Starting oline in 2025.

[volmandu]

LJ won’t start over Sanders. If he does, we have problems.

I do not think Sanders will be ready day 1 .. Warren and LJ III will be ahead of him in my opinion .. I really like LJ and think he will be a good OL for us ..

 

[VFL9798]

So what I’m seeing is that we better hope no one on the OLine gets hurt because we have no depth and some of our starters are hardly capable. Heard had a terrible season, Sanders is a freshman so expect him to have his learning mistakes, Satterwhate is unproven and has no experience… We are in deep trouble if we can’t block for Nico. Also throw in that we have young Running backs and Wide receivers. Next year could be a “rebuilding year”

 

[farmdogvol]

Not sure if I am right but didn't CJH come in Jan of 21? The class was already signed by Pruitt-not CJH picks and then he lost LOTS of talent that transferred out.
He just finished his 4th recruiting class(22,23,24,25) and each year it's gotten better. If we made it to the playoffs with "less talent", can we assume that we'll get better as we get better guys? It's trending way up!

Yes CJH has had only 4 classes and the 1st, '22 was heavy on defense. That was seen in the depth on D-line this year.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

David Sanders is a day 1 snap 1 starter. Not sure where, but he’s starting.

We don’t know that. Offensive linemen probably come in and start as freshmen less often than any other position. And this staff has not shown much willingness to start true freshmen from Day 1.

 

[vol94]

I'm actually not. In fact my expectations for this year were met: 10 regular season wins, W against FL, and a W against AL. That being said, after watching the entire season play out I see some troubling things for next year: CJH's offense is going in the wrong direction, and are his recruits being developed at a high enough level? My expectations moving forward is to play for and win the sec and national championship. I hope more fans have my expectations than yours.

I share your expectations. There is not one reason TN cannot compete for championships. We have NIL $$, one of the highest recruiting budgets, elite facilities, over 100k in attendance, play in the SEC, and an avid fan base. Plus Knoxville is a great city with a population beyond the university.

So it comes down to the coaching staff and developing the roster.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I think it’s impossible to predict the starting OL. Why? Spring portal could see us get multiple OL maybe. And who knows? Maybe an OSU or ND no OL hits the portal and comes here.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

You are exactly right. Year five, no excuses; especially with the Portal. You can retool half your team every year if necessary.

We are still under scholarship restrictions. Can’t just load up in the portal like everyone else. Although I will say this should be the make or break year for Elarbee.

 

[They]

Barring an injury to the 2nd highest paid recruit in Tennessee football history…. He will be starting snap 1 of 2025-2026, I’m shocked that this is a hot take.

 

[Golfprovol]

Why so upset over another’s opinion? Am I missing something?

What gives you the idea I am upset? I just wanted to know whether or not the posters opinions are based in reality or if he was one of those who will never be satisfied. We were a top 10 team, broke records rushing the ball, have depth at positions we haven't had in years. And he hasn't seen the OL for next year perform yet.

Kind of like the people who bashed CJH for the secondary last year, and it turned out to be a lot better than people thought this year.

Let's me know whether or not to even read his posts in the future.

 

[Golfprovol]

I share your expectations. There is not one reason TN cannot compete for championships. We have NIL $$, one of the highest recruiting budgets, elite facilities, over 100k in attendance, play in the SEC, and an avid fan base. Plus Knoxville is a great city with a population beyond the university.

So it comes down to the coaching staff and developing the roster.

You know we just did compete for championships right? We were in the SEC race until the last week and made the playoffs.....

 

[vol94]

You know we just did compete for championships right? We were in the SEC race until the last week and made the playoffs.....

You may want to go back and read my post. I agreed with the poster and his expectations. Nothing was said about 2024.

As far as 2024, we were in the playoffs but manhandled at State. And that is a common them the last few yrs on the road. We did make strides though by winning at Oklahoma and I love the fact we beat FL and Bama at home win 2022 and 2024. Not it is time to take the next step. Same as the business world, the program must improve yr over yr.

 

[vol94]

What gives you the idea I am upset? I just wanted to know whether or not the posters opinions are based in reality or if he was one of those who will never be satisfied. We were a top 10 team, broke records rushing the ball, have depth at positions we haven't had in years. And he hasn't seen the OL for next year perform yet.

