Thoughts about where we could end up with Recruiting

#51
#51
Voltopia said:
If we finish in the Top 5, especially with how monster some of those other classes are shaping up, I've got to call that an amazing first year of recruiting for Butch and Tennessee!
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Actually, I would consider this past winter his first year of recruiting. While many of the recruits came on board or were being pursued during the Dooley era, a lot of them stayed on afterwards resulting in our #21 finish which was pretty good considering the state the program was in. And a few of those have already become play makers this year.
 
#52
#52
Boca Vol said:
Uh, let's turn the page to something more relevant...like this season.
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You're right, nothing about Bryce Brown's first year in the NFL is relevant to the discussion about Bryce Brown's first year at Tennessee.
 
#53
#53
crusse10 said:
To be fair, he was successful in the time he was here. He had a respectable YPC even though he played through injuries all season.
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In SEC play:

Florida 8-21
Auburn 3-14
UGA 9-21
Bama 11-35
USCe 9-60
Miss 6-34
Vandy 6-18
UK 3-8

Total 55 - 211 3.84 ypc 1 TD

Then, he went to K State and got beat out by an okay 5'7", 180 pound sophomore. The guy is a solid pro HB but I can't fathom how you can see that as a successful season at UT, particularly when you consider he was a #1 overall recruit. It was average at best.
 
#54
#54
Smokefatty said:
In SEC play:

Florida 8-21
Auburn 3-14
UGA 9-21
Bama 11-35
USCe 9-60
Miss 6-34
Vandy 6-18
UK 3-8

Total 55 - 211 3.84 ypc 1 TD

Then, he went to K State and got beat out by an okay 5'7", 180 pound sophomore. The guy is a solid pro HB but I can't fathom how you can see that as a successful season at UT, particularly when you consider he was a #1 overall recruit. It was average at best.
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With an injury as the backup in his first year in the SEC, I'd say that's what's expected. The KState anomaly is because he had no heart or care to even play there. Hell most of his weekends he spent here anyway. He wanted to be at Tennessee, and he'd have thrived at Tennessee.

You also have to take into account the makeshift offensive (and they certainly were offensive) line in 2009 with twin 250lb interior linemen. Hardesty, the senior 2nd rounder, averaged a whopping 1 yard more per carry on the season.
 
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#55
#55
crusse10 said:
With an injury as the backup in his first year in the SEC, I'd say that's what's expected. The KState anomaly is because he had no heart or care to even play there. Hell most of his weekends he spent here anyway. He wanted to be at Tennessee, and he'd have thrived at Tennessee.

You also have to take into account the makeshift offensive (and they certainly were offensive) line in 2009 with twin 250lb interior linemen. Hardesty, the senior 2nd rounder, averaged a whopping 1 yard more per carry on the season.
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So, you're saying Hardesty was 25% more effective while taking the bulk of the carries. That's a pretty big difference. The change-of-pace guy isn't supposed to be a drop-off in ypc (usually has a higher ypc actually). It's also relevant that there were 5 or 6 Freshman backs in the SEC that year that were better than Bryce Brown. Average at best.

I agree on K State, but I think it applied to his time at UT also. I think he thought he could excel at this level on talent alone and found out that wasn't the case in a hurry.
 
#56
#56
Smokefatty said:
So, you're saying Hardesty was 25% more effective while taking the bulk of the carries. That's a pretty big difference. The change-of-pace guy isn't supposed to be a drop-off in ypc (usually has a higher ypc actually). It's also relevant that there were 5 or 6 Freshman backs in the SEC that year that were better than Bryce Brown. Average at best.

I agree on K State, but I think it applied to his time at UT also. I think he thought he could excel at this level on talent alone and found out that wasn't the case in a hurry.
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They also played healthy. That's a major difference.

Also, Brown wasn't a change of pace. He was a speller. Oku was a change of pace.
 
#57
#57
crusse10 said:
They also played healthy. That's a major difference.

Also, Brown wasn't a change of pace. He was a speller. Oku was a change of pace.
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Now it's really sounding like a bunch of excuses. Every RB in the SEC fights through injuries. It's not a good sign when Vandy has 2 freshman RBs better than your #1 overall guy. Brown did just fine for a freshman if he was a middle-of-the-pack recruit, but that's not how he was billed coming in here.
 
#58
#58
Smokefatty said:
Now it's really sounding like a bunch of excuses. Every RB in the SEC fights through injuries. It's not a good sign when Vandy has 2 freshman RBs better than your #1 overall guy. Brown did just fine for a freshman if he was a middle-of-the-pack recruit, but that's not how he was billed coming in here.
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Based on his production when he's started in the NFL, he's plenty talented when healthy.
 
