So...what seniors do we lose?

[CAVPUT]

And this place will be discussing short lists with that record or worse. 2022 was the worst thing that could have happened to Heupel. He needed the order of the last two seasons switched so next year could be the obvious rebuild. At 7-5 or 6-6 it’s going to look like 2022 was a fluke with cornbreads leftovers.

Wouldn't call it a fluke so much as great timing and a perfect match between Heupel's system and Pruitt's recruits. It's all about the roster/experience next season. In 2022, we had tremendous talent at many of the most important positions on the field AND it was loaded with experience. Next year, we will likely be more athletic and talented, but the maturity/experience won't be there. On top of that, we were given a killer schedule for Nico to debut against. Even the preseason "cupcakes" are gone. We play some solid opponents in advance of our conference gauntlet. There's going to be a learning curve and several bumps along the way. I can actually see 6 wins if we don't do well in the portal. Once we have a roster filled with Heupel's kids, that's when his clock starts ticking for real. Right now his roster has glaring holes in it due in no small part to the NCAA crap Pruitt left us with. That alone give him a pass with me.

 

[pimo1]

I have been to the major draft projection sites. There are only three Vols that look to be realistically drafted. I can easily see more than half of this list returning to increase their chances of success in the NFL.

EDIT: Here is a link that shows the Vols and draft ranking. Remember, there were only 259 picks in the 2023 NFL draft. Undrafted free agents sometimes do well, but you have much greater odds if drafted.

Tennessee Volunteers NFL DRAFT 2025 Prospects

Tennessee Volunteers Prospect rankings and projections for the NFL Draft

www.nfldraftbuzz.com

Also take it with a big grain of salt.. if you look at the 2023 and 2033 ranking you can see they were way off on the orders. then again they have Lyn-Dixon on here so this must be well over a year old. He left the team in August of 22 iirc.

 

[livefaith]

Reading about how few NFL draft picks are actually pacing our sidelines right next to the next threads saying That Coach A or B or C, because Bama Mizz UF beats us. Geeesh folks, we still are digging out of that decade and ½ of decay. Here's hoping Josh & Co can hit the elite classes now.

 

[CAVPUT]

Reading about how few NFL draft picks are actually pacing our sidelines right next to the next threads saying That Coach A or B or C, because Bama Mizz UF beats us. Geeesh folks, we still are digging out of that decade and ½ of decay. Here's hoping Josh & Co can hit the elite classes now.

Yep. When that NCAA deal broke and Pruitt went down, we lost a ton of talent and saw a recruiting class get nuked. Created a huge gap in our roster. While I have serious concerns about Heupel and this staff, they really do need another 2 classes to flip this roster and get the kind of depth needed to compete in this league. Once the roster is flipped, we'll have a much better handle on what Heupel really will do here.

 

[cgrish]

Wouldn't call it a fluke so much as great timing and a perfect match between Heupel's system and Pruitt's recruits. It's all about the roster/experience next season. In 2022, we had tremendous talent at many of the most important positions on the field AND it was loaded with experience. Next year, we will likely be more athletic and talented, but the maturity/experience won't be there. On top of that, we were given a killer schedule for Nico to debut against. Even the preseason "cupcakes" are gone. We play some solid opponents in advance of our conference gauntlet. There's going to be a learning curve and several bumps along the way. I can actually see 6 wins if we don't do well in the portal. Once we have a roster filled with Heupel's kids, that's when his clock starts ticking for real. Right now his roster has glaring holes in it due in no small part to the NCAA crap Pruitt left us with. That alone give him a pass with me.

Thats just this coming year and one more with all Hype recruits. So if he has recruited well we should do better this next year than this year. And for sure have a good year two years from now, if not we are in trouble.

 

[BACKDOC]

Tennessee has approximately 15-20 seniors who could use a COVID year and return for another season and that obviously could dramatically change the outlook of this team, especially considering how many guys are eligible to return in the line of scrimmage.

The list:

John Campbell
Cooper Mays
Javontez Spraggins
Gerald Mincey
Dayne Davis
Jackson Lampley
Jabari Small
Bru McCoy
Tyler Baron
Omari Thomas
Elijah Simmons
Omar Norman Lott
Bryson Eason
Keenan Pili
Tamarion McDonald
Warren Burrell
Brandon Turnage
Doneiko Slaughter
Wesley Walker
Gabe Jeudy-Lally

The timing of the decision making process for that group will be really interesting because most want to get their draft grade first, which normally comes back around national signing day in December. That’s also right in the middle of the portal window as well. So the numbers thing combined with the timing is interesting for sure.

Many of you have asked about Keenan Pili and whether or not he would come back. He’s definitely considering it. He obviously is in a different place at his age and being married. It’s not just a decision for Pili but for his wife also. So don’t look for a quick decision there.

Bru McCoy has gotten all of his staples out of his leg. McCoy is rehabbing 2-3 hours a day following ankle surgery. McCoy isn’t walking or putting weight on the ankle at this point, so his rehab timeline is going to be interesting to see as his NFL draft decision will be looming in January.

The date for declaring this year is January 15th.

-VQ

Like I've said before, I think we can come up with some NIL to keep Pili.

 

[VOLfrombama]

Like I've said before, I think we can come up with some NIL to keep Pili.

Unfortunately, that’s going to be up to the NCAA. But I agree I’m sure he can get some $NIL if he does come back.

 

[aRmo]

We'll be a better team next year.

With or without the portal.

