Would like thoughts from "regulars of the recruiting thread"

[Eddie Vol Halen]

A lot has happened on the recruiting trail in the bowl season for UT. I couldn't keep up with it all.

IMHO, the size of the last two classes - and the number of EEs - made them legitimate #1 classes, easily in the Top 3. I think they're starting to show it on the field too.

Where do we really stand right now though with this class? It's Top 20, but that's bottom half of the SEC. I know it's a smaller class than previous and the star average looks good.

But is it losing ground on Alabama / Florida / Georgia though? Alabama seems to sign 20 per annum and is always #1. I'd like to see at least one five-star recruit as well.

Is this a solid class addressing needs? Is this a class that is a ramification of the turbo roster rebuild the BSiA did the last two years? What does the BSiA need to do between now and NSD to make it special and keep pace?

Would like thoughts, especially from forum regulars. I assume this kind of request won't get the shenanigans of the FF. Thanks in advance.

 

[ionaVOL]

To be honest, it's still slightly early to give a final answer here IMO.

We have some great JUCO pieces that will be enrolling early with the DT, a big WR and a corner. But this class will be defined by the next month. IMO if we do what we should it will be just as effective as the last few classes. The key will be adding Nigel Warrior, Landon Dickerson, an impact WR like Mecole Hardman etc and keeping the JUCO DE Kongbo.

Like you said the star average is just fine, we have our stud QB, stud corner and a couple TEs along with a few great looking OL pieces already. I just think if we can add a couple impact high school WRs, DE/DTs that we are after it will be just as good as the past couple with no dropoff IMO.

Just follow Warrior, Dickerson, Hardman, Kongbo, the DT Brown and some DEs and that will define the class on signing day.

 

[RikidyBones]

A lot has happened on the recruiting trail in the bowl season for UT. I couldn't keep up with it all.

IMHO, the size of the last two classes - and the number of EEs - made them legitimate #1 classes, easily in the Top 3. I think they're starting to show it on the field too.

Where do we really stand right now though with this class? It's Top 20, but that's bottom half of the SEC. I know it's a smaller class than previous and the star average looks good.

But is it losing ground on Alabama / Florida / Georgia though? Alabama seems to sign 20 per annum and is always #1. I'd like to see at least one five-star recruit as well.

Is this a solid class addressing needs? Is this a class that is a ramification of the turbo roster rebuild the BSiA did the last two years? What does the BSiA need to do between now and NSD to make it special and keep pace?

Would like thoughts, especially from forum regulars. I assume this kind of request won't get the shenanigans of the FF. Thanks in advance.

Come back in one month and it'll be easier to say. Recruiting is fickle and changes happen as easily as they don't. Iona has a good list to pay attention to and there might be additions as the next few weeks host visitors

 

[Catbone]

Reasons:

1)Smaller class size

2)Less immediate playing time available

3)Less legacy players this year

Let's not forget there are still a few highly rated targets available. January 29th is a big day for us, a lot of visits from some good players. We probably will not break the top 10, but with this particular class it's not the end of the world. The most important thing is to win big games in 2016. If we do that, the rest will take care of itself.

 

[Dust10]

This class has a few stars (JG, Osbourne, possibly Kongbo) and a lot of guys we can develop in the program for a few years, which is good since we are no longer the "youngest team in America." This next month we will see if we can add some more stars to the class and take it from "good" to "great." That's my personal assessment.

 

[Volunteer_Kirby]

As of right now, I see it as decent class that fills our most basic needs. We are a few pieces away (Warrior, Dickerson, Kongbo, Callaway) from it being a good looking class, but certainly no where near elite status. Without those crucial pieces our class goes from good to mediocre very, very quickly. If Butch can somehow swing D. Brown & M. Hardman (very, very unlikely) then we'd be looking at one of the better classes in the nation, at least in terms of quality. But again, that is a huge long shot. If we miss out on Warrior and Kongbo and have to settle on Byrd/Bailey then the quality of our class goes down dramatically.

