'24 Transfer Portal

[Checker_the_Shire]

I wasn’t asleep. Extremely few from that class are still around. Believe it or not, we’ve had 3 full seasons since then. With the Transfer portal and no limits to how many you can sign (aside from scholarship reductions from ncaa - which are minimal), it’s not unreasonable to expect the roster to be flipped and the caliber of player to be entirely different. I do know that as recently as last year there were narratives that the investigation was being used against us. Even huepel himself would say that wasn’t as big an issue as some thought.

Here’s where I’m at: What happened over the last 15 years or even the last 3 doesn’t change the fact that we want to be at the top of the college football world. The administration and coaching staff wants that. The fans want that. We know that top 10-15 talent doesn’t consistently get you there. You need to stack top 5 and top 10 classes together. So the way I see it, there’s no excuses beyond the conclusion of the investigation. And with one of the top NIL collectives, theres no reason we can’t go out and get whoever we want/need from the portal.

So next year, I’m expecting our recruiting to take the next step forward. We need to close a fringe top 5 class, 92+ average in order to continue to build on our momentum and compete with the bamas/ugas/osus. And fair expectation or not in your eyes, we need to be making a splash in the portal THIS AND NEXT year. Why not?? We have a golden opportunity before us. If we don’t have what we need, tell us. The fans and boosters are prepared to launch us to the top. It might still be a couple years before we reach the top, but it starts with recruiting and bringing in the players needed, and there’s no reason that can’t happen right now. And I believe Heupel and staff CAN do it. So yes, if they don’t I’m going to be frustrated and disappointed. Let’s hope they can get the people we need to put a product on the field next year that will convince people we’re going to be on top, and they better get on board now or miss the boat.

Although I see your point and agree with a good bit of it, you make it seem as if money is the main thing we have that should be luring recruits left and right.

Yes that plays a huge role, but you’re leaving out the fact that, with the exception of last year, TN hasn’t been relevant since the mid 2000s. And since 2008, we’ve had 6 head coaches (counting Fulmer and Heupel). And in that run, how many first rounders have we put out? I can think of 2, maybe 3. Now compare that to Bama, UGA, and LSU during the same run, and those are just three of our main SEC recruiting competitors, I’m not even throwing in non-conference teams the big time recruits typically go to.

My main point is this: until you start having consistency and that consistency starts winning and at the same time developing big time Sunday players, the recruits who get us those top 5 recruiting rankings aren’t going to come here just for a wad of cash. The cash may get them in the door, but it’s the results that matter; and right now CJH has us trending upwards, we just gotta give him time to get it where it can be.

 

[Jordan Bone Enthusiast]

Jakobe Thomas visiting this weekend according to VQ. He’s 6’2” safety from MTSU. Just saw an article from 247 where he said Tennessee is his “dream school”. Went to Tullahoma in high school, and went to several UT games from the sound of it. He’s gotten multiple SEC offers too, so he’s a solid prospect. Recorded 71 tackles this past season with one FF and one fumble recovery. No INTs but he had 4 his freshman season. He’s gotten like 120 tackles through 2 seasons at MTSU. If the visit goes well and we want him I can definitely see him being one of our first portal commitments.

Avid MTSU fan. Had multiple Jermey Banks level bone headed penalties. After the play penalty that lost us rhe game vs liberty. Very hard hitter but lowers his head and missed an obscene amount of tackles.

 

[vavolfan6]

Avid MTSU fan. Had multiple Jermey Banks level bone headed penalties. After the play penalty that lost us rhe game vs liberty. Very hard hitter but lowers his head and missed an obscene amount of tackles.

Delete this post now! Otherwise you are about to get bombarded by multiple posters who think this staff can do no wrong and have perfect evaluations for everyone they recruit.

Afterall who are you? Just some guy on an online message board. Get a life! And don't quit your day job to be a scout! How dare you have an opinion!

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I wasn’t asleep. Extremely few from that class are still around. Believe it or not, we’ve had 3 full seasons since then. With the Transfer portal and no limits to how many you can sign (aside from scholarship reductions from ncaa - which are minimal), it’s not unreasonable to expect the roster to be flipped and the caliber of player to be entirely different. I do know that as recently as last year there were narratives that the investigation was being used against us. Even huepel himself would say that wasn’t as big an issue as some thought.

Here’s where I’m at: What happened over the last 15 years or even the last 3 doesn’t change the fact that we want to be at the top of the college football world. The administration and coaching staff wants that. The fans want that. We know that top 10-15 talent doesn’t consistently get you there. You need to stack top 5 and top 10 classes together. So the way I see it, there’s no excuses beyond the conclusion of the investigation. And with one of the top NIL collectives, theres no reason we can’t go out and get whoever we want/need from the portal.

