2017 Recruiting Class & Early Enrollees

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junder13

junder13

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#1
Several of our primary recruiting targets have stated they intend to enroll early. I haven't seen a list yet, however. Perhaps VN can help me compile a list.

Here are the ones I am most familiar with:
TN WR Tee Higgins
MS RB Cam Akers
NC LB Justin Foster (confirmed via Rivals article...wants to EE & major in Engineering...hoping ACT score high enough to earn an offer from Stanford, who does not allow EEs)
FL/CO LB Santino Marchiol (?)
PA CB Lamont Wade (?)
GA RB Trey Sermon (?)
VA DT Eric Crosby (?)
TN ATH Maliek Gray (?)
TN DT/OG Rutger Reitmaier (?)

Would appreciate if someone can help me put together a full list of prospects that are aiming to be EEs. It would also be good to know if the prospect stated that they would EE with confidence or indicated that they would like to if they could.

And, for fun, here are the players we are contenders with based on their current 247 Composite ranking:

#6 MI WR Donovan People-Jones (UM, MSU, OSU, UT)
#11 GA DB Deangelo Gibbs (all Vol; Warrior's cuz)
#15 MS RB Cam Akers (OSU, UT, UGA, Ole Miss)
#16 TN WR Tee Higgins (UT, Clem)
#25 TN DB JaCoby Stevens (UGA, LSU, UT)
#31 MD DE Chase Young (yet to visit UT but says he wants to)
#34 GA DE Robert Beal (not much chatter but Khalil's cuz)
#35 KY OT/OG Jedrick Wills (UK, Bama, UT)
#37 GA OT Andrew Thomas
#40 VA RB Khalan Laborn (likely FSU but Crosby may help)
#46 FL WR Jerry Jeudy (at one time said we lead but likely Bama now)
#48 GA DB Jamyest Williams (Aub, UT, UGA)
#55 TN ATH Maleik Gray (all Vol)
#59 TN OT Trey Smith (expect UT but Bama & Ole Miss in mix)
#63 NC LB Justin Foster (UT, Clem) - I personally don't want this guy, given his weight gain (JMO)
#72 PA CB Lamont Wade (PSU, UT, etc)
#83 GA DE Malik Herring
#92 VA DE Luiji Vilain
#96 CA/TX OT Chuck Filiaga
#100 FL DE Zachary Carter
#107 GA OT Tony Gray
#111 TN RB Ty Chandler
#119 OH CB Amir Riep
#121 GA RB Trey Sermon
#133 VA DT Eric Crosby (UT commit)
#180 FL OG Nick Brahms
#198 NC ATH Ryan Jones (UNC commit)
#201 MS S CJ Avery
#203 GA DE Markaviest Bryant
#219 GA WR Jeremiah Holloman (UGA, UT)
#259 FL/CO LB Santino Marchiol
#260 GA WR Trey Blount
#272 VA DE Jordan Williams
#286 TX WR KD Nixon (UT commit)
#293 VA DT Breyon Gaddy
#299 VA WR Tajh Capehart
#307 CA QB Jack Sears
#351 GA CB Yusuf Corker
#354 LA CB Cheyenne Labruzza (UT commit)
#361 MS ATH Kam White (Akers' teammate)
#373 TN S Theo Jackson
#411 TN OT Obinna Eze
#412 TN LB Jacob Phillips
#418 WV S Derek Pitts
#419 FL TE Tre McKitty
#420 CA OT Jalen McKenzie
#421 VA DE Elijah Conliffe
#422 GA LB Chandler Wooten (Aub, UT)
#451 TN WR Princeton Fant (all Vol)
#455 TN CB Gentry Bonds
#458 TN DT/OG Rutger Reitmaier
#461 TN APB Chase Hayden
#499 WV OL Billy Ross

I will edit these composite rankings over time if the thread gets bumped over the course of the season.