#59
#59
The overall rank of the class isn't important IMO. What matters is that the needs of the team are met with big time SEC caliber players. It looks like that is exactly what CBJ is doing.
 
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#60
#60
crusse10 said:
Based on his production when he's started in the NFL, he's plenty talented when healthy.
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I agree that he looks great in the NFL. Not sure that is attributable to his health. Just as likely due to a change in his priorities and focus.
 
#61
#61
brianlsanders said:
A top 10 caliber class is really all you want. The difference between the #10 class and the #3 class is minimal. If you consistently pull top 10 classes you will be competing for Titles.

That being said, I would love to finish top 5 just for the publicity.
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This. Back to back top 10 classes and 6-6 is success for Butch in 2013-2014. Any signature wins during that time area bonus.
 
#63
#63
deaconkane said:
Alot of the top 15 teams only has 14-17 commits... We will be jumped out of top 5.. jmo
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I doubt it. IIRC Rivals counts the top 20 recruits in their formula which may have changed IDK I don't follow as much as I did two years ago. Several targets that we are in good shape with are four star recruits also so likely we finish with a better overall score than what we are currently at.

There are a few teams that could jump us but IDK that it's enough to knock us out of the top 5. Wondering if OSU is still on any kind of restrictions as far as scholarships?
 
#65
#65
crusse10 said:
To be fair, he was successful in the time he was here. He had a respectable YPC even though he played through injuries all season.
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No, mostly invisible while here....

460 yds rushing 4.5 ypc 3 tds
10 rec 137 yds 1td

That's just not successful... especially if you're considered the #1 recruit in the country.
 
#66
#66
If we can sign the players we have currently verbally committed, add Malone, Berry twins, Hendrix, Mosley, I won't care where our ranking ends up. It will be an incredibly successful haul based on improving team athletic ability, team speed and successfully meeting positional needs.

If we somehow land either or both of Jackson and Garrett in addition to those guys, it'll be a top 3 class and absolutely historic for UT.
 
#68
#68
KBVol said:
If we can sign the players we have currently verbally committed, add Malone, Berry twins, Hendrix, Mosley, I won't care where our ranking ends up. It will be an incredibly successful haul based on improving team athletic ability, team speed and successfully meeting positional needs.

If we somehow land either or both of Jackson and Garrett in addition to those guys, it'll be a top 3 class and absolutely historic for UT.
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Not to mention where we were exactly one year ago as a program. When Phil was bringing in classes of this caliber, we were a top 10 program on our way up to bigger and better things.
 
#69
#69
Bet we flip a few! Either way, its great progress from where we have been the last few. #3 or #4 is my guess. We are on our way. Go Butch! Go Vols!
 
#70
#70
If we land garret, mosley, malone, berry 2x, hendrix, and either adoree, or the other big names we land 2-4
 
#71
#71
utvols74 said:
I just hope the "heralded recruits" live up to their billing. We've had our share of 5* busts. If the 4-5* live up to expectations and CBJ can "coach up" some 3*s, then I like very much our chances as long as everyone pays attention to fundamentals and plays like a team.

Speaking of which, and this is just my opinion, I wish for at least one season (team 118?) that they'd take the names off the backs of jerseys. Most avid football fans know who they are anyway. I think this promotes team play at the expense of individualism.
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I like the idea actually. I would go for every players name being replaced with "Tennessee" or "Volunteer". The army and navy do something similar and Ive always liked that.
 
#72
#72
KBVol said:
No, mostly invisible while here....

460 yds rushing 4.5 ypc 3 tds
10 rec 137 yds 1td

That's just not successful... especially if you're considered the #1 recruit in the country.
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Do you realize that he had a higher YPC and more TDs in his injury-plagued freshman year than Arian Foster as a senior?
 
#74
#74
If we win out the rest of the season and the bowl game that follows, then hell yes we are top 5 in recruiting. To go from 3 straight 5-7 teams to 8-4 in your first year with a team this young is damn impressive in my book. Turning a team around like that will generate buzz and get recruits. The people who might have been hesitant about coming to Tennessee for a visit would absolutely give us a serious look after something like that.

Even if we go 7-5 and win the bowl game we would have a shot at top 5 class.
 
#75
#75
More concerned about the "star" avg than their whole class rankings. UT is currently 8th. UT is typically around 3.4 stars on avg. Right now they have 3.54. Rivals has two guys at 2* that should probably be 3*... that will help some.
 
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