So next year, I’m expecting our recruiting to take the next step forward. We need to close a fringe top 5 class, 92+ average in order to continue to build on our momentum and compete with the bamas/ugas/osus. And fair expectation or not in your eyes, we need to be making a splash in the portal THIS AND NEXT year. Why not?? We have a golden opportunity before us. If we don’t have what we need, tell us. The fans and boosters are prepared to launch us to the top. It might still be a couple years before we reach the top, but it starts with recruiting and bringing in the players needed, and there’s no reason that can’t happen right now. And I believe Heupel and staff CAN do it. So yes, if they don’t I’m going to be frustrated and disappointed. Let’s hope they can get the people we need to put a product on the field next year that will convince people we’re going to be on top, and they better get on board now or miss the boat.


***Here’s one more thought/question that probably no one here has the answer to. I believe Heupel can do it. So what’s it going to take?? Money is important but it’s not the only thing. Jordan Seaton is evidence of that. So what is needed for us to start attracting elite talent in waves??***

Excellent post. I wish everyone would read this.

 

[allvolrecruiting]

Yeh he’s a good player and has been getting offers. Ole Miss, Miss St, Auburn, A&M, Louisville, Oregon State to name a few. Wouldn’t mind getting this one at all.

Bit but I thought we were too good to be taking MTSU players

 

[allvolrecruiting]

Avid MTSU fan. Had multiple Jermey Banks level bone headed penalties. After the play penalty that lost us rhe game vs liberty. Very hard hitter but lowers his head and missed an obscene amount of tackles.

Good to see an “avid MTSU fan” as I have began to keep up with the Blue Raiders seriously within the last 1-2 years. Going to be a fun weekend with Mason bringing in 25 recruits

 

[Carp]

I understand why we're not going after Nolen. The history is bad. I don't understand why we're not pursuing some other high-level guys.

There really isn't any "high level guys" who have produced very much in the portal at positions we have a need at. Aside from the FL edge. Wish would offer him.


We reportedly have or are planning to pursue Kamari Ramsey the top S. And Juice Wells. We've pursued all the best TEs in the portal so far. Reportedly we're it will be in on several top CBs too.

 

[Carp]

I worry about OL after next years class graduates. Need portal linemen bad.

The only portal lineman we might be targeting will be guys with 2-3 years remaining and will who don't mind sitting or being a rotational player. Our OL is basically set now with most every starter coming back.

 

[Adam Sandler]

Although I see your point and agree with a good bit of it, you make it seem as if money is the main thing we have that should be luring recruits left and right.

Yes that plays a huge role, but you’re leaving out the fact that, with the exception of last year, TN hasn’t been relevant since the mid 2000s. And since 2008, we’ve had 6 head coaches (counting Fulmer and Heupel). And in that run, how many first rounders have we put out? I can think of 2, maybe 3. Now compare that to Bama, UGA, and LSU during the same run, and those are just three of our main SEC recruiting competitors, I’m not even throwing in non-conference teams the big time recruits typically go to.

My main point is this: until you start having consistency and that consistency starts winning and at the same time developing big time Sunday players, the recruits who get us those top 5 recruiting rankings aren’t going to come here just for a wad of cash. The cash may get them in the door, but it’s the results that matter; and right now CJH has us trending upwards, we just gotta give him time to get it where it can be.

Not just about the money. That was the end of my post. Don’t see it above. I don’t know what the missing piece is if the deal annd our resources/facilities/etc isn't enough to get them here. I can’t seem to think of what we don’t have to offer. Even in our down years we put people in the league. It’s reasonable to think if we had a higher level of talent than then we’d have just as much potential as any other powerhouse. Other schools are equal if not more train wrecks than us right now and doing as well or better on the recruiting trail given their current ineptitude (Florida, auburn, miami). Just sayin. We’re butting up against a ceiling right now. Staff needs to bring the sauce to break through and see what their potential truly is with the necessary talent.

 

[Smyrna ATL Vol]

Avid MTSU fan. Had multiple Jermey Banks level bone headed penalties. After the play penalty that lost us rhe game vs liberty. Very hard hitter but lowers his head and missed an obscene amount of tackles.