The 2014 class had a lot of wash outs but the 2015 has been very solid and was Butch's best class by far. Still a lot of needs that need to be addressed, particularly at linebacker, defensive back and wide receiver. Offensive line is starting to shape up but it's still missing some key depth. The defensive front looks good, as do our special teams, we've got nice depth at running back, quarterback, & our tight end depth is getting better (but the quality of that depth is still to be determined.) Overall I am happy with what Butch has done with this class. It's not a head turner but it fills our needs and we've got some instant impact players (George, Kongbo, A. Johnson, Osbourne (plus Warrior/Callaway)) to be excited about.

 

[TommyOler]

We Vol fans are in a strange predicament. After years of attrition, poor recruiting and one off-season after another with the deck stacked against us... it's hard to get a feel for an off-season like this one.

Now, after 3 solid years with a solid staff... we are looking at an off-season with no glaring positions of need that have to be addressed via recruiting.

We actually have more forgotten redshirt players waiting in the wings than we have needs. (Think Dillon Bates... Elliott Berry... the return of Shy Tuttle... a healthy Croom and North... a 5-star defensive end who spent 2015 with the medical staff.)

There probably won't be any big name, splashy recruits in 2016, other than the quarterback prospect out of New Jersey.

This will be a class full of Jalen Reeves-Maybin type kids. Guys with speed, of high character and major motors... The type kids who stay & play later.

The biggest indicator that the "old days" are back... is the 2016 recruiting class... and the fact that just about every one of these kids will have the luxury of a year in the conditioning program before they take the field.

 

[vavolfan6]

I've been following quite a bit, and though there is some optimism still in volnation, I would be pleasantly surprised if we reach 15th. With limited amount of space left on the roster we are spending our last month and a half of recruitment entertaining 3 stars and low 4 stars. I believe that is a sign that the coaching staff is a bit unsure at where they stand with their highly touted targets.

In the end of the day I won't be disappointed as I have great faith in the Butch's scout team. From what I've looked at I believe we have some hidden gems with Fils-Aime, JaQuan Blakely, and Marquill Osborne. We still have a chance at finishing well though if we are able to lure in a few of our prized targets such as Landon Dickerson, Mecole Hardman, Derrick Brown,

 

[triad280]

This is a depth class... There will be few immediate help guys, not knocking the talent level, it's just that CBJ recruited just as talented people who have a year or 2 in the program and have a jump start.

 

[TNnative]

It has been stated that this years numbers are lower by design this year, and for the 3 reason Catbone gave. That gives me hope that there will be fewer current players transferring, which seems like an exercise in futility. I was pleased that hours after the outback bowl, we got commits from Buchanan and Niehaus. CB and OL are two areas yet fully addressed.

Plenty of time between now and NSD. Plenty of time to fill the remaining 5 spots if the target number of 22 is right. And if we don't, the rumor is next year's instate player numbers will be stronger. Hopefully, the Higgins kid from Oak Ridge will be a peer recruiter like Hurd and Jack Jones were in their classes.

The days where Butch can promise early playing time with a new staff rebuilding a once great but still proud program is past. Now, the better sales pitch of being a part of a powerhouse program that expects to win each week needs to be established. Maintaining momentum, winning and not doing anything really dumb that hamstrings the program is the high priorities.

And now, the best tidbit of hope I can offer, Eddie. Paul Bain will be eligible to play this year.

 

[AboveAllNations]

This is a depth class... There will be few immediate help guys, not knocking the talent level, it's just that CBJ recruited just as talented people who have a year or 2 in the program and have a jump start.

I disagree that this is a "depth class." We signed over 60 players in 2014 and 2015, so depth isn't an issue anymore. With fewer available scholarships, the coaching staff is being more selective and focusing on quality over quantity. 4 of our 17 commits are JUCO prospects, including the #1 JUCO player in the nation, so I think the coaching staff IS expecting at least a few "immediate help guys" to put us over the edge for a conference championship next season. I think the coaching staff is trying to go all-in for Dobbs' senior season.

