I think the prospect of wide open positions worked greatly in UT's favor with regard to recruiting this year. Obviously the recruiters were in place to hurry that along as well. We'll see how all of these greenies fare in the SEC wars this season.
You may be right but to suggest that as being the only reason Tennessee was able to pull in a top 10 class is laughable, if that's what you're suggesting. Tennessee has always been a recruiting power and has only slipped somewhat in recent years with two of the last four classes being out of the top 20. However, with the changing of the regime and the incredible product that Tennessee now has to sell, I don't think the prospect of wide-open positions is anywhere near the strongest selling point. If you're a high school kid and your dream is to play pro football Tennessee is going to obviously be in the conversation to obtain your services, especially if you're a defensive player. The offense has something to prove this year but even still they have a guy who used to be a head coach in the NFL (regardless of his success there), an offensive coordinator who was working for an NFL team last year, an offensive line coach who was an assistant in the NFL last year, a WR coach who is regarded as one of the South's top recruiters, and a RB coach who has put numerous RBs in the NFL when he was at Auburn. Now I know many staffs can boast some of these things as well but when you toss in Tennessee's tradition and a defense that figures to keep you in every game with a D-Coord. that is legendary running the controls, it's a good selling point. That said, the skill guys are nice but the true test will be in next year's class to sign as many top-flight linemen as possible. Yes, they were in place in the middle of January... http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/jan/16/uts-coaching-staff-complete/ Not a bad haul for two months of work. We certainly will. Being perfectly objective I don't like their chances in the Swamp this season against the juggernaut that figures to be the Gators. However, lest we forget, no one was expecting Ole Miss to go into the Swamp and win last year either and I believe Tennessee was a double digit underdog back in 2001 when the Vols invaded the Swamp and impaled the Gators' national championship hopes. It would be foolish of me to predict a Tennessee victory but don't forget that stranger things have happened. As for the greenies, I don't know how many of them will be on the field. Kiffin has said his policy going forward will be to let freshmen run with the first team to begin summer camp and see if they stick. My guess a few of them will at positiions that are easy to pick up on for newcomers like RB where you have Brown, Oku, and Toney Williams coming in. However, the crazy part about this RB haul is that Tennessee had decent depth at RB already with Sr. Hardest, Jr. Creer, and So. Poole back this season. All three backs have shown flashes in their careers and one was expected to shine now that Foster is out of the picture. Many feel Creer is a next level talent who will take full advantage of his fresh chance with the new staff. You could see some WRs stick as well with Nu'Keese Richardson and Marsalis Teague being the ones that immediately jump out. Teague may end up on defense though. Tennessee can use some speed at WR but the cupboard isn't completely bare there either with Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore showing flashes of brilliance in the total screw-up offense that was last season. I think the best candidate in the class for early playing time is probably Jared Askew, the 4 star LB out of Virginia. I hope he lives up to his billing and can stick.
So Tenn signed players at positions where some depth was already there. How did they do at positions of need? Given last year's results I am going to assume there were some pretty serious needs in spots.
As is the case with recruiting at any school, the focus is on the future. I don't think that can be more true in Tennessee's case. They did manage to sign some nice players along the lines which was an obvious area of need. I was a bit disappointed in their total haul along the lines and I have said that here many times. However, when you pull in the #1 overall player and the #1 all purpose back in the nation I have a feeling your appeal to linemen going forward will be a lot greater. I don't mind you discussing Tennessee with me. If you want, send me a PM.
You didn't think you were out of line... let's analyze: Aquila state this so your interrogatory statement here sounds like disbelief. His statement brought out that we had some good backs last year that are back this year. I agree with that. It is my opinion that they would only flashes of greatness because of inadequate offensive line play. After his in depth post, this is taken as "So, but what else have you done." Do you see anyone here wearing orange and white laughing at the Florida basketball program and how far it has fallen in just a few years? Do you see anyone here bringing up the record Florida has against Tennessee in the last several years, even in their championship years? No you have not. We show respect for your program that you have never even shown signs of. Your MO is disrespect so disrespect is read into everything you say whether it is meant or not.[/quote]
I realize what he's doing, Tom and I have tried my best many times to not flame on this board. I think it's clear what his tone is in regard to Tennessee (or any other team that doesn't wear blue and orange for that matter) to everyone on this board. That's fine. I know it's not in the spirit of this board and I come here to discuss topics, not to agitate others. However, it's not his content that's offensive but his general overall tone. I'm willing to weed through the trash to discuss the topics and I can't wait for the day when Tennessee makes the Gators-Vols football game a rivalry again and I feel that day is coming soon.
You hit the nail on the head Aquila. mcg and I have a history. I have been seeing (not listening to) his disrespect of anything non-gator for too long. The difference between you and me is the moderator role. I think that I would have much more fun on these boards as a regular member but I would probably be banned within two weeks. I am one that will call the kettle black. It is the job of Bill, Terry, and I to call that kettle black. I have worked behind the scenes with Dave to try to help him become more acceptable. That was mostly during his battles with OSU. I enjoyed that time because it distracted him from his hatred for Tennessee.
I find a lot in the above I have to disagree with not the least of which is that the Florida BB teams that won the NCAA back-to-back did everything that a Gator fan could want and any loss(es) to Tenn could be easily forgiven. Oh...and wrt to this year's BB team losing to Tenn....I think they are one big man away from getting back into the NCAAs but they also as a whole seem to lack the heart to win the ones they need to win and the Tenn loss at home was one of those shortcomings. It doesn't matter if it was Tenn or Aub in the SEC tourney...it doesn't sit well because they are very close but can't get over the hump. With regard to Brown...I am not disrespecting Tenn in particular and if it were Miami or Oregon that signed him I would make the same comment because his track record in the last few weeks leaves open some questions.
Obviously, there are alot of questions in regard to the recruitment of this kid that have been ongoing during his entire recruitment. I'm curious as to what specifically in the last weeks you are referring to.
Most of the Knoxville News reporters are not very friendly with the Football Vols these days. Although not the worst, when Dave Hooker complements the Vols, it must be worth the complement. UT's signing class rates an A+