Star Watching (merged)

#1
Sabanocchio

Sabanocchio

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Jul 11, 2007
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#1
But the caliber of players we have recruited up to this point is very disappointing. Some of these guys will undoubtedly end up All-SEC type players, but your odds are much better with better rated talent.

I understand it's a process, but if Kiffin was able to convince high-profile kids to come to UT then we already know it is possible. Unless this recruiting class takes a real turn, it appears that we will be forced to rely on under-vauled players to build our future team upon and please do not delude yourself, that will make it nigh impossible to compete with the Floridas and Alabamas.

This is not an evaluation of our coaching or recruiting abilities, merely a sobering examination of where we are as a program right now.
 
#4
#4
Sabanocchio said:
But the caliber of players we have recruited up to this point is very disappointing. Some of these guys will undoubtedly end up All-SEC type players, but your odds are much better with better rated talent.

I understand it's a process, but if Kiffin was able to convince high-profile kids to come to UT then we already know it is possible. Unless this recruiting class takes a real turn, it appears that we will be forced to rely on under-vauled players to build our future team upon and please do not delude yourself, that will make it nigh impossible to compete with the Floridas and Alabamas.

This is not an evaluation of our coaching or recruiting abilities, merely a sobering examination of where we are as a program right now.
Click to expand...

Hope no felt that this staff was up to the previous staff as far as recruiting capabilities and experience? Look at backgrounds and see the difference real quick...

this current staff doesn't have that over the staff that CLK replaced either.. It will take time to assess this staffs capabilities. Likely more than a class or two.
 
#5
#5
In regards to the newest commit...Saulsberry made second team all-state in 4-A competition...4-Star Giorgio Newberry made third team behind Saulsberry.
 
#6
#6
Well, wasn't it said earlier that Dooley doesn't want a commitment from a kid unless that kid is 100% sure that he wants to attend UT? I'd say that if Dooley was more of a Riverboat Gambler instead of a slowhand we might have more stars on the board.

I have to think that Dooley is getting a solid base and then we'll focus on the high talent guys that are, lets face it, pure luxury items for us at this point.
 
#8
#8
UTVOL02 said:
In regards to the newest commit...Saulsberry made second team all-state in 4-A competition...4-Star Giorgio Newberry made third team behind Saulsberry.
Click to expand...

And no one who is anybody wants him.

You guys can spout off any statistics you want but you can look at an offer list and tell a helluva lot about a prospect.

Some of our commitments have offer lists belying their star rating and that's great. Most pretty accurately reflect them.

I've said my piece. I'll let the excuse-makers continue to fill the discussion with reasons we should all feel warm and fuzzy.
 
#10
#10
DC Vol said:
Well, wasn't it said earlier that Dooley doesn't want a commitment from a kid unless that kid is 100% sure that he wants to attend UT? I'd say that if Dooley was more of a Riverboat Gambler instead of a slowhand we might have more stars on the board.

I have to think that Dooley is getting a solid base and then we'll focus on the high talent guys that are, lets face it, pure luxury items for us at this point.
Click to expand...

That's the way Chizik recruited last year and it worked out well for Auburn.
 
#11
#11
Sabanocchio said:
And no one who is anybody wants him.

You guys can spout off any statistics you want but you can look at an offer list and tell a helluva lot about a prospect.

Some of our commitments have offer lists belying their star rating and that's great. Most pretty accurately reflect them.
Click to expand...

I was merely pointing out that our newest commit made 2nd team in 4A ahead of a top 100 player on rivals. Nothing more, nothing less.
 
#12
#12
UTVOL02 said:
In regards to the newest commit...Saulsberry made second team all-state in 4-A competition...4-Star Giorgio Newberry made third team behind Saulsberry.
Click to expand...

Doesn't mean anything. There are a lot of all-state players up here in Ohio every year that don't get a single D-1 scholarship offer.
 
#14
#14
LWSVOL said:
Hope no felt that this staff was up to the previous staff as far as recruiting capabilities and experience? Look at backgrounds and see the difference real quick...

this current staff doesn't have that over the staff that CLK replaced either.. It will take time to assess this staffs capabilities. Likely more than a class or two.
Click to expand...

I disagree. I feel that this staff is perfectly capable of recruiting top-tier talent to Tennessee. They showed it in their short time with the last class and continue to show it if only in numbers this season. I think part of the problem is in the plan that is being executed. I do not think we are swinging for the fences such as we did last year. We are settling way too much because of the situation we are in and the sheer numbers we need to have at certain positions.
 
#15
#15
Sabanocchio said:
But the caliber of players we have recruited up to this point is very disappointing. Some of these guys will undoubtedly end up All-SEC type players, but your odds are much better with better rated talent.

I understand it's a process, but if Kiffin was able to convince high-profile kids to come to UT then we already know it is possible. Unless this recruiting class takes a real turn, it appears that we will be forced to rely on under-vauled players to build our future team upon and please do not delude yourself, that will make it nigh impossible to compete with the Floridas and Alabamas.

This is not an evaluation of our coaching or recruiting abilities, merely a sobering examination of where we are as a program right now.
Click to expand...

I agree with everything you said. People can believe whatever they want right now and make any kind of excuses they feel necessary. The bottom line is as of right now with 40% of the class in the fold this is a Vanderbilt / Kentucky type of recruiting class.
 
#16
#16
this just in.. rivals doesnt get them all right. dude is 6-4 250 in high school, i dont care if he has no stars he will be just fine once chuck coaches him up.
 
#18
#18
I think it's just going to take a full season for elite prospects, especially on defense, to get a handle on things in regards to this staff. Plus, with the influx of coaching staffs, that probably scares some of the elite talent in the first place. This class will be in the 8-12 range in the end though, which is perfectly acceptable. If it's not at 15 or above, then we may have a little cause for concern, but I still think it's WAY to early for people to write off this staff as incapable. By the 2012 season, we should be poised to start at or near #25 in the nation preseason.
 
#19
#19
Also, I think the star argument is a weak one in July/August. Let's have this same argument in January/February, and see if we see the same as we do now.
 
#20
#20
I think by Feb. We hold our average of 3.44 stars. I don't see it slipping lower. We only had 1 five star last year.

Do we need to do better to compete. In all honesty the only way to that open that door is to win with what we have. It is a paradoxical truth.
 
#21
#21
Sab, hate to be the one to say this but couldnt we agree that UT would be under investigation with Kiffin and his antics?
 
#22
#22
Dudleys87 said:
Sab, hate to be the one to say this but couldnt we agree that UT would be under investigation with Kiffin and his antics?
Click to expand...

By 2012, I think that is a strong possibility. Thank goodness we will never know though, because I'm really happy it didn't come to that.
 
#23
#23
Offer lists are important. No question about it. The next class is always the most important class.

I do think that Dooley is trying to stabilize the attrition. There is merit to that. The way we are beefing up right now this class will be impossible to rate for a few years. Overall, bigger names with bigger offer lists will be necessary in order for Dooley to maintain his employment status with UT.
 
#24
#24
Just what we needed: Another thread so we can argue about stars! Thanks Sab! :crazy:

Most of VN recruiting threads have now become pointless arguments about stars. What a waste! :no: I can't wait until we have real football games to discuss.
 
#25
#25
g8terh8ter_eric said:
Also, I think the star argument is a weak one in July/August. Let's have this same argument in January/February, and see if we see the same as we do now.
Click to expand...

It's not an argument. It's an observation.

Early returns are a good indicator of where you will end up and I'm not even talking about stars here. I'm talking about the caliber of athletes we have committing up to this point. There is no argument there. You are either coveted by big-time programs or you are not.
 
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