While at least one of those 17 commits is a long-term developmental project (Nathan Niehaus), he's a high-ceiling player - literally - as a 6'7," 260 lb. offensive tackle. What we're not doing, finally, is using scholarships on low-ceiling prospects just for the sake of having bodies for special teams. We have enough speed and depth as-is, and Trevor Daniel and Matt Giampapa proved that you don't need to spend scholarships to find quality special teams guys right out of high school.

 

[Aesius]

I think the class will finish around 13th/14th in the nation, but Butch will follow it up with a monster 2017 class.

This class will be his last outside of the top 10 for a while, IMO. Butch had it a little more difficult than in 2014/2015 because there's very little early playing time to offer and UT, while rising now, was looking rough earlier in the year and that allowed other coaching staffs to get in on kids that we should have landed. There's also the fact that Butch put many eggs in the Kyle Davis/Mecole Hardman baskets, but the anemic passing game hurt our chances with them quite a bit.

All will be well as long as we land a top 5 class next season and keep a top 10 average over the past full 4-year recruiting cycle.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

I really don't give a crap about where we are ranked. I believe our staffs evals give us a little wiggle room as it pertains to that. But this particular class can not afford any busts. Gaurantano, Kongbo, Osbourne, CFA and Johnson have to be the stars they are expected to be. And guys like George have to be better than the services think. The future will decide how good this class really us, not how it is ranked on signing day. We really need Brown, Warrior and Dickerson. That would make this class really good on the top end. Hardeman is a pipe dream. Corley would be a great get also.

 

[VOLywood]

It also looks to me like we are signing kids with a little different skill set than the bulk of our last 2 classes. I agree with most assessments that this class will be 4 or 5 immediate impact guys with the rest being 4-5 year players that give us consistent depth as RS juniors and seniors. These classes are necessary even if they aren't as flashy.

 

[Eddie Vol Halen]

All will be well as long as we land a top 5 class next season and keep a top 10 average over the past full 4-year recruiting cycle.

That's a great point.

I really believe the size and quality of the last two classes make them "supra" top 3 classes, so a bit of a dip isn't going to hurt the roster too bad.

There are a healthy dose of seasoned, immediate impact guys as well for an "all-in" in 2016. Which I think should be the vision.

I am worried though about the throw game coordinator.

 

[KnoxVegas]

Every class needs to have around 3-4 future starters on each side of the ball with a couple of legit difference makers. (By starters I mean players that can surpass the previous class players and beat out stars of 2017 class). If you do that enough years in a row with top 10 classes than you build a top 10 program.

I think that in 2018-2019 you will find there won't be that many starters from the 2016 class.

So by my logic this class is weak. This could all change if UT holds on to Kongbo and grabs a few more of the caliber of Brown, Warrior, Dickerson etc. we shall see....

 

[triad280]

I disagree that this is a "depth class." We signed over 60 players in 2014 and 2015, so depth isn't an issue anymore. With fewer available scholarships, the coaching staff is being more selective and focusing on quality over quantity. 4 of our 17 commits are JUCO prospects, including the #1 JUCO player in the nation, so I think the coaching staff IS expecting at least a few "immediate help guys" to put us over the edge for a conference championship next season. I think the coaching staff is trying to go all-in for Dobbs' senior season

Depth IS still an issue at some positions. We are relatively thin at CB, and at OL. We were pretty healthy in the secondary (outside of Gaulden)fortunately. But we would've been in a world of hurt if a CB had gone down to injury. The OL had 2 true freshman starting, that is not depth, that is desperation. Depth is when you don't even consider playing them and they get a redshirt year to get stronger. DE,LB,DT RB and QB have built depth, not just depth,but quality depth, big difference. Anyone can throw a body out there after an injury,but throwing someone out who can perform is where CBJ is leading us to. That starts with this class. Osbourne,Kongbo,Johnson, and maybe someone else may come in and contribute early,but a lot of them will either redshirt or go the JRM and Cortez McDowell way of earning playing time on ST for experience until they are ready to compete for a starting job. DKJR had no reason to be out there this year, at least not early in the year. But we had a walk-on who wasn't performing, so they had no choice. And he started sluggish, over running gaps, etc. He will be an absolute monster next year after the experience he gained. What if he had gotten hurt, a walk on comes back in. 60 players in 2 classes can't build depth at every position. He is recruiting to needs this year. The first 3 years, everything was needed, now not so much.

