[rexvol]

Breaking down the 2007 freshman class

Let's see where they stand right now. I will label them as a Hit, still has potential, or a total whiff. Based on my count, 8 of these guys are already Hits, 19 still have potential, and 4 are total whiffs. That isn't bad. We really need this class to perform well, because the classes before and after were not that good.

5 stars (scout ranking)

* Chris Donald, LB, 6'3, 220, Huntington TN - So far, he has struggled. Is basically running 3rd string, and gets to play some special teams. Redshirted last year. Maybe he will start to get it. A little too early to tell, but so far has not lived up to the hype. Label: still has potential.

* Ben Martin, DE, 6'5 240, Cincinnati, OH - He's on track to be pretty good. Got limited playing time last year, perhaps should have been redshirted, as he was injured part of the time. Has a nice first step, and should contribute more this year as a soph. Probably a starter as a junior next year. Needs to put on more muscle weight to be considered an NFL caliber DE. Label. Still has potential

* Eric Berry, DB, 6'0 196, Lithonia, GA - Lived up to expectations and then some. Excellent freshman year and should be on track for an All-SEC year in 2008. Hits like a mack truck and has excellent skills. One more year for Eric and he's headed to the NFL as a first rounder. Label: Hit

* Brent Vinson, DB, 6'2 200, Hampton, VA - Looked at first like he was going to be a bust as a freshman WR. Got moved to CB where he excelled, and will likely start this year. Has the speed, size, and athleticism to be a future NFL cornerback. Label: Hit


4 Stars

* Ahmad Paige, WR, 6'3 170, Sterlington, LA - Came to campus extremely skinny and had to redshirt. Has a lot of potential as a WR, with nice speed, route running, and ability to catch the ball. Probably will play some as a RS freshman in 2008, but likely won't break out till 2009. Label: Still has potential

* Rolando Melancon, DT, 6'2 260, Lutcher, LA - Never made it to campus due to academics. Enrolled at La Tech. Label: a total whiff.

* Rae Sykes, DE, 6'4, 245, Alcoa, TN - Never made it to campus, enrolled at juco, but is projected to be back for the 2009 class. Label: Still has potential

* Lennon Creer, RB, 6'1, 190, Tatum, TX - Played as a freshman, and looks to be Foster's key backup in 2008. Has nice combination of speed and elusiveness. Label: Hit

* Denarius Moore, WR, 6'0 185, Tatum TX - Played as a freshman, and looks much improved in 2008. Had a nice spring game. Possibly could evolve into a deep threat for Crompton in Clawson's offense. Label: Hit.

* Nevin McKenzie, DB 6'2 210, juco - Came in as a safety, moved to LB, and played pretty well as a backup LB last year. Possibly a starter in 2008 at OLB. Looks to be a playmaker and hits hard. Label: Hit

* Chris Walker, DE 6'2 230, Memphis, TN - Moved from LB to DE last year and played mostly special teams. As a soph his role will expand, as a backup DE. Not sure how much he will play in 2008. Label: Still has potential.

* DeAngelo Willingham, DB, 6'1 200, juco - Played last year, not particularly well. Has supposedly improved this year. We will see. He will be battling for a starting CB spot. Label: Still has potential.

* Kenny O'Neal, WR, 6'1 195, juco - After a lot of hype, he played very sparingly last year, mostly ran some predictable reverses and caught a long bomb vs no one. Struggled with academics, and has now left the team. Label: a total whiff

* Gerald Jones, WR, 6'1, 190, Oklahoma City, OK - Gerald had a good freshman year as a receiver and QB(highlights include a circus TD catch vs UK, and several plays as a QB from the G-gun formation). Expect more of the same this year, and Clawson has said he intends to use Gerald a lot more this year. if Gerald stays out of trouble (has one incident) he has NFL potential. Label: Hit.

* Savion Frazier, LB, 6'0 230, Woodbridge VA - Played last year on special teams, and is running second team OLB this year. Projects to play quite a bit. Label: Hit.

* Gerald Williams, LB, 6'4 240, Lauderdale Lakes, FL - Did not get in, trying to get in in 2008. Likely will, finally. Has played well in juco ranks..very well. Possibly will battle for a starting spot if he gets in. Label: Still has potential.

* BJ Coleman, QB, 6'4 190, Chattanooga, TN - redshirted, backing up in 2008 and will be battling for the second string job with Nick Stephens. His days are ahead of him. Label: Still has potential.

* Darris Sawtelle, OL, 6'5 290, Birmingham, MI - redshirted, getting stronger. He will likely not see much playing time till 2009. Coming along pretty well. Label: Still has potential.


3 Stars

* Will Brimfield, OL, 6'6 315, Neeses, SC - Came in as a DT, redshirted last year, moved to OL. Likely won't see much playing time till 2009. Label: Still has potential.

* Donald Langley, DT, 6'2, 295, Germantown, MD - redshirted last year as a freshman. Very quick DT, and learning well. Looks to be a key backup DT in 2008, and will battle for a starting role in 2009. Can't call him a hit till we see him play. Label: Still has potential.

* Rufus Williams, DE, 6'3 235, Titusville, FL - Never made it to campus due to academics. has done well at juco and projects to be at UT in the 2009 season. Label: Still has potential.

* Dennis Rogan, DB/KR, 5'11 185, Knoxville, TN - Played as a true freshman as mostly a punt returner, and rejuvinated the punt return unit. Played as a backup CB. Projects to battle for a starting CB spot in 2008. Label: Hit.

* CJ Fleming, DB, 5'11 180, Highland Springs, VA - Redshirted as a freshman, looked good as a cover corner in spring drills. Will likely be a backup in 2008, but has some potential as a good cover guy. Label: Still has potential.

* Art Evans, 6'2 195, DB, Lakeland, FL - redshirted last year after looking very good in spring. Will likely be a backup safety in 2008, and will look for more playing time in 2009. label: Still has potential.

* Daryl Vereen, RB/DB 6'0, 200, Huntersville, NC - redshirted last year and has been moved to DB for 2008. Looks to get some playing time as a backup strong safety. Label: Still has potential.

* Todd Campbell, WR 6'0 180, Franklin, TN - redshirted last year and has not really done all that well. Lost in the depth charts, I don't look for him to garner much playing time at UT. Label: a total whiff.

* Tyler Maples, WR, 6'2 180, Maryville, TN - Came in, got moved to DB, and now has been moved back to WR. Does not look like he will get much playing time in 2008, but could move up a little in 2000. He has some potential. Label: Still has potential.

* Anthony Anderson, DB, 6'2 185, Knoxville, TN- Was moved to DB and has had a decent spring this year. Could play some as a redhsirt freshman. Label: Still has potential.

2 stars

* Josh Hawkins, LB, 6'1 210, Loudon, TN - redshirted and moved to LB. Does not project to play much if at all. Label: A total whiff

* Cory Hall, DT, 6'4 260, Chattanooga, TN - went juco, and is projected to come back to 2009. Label: Still has potential.

* Kevin Cooper, FB, 6'1, 240, Chattanooga, TN - redshirted. Unsure how much he will play, but may play some this year. Label: Still has potential.

saw this breakdown at another place and thought it was spot on.