Who are we losing off this squad?

[J C Higgins]

Everyone felt the same when Velus, Cade, Butler left. We had several kids go pro then we lose Tillman to injury this year. Team has done nothing but get better. I do think Hooker is the huge loss and how Joe plays to replace him will be the biggest thing.

Agree. QB will be the biggest challenge. Need more than a great arm.

 

[overseasorange2]

Yeah, I am curious to see how Milton runs in this now fully developed offense. When he started last year, this team was still establishing its identity. A really mobile Milton creates some real opportunities

We should get a preview in tomorrow's game.

 

[DaddyChad]

I’m actually not as concerned with WR I feel like we can reload and though I feel Milton is prob even more talented than Hooker , I worry about him being able to execute at the level that Hooker has . But looking at both lines like young and baron and Thomas . Wright mays etc if we lose a bunch of guys on both lines that’ll be tough to replace

Heupel felt like Milton was more talented as well. Hooker is quick thinking and calm under pressure. Milton just has to be ready for the pressures of being the starter.

 

[DaddyChad]

We should get a preview in tomorrow's game.

Not really. Joe is good as long as there isn’t a lot of mental pressure.

 

[perico]

I wouldn't be shocked if OC Alex Golesh gets hired for head coach by Georgia Tech or Louisville.

Golesh can be picky. I don't see him leaving for a job where he doesn't have the resources to compete. He's not going to leave here to coach at USF or UTEP because he would set himself up for failure. He knows that if he stays put and continues his trajectory he will be like Cutcliffe, Kirby Smart or Brent Venables when they were assistants. He'll be able to jump in at a program where he will have the resources to compete, and won't have to start out in a hopeless situation. Not saying he's the next coach at Notre Dame anytime soon, but I don't think he'll jump at the chance to coach Colorado because he knows that if things progress like they have already done, he can take a much better job.

 

[robow]

Luckily for us, there will be a lot of transition going on for other teams, too. Bryce Young, Will Levis, Stetson Bennett, and Anthony Richardson may all be gone next year, too, leaving a QB competition for quite a few of our opponents.

I have full confidence in whoever wins the job between Milton, Jackson, and Iamaleava. Hopefully we see Milton & Jackson through most of our game tomorrow, too. Let Hooker throw a TD to take the school record for consecutive games with a TD pass, and let him sit.

The game tomorrow is actually a good one to start building for next year.

I think we need to let hooker play the first half to get his numbers and still have a a shot for the Heisman. I would expect he will be able to get 3 TD passes and 300 passing yards
before Milton takes over. Let Milton play 1 1/2 qtrs. and then play Jackson.

 

[DynaLo]

I think Coach Golesh kinda likes being here.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I think Coach Golesh kinda likes being here.

if we pay the guy enough, why not?

 

[Tman44]

I just wonder who hits the portal.

I think we are now a portal destination. What AD White, CJH and staff have built here is very special.
You will always have players who want playing time, I get that. Those who transfer for playing time are not seeing the field anyway.

Amen!
Hopefully we’re at a point where we can just reload, if not, we soon will be…….

Looking at the names VFL-82-JP posted earlier, I truly think we ARE in the reloading zone. That is nothing less than remarkable, being only 18 months removed from Pruitt and the 30 or so that transferred out.

 

[farmdogvol]

It will be interesting to see what Hyatt does. He is catching a lot of buzz now and should get more as season goes on. Will he be influenced by Tillman, who came back but suffered an injury? He may look at that and say he is going while he can.

 

[ksgovols]

You don’t think Mays, Hyatt, Baron go?

NIL changes everything with players that aren't going in the top 3 rounds of the draft. They can make more $$$ staying and they aren't financially strapped to where they think they have to leave early.

Never gonna wring my hands about those that have the opportunity to go pro nor the ones that finish up their degrees. That's why they're here. We've already seen what CJH can do with inherited talent in 2 years. Imagine what it looks like when he gets his recruits in here. Enjoy the ride.

 

[DaddyChad]

if we pay the guy enough, why not?

Depends on what his priorities are. If you’re making good money and having a good time doing it with decent work/life balance it maybe more important than taking a head coaching job which is high stress and high turnover.

 

[Rocky Top T]

You don’t think Mays, Hyatt, Baron go?

