Walker Merrill in portal

#102
#102
Well, it is easier to do that than it is to work harder and earn you playing time like Hyatt did this year. I wish Merrill well and look forward to the Vols bringing in more guys who will compete to earn their playing time.
 
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#103
#103
TheMookieMonster said:
It doesn’t really hurt at all. The Jimmy’s were non-factors and we’re still going to be deep at WR next year. People are just looking for reasons to nitpick Heupel because things have been going too well around here lately.
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Huh? I'm pretty sure them transferring has nothing to do with Huepel and everything to do with the reality of the new college football. Holliday wasn't getting snaps but Calloway was our KR and Merrill was getting snaps and looking good. With all those guys all we have left in depth is Chas Nimrod and a bunch of freshmen.

I dunno I just don't like it. It's happening more this season than ever before and I was hoping it wouldn't to us. But actual contributors are starting to transfer from teams in large numbers. These are former 4 stars and high 3 stars transferring.

Let me be clear in my point so someone does not try putting words in my mouth. I think this is a college wide issue not just a UT one. I think the 12 team playoff will help the situation when it comes to teams playing in that top 12 form. NIL will also probably start normalizing and settling down by then also.
 
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#104
#104
pimo1 said:
I dunno I just don't like it. It's happening more this season than ever before and I was hoping it wouldn't to us. But actual contributors are starting to transfer from teams in large numbers. These are former 4 stars and high 3 stars transferring.
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Eh. Personally, I don’t know if I would consider Calloway, Holiday, and Merril as “actual contributors”. They weren’t. There were some snaps here or there, but that was basically it. I just don’t see any of these losses as big deals that people are making it out to be.

We are the favorites to land Thornton, and if that happens, you’ll have a very clear cut Top 4 in McCoy, Squirrel, Thornton, and Keyton. You’ll have two other guys with roster experience in Webb and Nimrod who could breakout if they have good Springs, and we bring in two freshmen that I fully expect to be stars in Leacock and Seldon who are more talented than Merril. That’s 8-deep in the WR room right there. For people to say we don’t have depth seems weird.

Idk. It’s all personal opinions, but it feels like this fanbase is just upset because a local kid didn’t pan out.
 
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#105
#105
CJH is just flipping awesome he’s doing what needs to be done to be elite . We’re not there yet in depth but we’re getting their.
 
#111
#111
I doubt these decisions happen in a bubble. There's likely a tough conversation had between the coaches and the players. I'm sure the coaches try to hang on to the ones that add depth but they are likely forthcoming too... in that, they give the player a heads up of sorts that barring significant impact to the starters, they're likely to sit the pine until something in their game/ability warrants additional consideration.

I wish Walker would have stayed another year. I think he can help our offense down the road.
 
#113
#113
Why? Because they can. Not a lot, not all by any means but, not a lot of student athletes who love the University so much that they will hang around if they think they can get a better deal somewhere else. I do not judge these young athletes. Wish them well. Hope we figure out how to do that a lot better and attract the better players to UT.
 
#115
#115
Merrill is a solid player. I hate to see him go. If the Thornton rumors are true he probably finds himself on the sidelines again next year. He could start for a ton of schools. I don't blame him at all.
 
#116
#116
Carp said:
It's important to remember he could always jump out of the portal if he doesn't find the right fit. Nothing wrong with seeing what's out there.
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Can’t imagine how „popular“ that would make him with the rest of the team 🙄
 
#117
#117
Really wish Walker Merrill would stay. I think he's making a decision because he thinks squirrel is going to take his PT. I'm sure they can line him and squirrel up with two bigger WRs on the outside.



Hope he changes his mind
 
#118
#118
LWSVOL said:
they are pursuing Thornton from Oregon, hard. He would immediately jump Walker. # 10 had already passed him. Heupel offense limits reps if you aren't starting and Walker feels he could start somewhere.. starting better than getting a few more reps.
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Squirrel will be gone in 2 more years. I guess since we are back we will start having players leave for playing time and NFL. Just got to get used to it.
 
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#120
#120
Cam Seldon is a better prospect that can easily take Merrill’s place.
 
#121
#121
I hate to see him leave for a number of reasons.
Being from Brentwood, he had a lot of kids from
there following him, and Brentwood is a HOT area
for recruiting. We have missed out on a lot of talent
from there over the years.
 
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#122
#122
TheMookieMonster said:
Why are we just assuming he would be #4? I know he is a local kid which elevates his profile around here, but Bru, Keaton, and Squirrel would all be above him. Leacock is getting immense hyped, and Nimrod and Webb could have leaped him as well if they had good Springs themselves. Seldon is also going to play some WR next year, too. And then if you factor in Thornton that means Walker is 5th at best.

This isn’t really a major loss. I would have loved for him to stay, but he was getting buried in the depth chart and WR play is never going to be an issue around here.
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Its possible Nimrod was above him until he got injured. I heard he was moving up the depth chart. He was talked about more than Squirrel at the time by local media
 
#123
#123
Hate to hear this news. Walker seems like he has a lot of talent and skill. It will be interesting to see where he lands. I hope it’s just not in the SEC East.
 
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