Here are the in-state players that we are either targeting or may target (based on composite ranking):
#1 Tee Higgins
#2 JaCoby Stevens
#3 Maleik Gray
#4 Trey Smith
#6 Ty Chandler
#8 Theo Jackson
#9 Obinna Eze
#10 Jacob Phillips (not sure how hard we're after this one)
#11 Princeton Fant
#12 Gentry Bonds
#13 Rutger Reitmaier
#14 Chase Hayden
#15 TJ Carter
#18 Patrick Leitten
#28 LaTrell Bumphus
#29 Ben Hutch

I think we could realistically see a class as follows:

Offense 10-12
QB - 0/1 - J. Sears or bust it seems
RB - 2/3 - Akers, Chandler/Sermon, Hayden
WR - 3/4 - Higgins, Fant, Holloman/Blount, KD Nixon
TE - 2 - C. Rogers, McKitty (not many options this class it seems)
OT - 2/3 - T. Smith, Andrews/Gray/Wills, Obinna (lots of possibilities here at one of the strongest positions in this class)
OG - 1/2 - Brahms &/or a less athletic OT or DT perhaps

Defense 12-13
DE - 3 - Marquez Bembry, J. Williams (several candidates & limited feel for who is realistic/likely)
DT - 3/4 - Crosby, Reitmaier (maybe a JUCO?...lots of unknowns at this position of need)
LB - 3 - Solon Page, Marchiol, M. Gray (GA LBs Wooten & Taylor possibilities)
CB - 2 - C. Labruzza, Corker (Wade, Bonds, TJ Carter are possibilities)
S - 2 - J. Stevens, D. Gibbs (Theo Jackson possibility/fall back)

*Admittedly, several of the names included in the hypothetical class above may be wishful thinking. Also, I did not include LB commit Burnam. Obviously, lots will change before EE signing and Feb. signing day, but this is an early preview of how the class could look.
 
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#3
#3
Lotta good work there, OP! :hi::hi:

Btw, is glichtenwalter doing his "Commits/Prospects for 2017" this year?
 
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#4
#4
Seems like Cam Akers is waiting to see what Hurd/Kamara are going to do after next year before making a decision. He shouldn't be seriously considering Ole Miss. Freeze's track record with RB's at OM is not good. Now, all this pay for play stuff could really affect their recruiting. A Dormady; Akers/Kelly backfield would be very formidable.
 
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#5
#5
The Artful Dodger said:
Seems like Cam Akers is waiting to see what Hurd/Kamara are going to do after next year before making a decision. He shouldn't be seriously considering Ole Miss. Freeze's track record with RB's at OM is not good. Now, all this pay for play stuff could really affect their recruiting. A Dormady; Akers/Kelly backfield would be very formidable.
Click to expand...

If Akers is going to EE, he'll likely have to make a decision before the deadline to declare for the draft.
 
#6
#6
I still would like a comprehensive list on some of our top 2017 prospects who plan to early enroll. Does anyone have some names they could provide? I know that several of our primary recruiting targets have stated they intend to enroll early, but I haven't seen a list. Here are the ones I am most familiar with:
MS RB Cam Akers (confirmed intention)
NC LB Justin Foster (confirmed intention...wants to major in Engineering)
PA CB Lamont Wade (confirmed intention during Rivals 5-Star Challenge in ATL interview--named four standing out: UT, PSU, OSU, UCLA)

Below is a list of some of our top targets who are showing at least a modest level of mutual interest. The rankings are based on the new Rivals 250 (as of 6/7):

#10 PA DB Lamont Wade
#17 KY OL Jedrick Wills
#27 MS RB Cam Akers
(removed JaCoby Stevens at #37...he's not coming here)
#40 TN WR Tee Higgins
#62 FL DE Zachary Carter
#70 GA DE Robert Beal
#79 NC LB Justin Foster
#86 GA DE Malik Herring
#104 TN DB Maleik Gray (UT commit!)
#107 NJ DT Fred Hansard
#120 GA LB Tyler Taylor
#121 CA/TX OT Chuck Filaga
#122 AL LB KJ Britt
#139 GA OL Andrew Thomas
#140 GA OL Tony Gray
#144 GA DB Deangelo Gibbs
#148 GA DB Jamyest Williams
#156 VA DE/DT Jordan Williams (plans to major in Kinesiology, which UT offers)
#169 GA DE Michael Allen
#173 TN RB Ty Chandler
#196 GA DE/DT MJ Webb
#224 TN RB Chase Hayden
#225 TN OL Obinna Eze
#226 AL DE Ryan Johnson
#236 OH DB Amir Riep
#238 VA DT Breyon Gaddy
#249 TN DE LaTrell Bumphus

It is comical that Rivals does not have Trey Smith in the top 250. I am also shocked by how dramatically Gibbs fell in the re-ranking. Rivals is quickly losing credit in my eyes.
 