This is a very average senior led team.
3 times this season they've gotten pasted. Not supposed to happen to a veteran team...

we will go 7-5 next year.

 

[CNeagleVolFan]

Unfortunately, that’s going to be up to the NCAA. But I agree I’m sure he can get some $NIL if he does come back.

I heard he could come back if he wanted to. He had one more year of eligibility and this year doesn’t go towards than, I don’t think, so he can play one more year IF he wants to.

 

[Snapper58]

Due to Sanctions, 83 is the roster number for 2024.

If 8 of the 15 seniors return and all other underclassmen return that will be 61 players returning. If all 20 of the committed players sign, that will be roster size of 81

Obviously, Tennessee is still recruiting and expects to get 4-7 more commitments. Also, they are hoping to hit the portal heavy.

As you can tell, there is going to have to be significant attrition out of underclassmen.

Some can come back and like JJJ in basketball, they can use NIL money to pay for school.

 

[CAVPUT]

we will go 7-5 next year.

About right.....unless Heupel works the portal like FSU did this last off season.

 

[VOLfrombama]

I heard he could come back if he wanted to. He had one more year of eligibility and this year doesn’t go towards than, I don’t think, so he can play one more year IF he wants to.

It's definitely a weird situation. Without counting his covid year, he has played 4 years, with a 5th redshirt season too. So the NCAA would count 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and then 2024. So if he comes back in 24, it would actually be his 5th counted season of eligibility (7th total in college if you count 2016 RS year and 2020 COVID year). I always assumed he would need a Medical Redshirt from the AA, but I'm not sure now what he has to do. So your source could be right.

from UTSPORTS.com​

2023 – RS-SENIOR (FIFTH YEAR)​

Expected to miss multiple weeks after sustaining an injury in the 2023 season opener ... Missed Week 2 due to injury but served as one of four team captains vs. Austin Peay (9/9) ... Started at linebacker in his UT debut vs. Virginia (9/2), playing 29 snaps and recording four total tackles.

2022 – RS-SENIOR (BYU)​

A team captain who finished the season as the Cougars’ second-leading tackler with 62 stops – 29 solo – with four tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … Started all 12 of the games he played in at middle linebacker … Did not play in the New Mexico Bowl vs. SMU … Had a season-high eight tackles – five solo - at Liberty (10/22) … Delivered a tackle for loss in games vs. Boise State (11/5) and Utah Tech (11/19) … Solid outing in win vs. Baylor with six tackles, including 1.5 for loss.

2021 – RS-JUNIOR (BYU)​

A team captain who played and started in the first three games of the season before suffering a season-ending ACL injury during the Cougars’ 27-17 win over Arizona State (9/18) … Tallied 31 tackles – 14 solo – with 3.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks … Recorded a career-high 17 tackles (10 solo, seven assist), including a tackle-for-loss in 24-16 season-opening win over Arizona at Allegiant Stadium (9/4).

2020 – RS-SOPHOMORE (BYU)​

A second team All-Independent performer in 2020, leading the BYU defense during an 11-win season culminating with a victory in the Boca Raton Bowl where he was named the defensive MVP … Played in 10 games and started eight at middle linebacker … Ranked second on the team with 72 tackles, including 35 of the solo variety … Logged nine tackles in a Boca Raton Bowl win vs. UCF, which was coached by Josh Heupel (12/20) … Also had nine tackles apiece in contests vs. Troy (9/26), Boise State (11/6), Coastal Carolina (12/5) and San Diego State (12/12).

2019 – RS-FRESHMAN (BYU)​

Played in 11 games with two starts at linebacker … Totaled 25 tackles – 17 solo – with 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack and two pass breakups … Started vs. USC (9/14) and in the season opener vs. Utah (8/29) … Collected two tackles in road win at Tennessee (9/7) … Notched a season-best five tackles at UMass (11/23) … Had four tackles and a sack vs. Liberty (11/9).

2016 – FRESHMAN (BYU)​

Redshirted as a true freshman in 2016 before serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Orlando, Florida from 2017-19.

 

[derekg_05]

Who will be leaving the program at the end of this season?

I searched, and couldn't find this question, sorry if it's a duplicate thread.

 

[hardyemt_p]

Just heard Milton was granted a 7th year. So we're good a QB next year

 

[Other_Guy]

Hopefully most of them

 

[TheVolunteer002]

If they don't hit the portal hard, and I mean  really hard, then I'm not sure we don't have a worse year next year. I don't see the play makers.

 

[AustinMem]

Yep. When that NCAA deal broke and Pruitt went down, we lost a ton of talent and saw a recruiting class get nuked. Created a huge gap in our roster. While I have serious concerns about Heupel and this staff, they really do need another 2 classes to flip this roster and get the kind of depth needed to compete in this league. Once the roster is flipped, we'll have a much better handle on what Heupel really will do here.

I would say the same. Its still frustrating to watch this year, because it does feel the team is under-performing. If Heupel can keep us an 8 win team for the next 2 years, I will at least be satisfied that the floor has been raised some from the recent past. Next year will be bad, but I am hopeful that come 2025, things will be figured out and clicking.

 

[AustinMem]

If they don't hit the portal hard, and I mean  really hard, then I'm not sure we don't have a worse year next year. I don't see the play makers.

There are some good Freshmen redshirting or hurt, but yea, the OL especially is going to be bad unless there is some portal help. OL is one of those positions that freshmen are less able to come in and shine, but there are a few good commits there as well.