagine having a good backup QB with playing experience (like we had last season) will be rare. More often than not, those guys can just go start at another P5 school. I'm happy with our two, and confident in G. Moore as an Emergency QB.

Our receiver group will be among the best in the country again, so I'm not worried there either.

With this said, I'm probably in the minority that isn't sold on Milton producing like Hooker, but I think we're capable of being better in the running game and (fingers ).....defensively. I believe this can result in us being at least as good as last season.

 

[HiltonHeadVol]

Florida doesn't have a qb, wr, or a head coach. So I think we are looking better and better.

I know no one wants to discuss this.....but in my honest opinion, B Napier came into Knoxville last year and coached one hellava game against us. It seemed every one of his gambles paid off and he had the Gators within one deepball pass at the end of ruining our entire year. That last play was a huge turning point in our season and would have been a devastating loss had it happened. Yes, Fla got a big break on the onside kick but, give em credit - they executed it perfectly. I think some of the younger Volfans just dont realize how close we were to drifting backward with that game last year. This year in Gainesville will be a tall order, believe me.

 

[Rememberthelate90s]

I know no one wants to discuss this.....but in my honest opinion, B Napier came into Knoxville last year and coached one hellava game against us. It seemed every one of his gambles paid off and he had the Gators within one deepball pass at the end of ruining our entire year. That last play was a huge turning point in our season and would have been a devastating loss had it happened. Yes, Fla got a big break on the onside kick but, give em credit - they executed it perfectly. I think some of the younger Volfans just dont realize how close we were to drifting backward with that game last year. This year in Gainesville will be a tall order, believe me.

See I think he played his way out of a game. I mean the two point conversion for no reason. I love he said his sheet was you do that if you for the win. But it cost him a loss. I loved that his choices cost them. Normally that's our guy. Their recruits won't stick either when they see how bad they are this year.