Kind of like the people who bashed CJH for the secondary last year, and it turned out to be a lot better than people thought this year.

Let's me know whether or not to even read his posts in the future.

Fair enough. My apologies if I read tone.

Edit- but telling someone to relax for posting a comment that was a factual statement? A coach in yr five should have a strong o line ready to play. And maybe we will.

 

[VolInNW]

Heupel needs to re-evaluate his position of not replacing coaches. As far as I can tell, the current staff has whifed completely on developing OL talent. We have coasted on Slingblade's players. I respect friendships and all, and it's great to hook buddies up with high 6, low 7 figure jobs, but Josh needs to realize his coaches have GOT to produce.

This kinda reminds me of the later Fulmer years when we suddenly had loads of 4 stars and 5 stars who mysteriously 'failed to develop'

Time will tell. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Golfprovol]

You may want to go back and read my post. I agreed with the poster and his expectations. Nothing was said about 2024.

As far as 2024, we were in the playoffs but manhandled at State. And that is a common them the last few yrs on the road. We did make strides though by winning at Oklahoma and I love the fact we beat FL and Bama at home win 2022 and 2024. Not it is time to take the next step. Same as the business world, the program must improve yr over yr.

True, although OSU manhandled has everyone so far and probably ND

 

[Golfprovol]

Fair enough. My apologies if I read tone.

Edit- but telling someone to relax for posting a comment. And his-her comment wasn’t over the top with negativity

Was meant more of "we are ok....relax about the future" than being negative

 

[vol94]

Was meant more of "we are ok....relax about the future" than being negative

Gotcha

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

I'm actually not. In fact my expectations for this year were met: 10 regular season wins, W against FL, and a W against AL. That being said, after watching the entire season play out I see some troubling things for next year: CJH's offense is going in the wrong direction, and are his recruits being developed at a high enough level? My expectations moving forward is to play for and win the sec and national championship. I hope more fans have my expectations than yours.

So despite the ACTUAL trend line and the fact the most current datapoint is a slot in the playoffs, we are supposed to allow you to justify your amateur Kreskin feelies to prognosticate a near term demise without challenging your position or your motivation to make it?

 

[Chitlin&theDude]

What gives you the idea I am upset? I just wanted to know whether or not the posters opinions are based in reality or if he was one of those who will never be satisfied. We were a top 10 team, broke records rushing the ball, have depth at positions we haven't had in years. And he hasn't seen the OL for next year perform yet.

Kind of like the people who bashed CJH for the secondary last year, and it turned out to be a lot better than people thought this year.

Let's me know whether or not to even read his posts in the future.

I told you my expectations and happy to expand on them. I'm curious. What are your expectations? Next year- is it ok to lose to FL? How about Bama? In year 5 is 8-4 good enough? How about GA? Should we ever expect to beat them?

 

[JohnWardForever]

We are still under scholarship restrictions. Can’t just load up in the portal like everyone else. Although I will say this should be the make or break year for Elarbee.

Not that many scholarship reductions. You just have to pony up and pay the RIGHT transfers. Ala Rick Barnes.

 

[KTrain]

We don’t know that. Offensive linemen probably come in and start as freshmen less often than any other position. And this staff has not shown much willingness to start true freshmen from Day 1.

Very few True Freshmen 18 year old start from day one. I remember early 2000s Munoz son of NFL legend Anthony and he gave up a lot of sacks his freshman year and ended up being 2nd team All SEC as RS Senior. I think he never played in NFL. He would be considered an average SEC O-Lineman with a great blood line looking back.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Very few True Freshmen 18 year old start from day one. I remember early 2000s Munoz son of NFL legend Anthony and he gave up a lot of sacks his freshman year and ended up being 2nd team All SEC as RS Senior. I think he never played in NFL. He would be considered an average SEC O-Lineman with a great blood line looking back.

Injuries kind of derailed him. I think he would have been very good if he stayed healthy.

 

[Iravolfan]

I’m just concerned about Development on OL. Got several highly rank prospects the last couple of recruiting classes. Umarov , Warren and Max Anderson . JMO