He will fit right in

 

[Orange_Crush]

I wasn’t asleep. Extremely few from that class are still around. Believe it or not, we’ve had 3 full seasons since then. With the Transfer portal and no limits to how many you can sign (aside from scholarship reductions from ncaa - which are minimal), it’s not unreasonable to expect the roster to be flipped and the caliber of player to be entirely different. I do know that as recently as last year there were narratives that the investigation was being used against us. Even huepel himself would say that wasn’t as big an issue as some thought.

Here’s where I’m at: What happened over the last 15 years or even the last 3 doesn’t change the fact that we want to be at the top of the college football world. The administration and coaching staff wants that. The fans want that. We know that top 10-15 talent doesn’t consistently get you there. You need to stack top 5 and top 10 classes together. So the way I see it, there’s no excuses beyond the conclusion of the investigation. And with one of the top NIL collectives, theres no reason we can’t go out and get whoever we want/need from the portal.

So next year, I’m expecting our recruiting to take the next step forward. We need to close a fringe top 5 class, 92+ average in order to continue to build on our momentum and compete with the bamas/ugas/osus. And fair expectation or not in your eyes, we need to be making a splash in the portal THIS AND NEXT year. Why not?? We have a golden opportunity before us. If we don’t have what we need, tell us. The fans and boosters are prepared to launch us to the top. It might still be a couple years before we reach the top, but it starts with recruiting and bringing in the players needed, and there’s no reason that can’t happen right now. And I believe Heupel and staff CAN do it. So yes, if they don’t I’m going to be frustrated and disappointed. Let’s hope they can get the people we need to put a product on the field next year that will convince people we’re going to be on top, and they better get on board now or miss the boat.


***Here’s one more thought/question that probably no one here has the answer to. I believe Heupel can do it. So what’s it going to take?? Money is important but it’s not the only thing. Jordan Seaton is evidence of that. So what is needed for us to start attracting elite talent in waves??***

Can you give us some quotes on that?

Because I personally read where Heupel said after the NCAA thing closed that he was excited because now they could move on past the negative recruiting on the NCAA stuff, and that it had definitely been hampering them.

 

[CNeagleVolFan]

247 still has Jakobe Thomas visiting but, strangely, VQ mods took down the thread saying he was visiting. So I’m not sure what that’s about.

 

[Orange_Crush]

FTR, Heupel said himself that 30 months of negative recruiting was the hardest part of the whole NCAA thing.

Josh Heupel: Negative recruiting was 'the hardest thing' Tennessee faced during NCAA investigation

That hurts the "we should have flipped the roster by now, no excuses" argument.

 

[Jimmyandjoes]

I’m a Fiji guy myself!

Old school. Straight from the hose

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Not just about the money. That was the end of my post. Don’t see it above. I don’t know what the missing piece is if the deal annd our resources/facilities/etc isn't enough to get them here. I can’t seem to think of what we don’t have to offer. Even in our down years we put people in the league. It’s reasonable to think if we had a higher level of talent than then we’d have just as much potential as any other powerhouse. Other schools are equal if not more train wrecks than us right now and doing as well or better on the recruiting trail given their current ineptitude (Florida, auburn, miami). Just sayin. We’re butting up against a ceiling right now. Staff needs to bring the sauce to break through and see what their potential truly is with the necessary talent.

Pre NIL logic does not function in today's recruiting world. The BIG unknowns are IF those programs you mentioned, or others, are paying more than our asssesment of value for those players. On top of that we have no idea of how many players we have info on through networking that will enter the portal before it closes in early Jan. after the bowls, or maybe even in the May 1 through 15 window after going through spring, completing graduation milestones, or both. Some really good players stuck behind other really good players may elect to bolt in hopes of playing more this season.

MIGHT just work out that we can get better players than the overpriced ones that fill up our competitions rosters jumping on the early entries. Bottom line wailing and moaning about use of the portal before both windows are fully exercised does not demonstrate a lot of intelligence or they are simply agenda motivated posts. The Portal fat lady is not even warmed up yet.

 

[CAVPUT]

I understand why we're not going after Nolen. The history is bad. I don't understand why we're not pursuing some other high-level guys.

Not gonna rush to judge until the dust settles, but all this hype about Spyre and our portal resources might be pie in the sky or perhaps we spent it on Nico and our current roster? Dunno, but with all the recent commits to other schools and our affinity for FCS "fits", it certainly doesn't feel like we're gaining any ground. Right now it's a little disappointing and yeah, concerning. Hope Heupel is reading the room in this league correctly.

 

[RiseToTheTop]

Bit but I thought we were too good to be taking MTSU players

I just watched Tank play safety for 9 seasons. That was rock bottom as far as Safety play goes.