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#7
#7
Good starting list junder, and good thread. :hi:

It's always interesting to track how many guys we can get on campus early each year. Wish I could chime in with some other names.
 
#8
#8
Below is a breakdown of our current 17 commitments: six on offense, ten on defense, and one on special teams. Three of our current commits are composite four stars on 247 (Gray, Crosby, Nixon), the remaining 14 are composite three stars.

Offense - 6 commits, 4 estimated remaining spots

QB -
RB - Trey Coleman (875)
WR - KD Nixon (290), Princeton Fant (525), Jacquez Jones (819)
TE - Chase Rogers (832)
OL - Jordan Tucker (676)

Defense - 10 commits, 2 estimated spots remaining

DE - LaTrell Bumphus (438), Tre Lawson (537), Marquez Bembry (614)
DT - Eric Crosby (193)
LB - Jaquan Henderson (402), Solon Page (882), Mo Burnam (884)
CB - Cheyenne Labruzza (437)
NB - Maleik Gray (59)
S - Theo Jackson (385)

Special Teams - 1 commit, 0 estimated remaining spots

K - Brent Cimaglia

Using the best case scenario of taking 25 signees in the 2017 class -- a prospect I previously never thought possible based on the number of current scholarship players we have, rising seniors this season, and anticipated juniors who may leave for the NFL early -- we would have eight spots left for our 2017 class.

Now consider who were are still in on with what we have been led to believe is a realistic chance of landing. I listed the players that I am familiar with based on this forum. I added gray font to any player whose composite rating is below the highest rated current commit at his position.

QB - Jack Sears (205), Ty Brock (733)
RB - Cam Akers (16), Ty Chandler (111), Devan Barrett (247), Damon Williams (412), Chase Hayden (427)
WR - Tee Higgins (15), Jerry Jeudy (44), Jaylen Harris (167), Jeremiah Holloman (220)
TE - Tre McKitty (450)
OT - Jedrick Wills (36), Trey Smith (48), Andrew Thomas (49), Chuck Filiaga (93), Tony Gray (127), Kendall Randolph (174), Obinna Eze (212), TJ Moore (226), Adrian Ealy (249), Riley Locklear (642)
OG - Nick Brahms (153), Billy Ross (362), Jalen McKenzie (439)

DE - Robert Beal (30), Jordan Williams (183), Zachary Carter (97), Malik Herring (99), LaBryan Ray (102), Ryan Johnson (187), Markaviest Bryant (194), MJ Webb (240), Michael Allen (359), Elijah Conliffe (441)
DT - Fred Hansard (165), Breyon Gaddy (275), Donovan Jeter (278), Kivon Bennett (452), Brandon Gaddy, Malik Young (JUCO)
LB - Justin Foster (79), Tyler Taylor (227), Marchiol (269), Kenney Britt (313)
CB - Deangelo Gibbs (34), Jamyest Williams (52), Lamont Wade (53), Amir Riep (115), Yusuf Corker (315), TJ Carter (466), Gentry Bonds (648)
S - JaCoby Stevens (24), Devon Hunter (58), Derek Pitts (435)

It would appear that many of the fans celebrating today's string of seven 2017 commitments are not familiar with the principle of "opportunity cost", or they were too busy "booming" from a cascade of composite three star commits to realize our 2017 class just crossed the 2/3 full mark with only have three composite four star commits.

Granted, Jones has a history of dropping lower rated kids at the 11th hour right before NSD, and that may happen again. But that strategy may eventually make the "family atmosphere" at UT look very superficial. It's also likely to lead to media scrutiny and negative press. I realize the VN circus of follow-the-leader, Jonestown Kool-Aid drinker fans will pass off the possibility of dropping lower rated kids before NSD as the nature of the business, as well as claim that these lower rated prospects are destined to shoot up the rankings once their undiscovered tape gets out. But we have too many big-time prospects left on our board to take on so many diamonds-in-the-rough, nor should we still be relying on a strategy of pump (in spring/summer) and dump (in Jan./Feb.) at this point in Butch's tenure. It was *perhaps* more understandable the first few years as we were pulling ourselves and our roster from the depths of Dooley despair, but we should be past that strategy now.