None of them going anywhere

 

[DaddyChad]

It will be interesting to see what Hyatt does. He is catching a lot of buzz now and should get more as season goes on. Will he be influenced by Tillman, who came back but suffered an injury? He may look at that and say he is going while he can.

Probably depends on who’s coming out as well at the position. I think Squirrel could be a good replacement for him if he decides to go pro.

 

[vegasvolfan]

I don’t want to get ahead of myself but curious about sustainability. I feel like we are going to lose a good bit of talent from this team.

I've thought the same thing. Hard to say with COVID still giving so many another year of eligibility. I think Hyatt is gone. Keyton may leave too. We have a lot of people who have another year of eligibility. I think our entire defense should return. If they do, they will be really good next year and have a better shot in the NFL. Banks and Mitchell I think are both out of eligibility. Running backs return.on the offense, does Mays leave after his junior year? He could. Wright could return if he wanted and so can just about every person on that OL I think. Obviously Tillman and Hooker will move on. I think both of our starting tight ends too (Fant and Warren)? But if the majority of people that can return do, we are looking at a STOUT team next year. A lot is going to fall on our next QB's shoulders. Can Milton get it done without Tillman, Hyatt, Keyton, Warren and Fant? Especially if we lost Mays? He will have McCoy, but who else? Holiday? Squirrel? If our OL is depleted how well will Small and Wright run? Milton is not going to have the same weapons as Hooker. That said, if our OL returns and we can fill the shoes of Hyatt, Tillman and Keyton... Milton and company should be top 10 again.

 

[rocketskates]

Confidence and reps and Joe will be fine. He damn near got the Hail Mary cold off the bench. If that happens and he runs to take on defenders Tennessee has a chance to be more lethal.

I as well feel very good about Milton next season. He’s a great athlete, he just needs to reel the passes in a little and make better decisions. Those are all coach able improvements. Ideally, I’d like to see him have a standout season and give Nico a year to learn the offense.

He’s a big guy and it would take a toll on the defense to have to tackle him should be tuck it and run.

 

[vegasvolfan]

None of them going anywhere

I think Hyatt does. Hard to say about Mays. He has already been injured once. Baron would do himself well if he stayed.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

None of them going anywhere

Hyatt is going to need to do some research and figure out his options. He has 10 touchdowns through 6 games. That’s incredibly impressive .

I know it sounds crazy, but the more guys we have go early for the League the better it is for us long term.

 

[BornAndRaisedVOL!]

I hope Bama's secondary decides to stay.

 

[pimo1]

View attachment 504158

that man should be arrested immediately.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Byron Young is gone

 

[swampfoxfan]

Mays isn’t going anywhere. He’s a true junior

I don't think so either and hope we are correct

 

[Jeff Clark]

One of the amazing things about college sports; the entire roster is going to turn over in the time it takes a kid to get a college degree.

Key players who have to move on after this season:

• Hendon Hooker (QB)
• Princeton Fant (TE)
• Jerome Carvin (OL)
• LaTrell Bumphus (DL)
• Solon Page (LB)
• Trevon Flowers (S)
• Paxton Brooks (P/PK)
• Chase McGrath (P/PK)

Key players who don't have to, but very well may leave for the draft:

• Cedric Tillman (WR) -- (I think he still has his "covid eligibility" left, but may choose to go pro)
• Jacob Warren (TE) -- (ditto)
• Byron Young (DL) -- (ditto)
• Jeremy Banks (LB) -- (ditto)

There could be others in that second group. Impossible to read the lads' minds. Those just seem a few of the most likely to feel heavy pressure to declare.

...

As you can see, it's actually not too bad. We get hit heavy in two position groups: tight end, and kickers. Plus losing our starting QB is always a significant transition (though the QB room looks very healthy). Other than that, we're okay. We are positioned to continue to succeed, from one end of the field to the other.

2023 should not be about rebuilding. Just reloading. As long as we get the QB transition right.

Go Vols!

I think 10-2 will be very possible for Tennessee in 2023.

 

[joevols89]

Hyatt is going to run a 4.3 with some of the best production in the country. You guys are nuts to think he comes back, lol.

 

[cgrish]

Hendon Hooker and Cedric Tillman will both be leaving after the season.

I'm not too concerned about our receivers, Hooker will be a big loss, unless Milton can look as good under pressure as he has in the mop up games. I think we lose 3 starters on ol, not sure? and the dl. graduates is concerning.