 

[CAVPUT]

FTR, Heupel said himself that 30 months of negative recruiting was the hardest part of the whole NCAA thing.

Josh Heupel: Negative recruiting was 'the hardest thing' Tennessee faced during NCAA investigation

That hurts the "we should have flipped the roster by now, no excuses" argument.

It no doubt did hurt recruiting, but that's behind us now. Won't hold water going forward and it sure won't explain not getting it done in the portal this year....if things go poorly. Still time but....

 

[Orange_Crush]

It no doubt did hurt recruiting, but that's behind us now. Won't hold water going forward and it sure won't explain not getting it done in the portal this year....if things go poorly. Still time but....

OK.

As the post stated. It was a response to the "we should have flipped the roster by now, no excuses" argument.

 

[Orange_Crush]

It no doubt did hurt recruiting, but that's behind us now. Won't hold water going forward and it sure won't explain not getting it done in the portal this year....if things go poorly. Still time but....

Also, I'm not for snap judgments on Portal this year. I think that'll show one way or another next season. For a couple of reasons.

They know what they have on roster better than us, so they know actual portal needs better than us. Also, NONE of us took notice when Hooker came here in the portal. Who knew he'd be what he was for us.

So, yah. The negative recruiting is behind us, but that's still not much excuse for knee-jerk panicking.

 

[miket4god]

Not just about the money. That was the end of my post. Don’t see it above. I don’t know what the missing piece is if the deal annd our resources/facilities/etc isn't enough to get them here. I can’t seem to think of what we don’t have to offer. Even in our down years we put people in the league. It’s reasonable to think if we had a higher level of talent than then we’d have just as much potential as any other powerhouse. Other schools are equal if not more train wrecks than us right now and doing as well or better on the recruiting trail given their current ineptitude (Florida, auburn, miami). Just sayin. We’re butting up against a ceiling right now. Staff needs to bring the sauce to break through and see what their potential truly is with the necessary talent.

The missing piece is first round NFL draft picks along with consistent winning/results. Since 2010, the number of 1st round NFL draft picks is:
Alabama - 43
Georgia - 18
Florida - 17
Tennessee - 6

Elite players believe Saban and Smart can get them to the 1st round of tghe NFL draft better than Tennessee.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Didn't I see in here that Maalik Murphy might go to tOSU?

It might be starting to happen.

 

[BJHSVol]

Not gonna rush to judge until the dust settles, but all this hype about Spyre and our portal resources might be pie in the sky or perhaps we spent it on Nico and our current roster? Dunno, but with all the recent commits to other schools and our affinity for FCS "fits", it certainly doesn't feel like we're gaining any ground. Right now it's a little disappointing and yeah, concerning. Hope Heupel is reading the room in this league correctly.

Convincing almost the entire OL to come back is proof that Spyre is effective IMO. That’ll make a bigger impact than any other portal addition we could’ve gotten.

And one thing to keep in mind with these FCS targets- those SO and JRs are part of recruiting classes that would’ve been heavily impacted by COVID. Losing up to a whole year of practices/games in HS is going to effect development and scouting, and then they were less scholarships to go around with the COVID year being granted and all the extra eligibility for players that were in college. There will always be a few that sleep through the cracks but there’s probably a disproportionate amount right now.

 

[WesTnVol]

Full past on his first class. Second was an improvement over previous classes but still fighting NCAA cloud. We now have that out of the way but still down (12?) scholarships so that hurts.
Not offering excuses just pointing out some limitations CHJ has to work around. We’re getting better slower than most want and I promise you a lot slower than coach wants! He’s very competitive and with our schedule getting harder he knows we need the Jimmies and Joes

 

[walkenvol]

Pre NIL logic does not function in today's recruiting world. The BIG unknowns are IF those programs you mentioned, or others, are paying more than our asssesment of value for those players. On top of that we have no idea of how many players we have info on through networking that will enter the portal before it closes in early Jan. after the bowls, or maybe even in the May 1 through 15 window after going through spring, completing graduation milestones, or both. Some really good players stuck behind other really good players may elect to bolt in hopes of playing more this season.

MIGHT just work out that we can get better players than the overpriced ones that fill up our competitions rosters jumping on the early entries. Bottom line wailing and moaning about use of the portal before both windows are fully exercised does not demonstrate a lot of intelligence or they are simply agenda motivated posts. The Portal fat lady is not even warmed up yet.

Agreed. As fans were only looking at talent / production at their prior school. Coaches have to also include the asking price and character / fit. Changes the equation greatly and we aren’t privledged to that part of the equation.