 

[jimallvol]

The 3 I've been following for this class is, Hardman, Warrior and Dickerson. If we can land these guys, this class will blow up! But we never know what's going on behind closed doors, when it comes to recruiting. With the way Butch recruits, anyone of these kids or others could be silent commits, you just never know. Lol. We will find out come February. Go Vols!

 

[Bms4880]

Some good answers so far. I'll also point out that this was a very difficult class for a UT coach. There weren't that many elite players, which has led to a dogfight among coaches for those at the top. None of the Top 150 recruits were instates, and two that made the Top 250, Joejuan Williams and Emmitt Gooden, we had to turn away for one reason or another.

If we hang onto Kongbo and our other top commits, and land Warrior, Dickerson, and one other good WR, Butch will have done reasonably well, given the circumstances. Landing Mecole or Derrick Brown would be an absolute coup. Several of these guys are scheduled to visit on January 29.

Just remember, we may very well end up with the number one class in 2017, and 2018 is looking interesting as well.

 

[VolNRaleighNC]

I am worried though about the throw game coordinator.

As are any WR recruit...

 

[highspeed]

I think other posters have hit the most important points. I would just add that I think depth at WR is still a big need.

We have 8 returning scholarship WRs. Of those, Jennings is continually mentioned as someone who could move to safety, North and Croom have serious injury concerns, Cody Blanc never plays, and transfers from that current group could create even more need. We do also have J. George coming in. He would give us 9 for next year if everyone else returns healthy and there are no position changes.

The coaches keep saying they want 12 WRs. I think we need to add at least 2 more to the WRs already on board with this class. That's something I'll really be paying attention to down the stretch as the discussion of whether or not we're "meeting our needs" unfolds.

 

[RockyTopInBham]

I think other posters have hit the most important points. I would just add that I think depth at WR is still a big need.

We have 8 returning scholarship WRs. Of those, Jennings is continually mentioned as someone who could move to safety, North and Croom have serious injury concerns, Cody Blanc never plays, and transfers from that current group could create even more need. We do also have J. George coming in. He would give us 9 for next year if everyone else returns healthy and there are no position changes.

The coaches keep saying they want 12 WRs. I think we need to add at least 2 more to the WRs already on board with this class. That's something I'll really be paying attention to down the stretch as the discussion of whether or not we're "meeting our needs" unfolds.

If Jennings moves to safety, then the staff would almost certainly have to move someone else to WR. Any options other than the popular Evan Berry to slot?

 

[highspeed]

If Jennings moves to safety, then the staff would almost certainly have to move someone else to WR. Any options other than the popular Evan Berry to slot?

I think depth at safety is also still a bit of an issue. We only have 3 returning scholarship players there next year. Maybe B. Buchanon gets a look there, and hopefully we get Warrior, but with both of those positions lacking proven depth, moving either of those guys just seems like robbing Peter to pay Paul. That said, I have no idea what the coaches are planning. Spring would probably be the time to do it though, so maybe we find out in the next couple of months.

 

[Volnukem]

I think depth at safety is also still a bit of an issue. We only have 3 returning scholarship players there next year. Maybe B. Buchanon gets a look there, and hopefully we get Warrior, but with both of those positions lacking proven depth, moving either of those guys just seems like robbing Peter to pay Paul. That said, I have no idea what the coaches are planning. Spring would probably be the time to do it though, so maybe we find out in the next couple of months.

I feel much better about our CB depth than the Safety depth. If worst comes to worst, I think Gaulden can play some safety and they have already worked Quart'e Sapp out back there as well.

 

[UTK]

Top 15 should be the goal at thos point. Top 10 is unlikely, but if 2016 season is the big one it should be, 2017 should be another top 5 class.