We currently have a top 10 roster of talent. But this current 2017 class is not reloading that same skill level of talent based on current commits rankings. The uncommitted prospects giving us a serious look, however, would more closely reflect a comparable level of talent -- thus the rub I have with our string of commits today.

Fire away (Butch)Jonestown sheeple lapdog ballsniffers.
 
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#10
#10
We'll sign Higgins, Smith, Gaddy, Chandler, Gibbs for sure. Likely Jordan Williams and Holloman. Then 50/50 on Akers, Wade, Wills, Eze... Some of these guys won't stay committed for more than 3 months lol. We'll sign a top 10 class with around the same average * ranking as last season. Relax


Not to mention I'm forgetting some high rated guys
 
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#11
#11
You act like all the players listed want to sign with Tennessee right now but CBJ said no and let the 3*'s commit instead. Almost half the players u named aren't even really considering coming to UT
 
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#12
#12
junder13 said:
Below is a breakdown of our current 17 commitments: six on offense, ten on defense, and one on special teams. Three of our current commits are composite four stars on 247 (Gray, Crosby, Nixon), the remaining 14 are composite three stars.

Offense - 6 commits, 4 estimated remaining spots

QB -
RB - Trey Coleman (875)
WR - KD Nixon (290), Princeton Fant (525), Jacquez Jones (819)
TE - Chase Rogers (832)
OL - Jordan Tucker (676)

Defense - 10 commits, 2 estimated spots remaining

DE - LaTrell Bumphus (438), Tre Lawson (537), Marquez Bembry (614)
DT - Eric Crosby (193)
LB - Jaquan Henderson (402), Solon Page (882), Mo Burnam (884)
CB - Cheyenne Labruzza (437)
NB - Maleik Gray (59)
S - Theo Jackson (385)

Special Teams - 1 commit, 0 estimated remaining spots

K - Brent Cimaglia

Using the best case scenario of taking 25 signees in the 2017 class -- a prospect I previously never thought possible based on the number of current scholarship players we have, rising seniors this season, and anticipated juniors who may leave for the NFL early -- we would have eight spots left for our 2017 class.

Now consider who were are still in on with what we have been led to believe is a realistic chance of landing. I listed the players that I am familiar with based on this forum. I added gray font to any player whose composite rating is below the highest rated current commit at his position.

QB - Jack Sears (205), Ty Brock (733)
RB - Cam Akers (16), Ty Chandler (111), Devan Barrett (247), Damon Williams (412), Chase Hayden (427)
WR - Tee Higgins (15), Jerry Jeudy (44), Jaylen Harris (167), Jeremiah Holloman (220)
TE - Tre McKitty (450)
OT - Jedrick Wills (36), Trey Smith (48), Andrew Thomas (49), Chuck Filiaga (93), Tony Gray (127), Kendall Randolph (174), Obinna Eze (212), TJ Moore (226), Adrian Ealy (249), Riley Locklear (642)
OG - Nick Brahms (153), Billy Ross (362), Jalen McKenzie (439)

DE - Robert Beal (30), Jordan Williams (183), Zachary Carter (97), Malik Herring (99), LaBryan Ray (102), Ryan Johnson (187), Markaviest Bryant (194), MJ Webb (240), Michael Allen (359), Elijah Conliffe (441)
DT - Fred Hansard (165), Breyon Gaddy (275), Donovan Jeter (278), Kivon Bennett (452), Brandon Gaddy, Malik Young (JUCO)
LB - Justin Foster (79), Tyler Taylor (227), Marchiol (269), Kenney Britt (313)
CB - Deangelo Gibbs (34), Jamyest Williams (52), Lamont Wade (53), Amir Riep (115), Yusuf Corker (315), TJ Carter (466), Gentry Bonds (648)
S - JaCoby Stevens (24), Devon Hunter (58), Derek Pitts (435)

It would appear that many of the fans celebrating today's string of seven 2017 commitments are not familiar with the principle of "opportunity cost", or they were too busy "booming" from a cascade of composite three star commits to realize our 2017 class just crossed the 2/3 full mark with only have three composite four star commits.

Granted, Jones has a history of dropping lower rated kids at the 11th hour right before NSD, and that may happen again. But that strategy may eventually make the "family atmosphere" at UT look very superficial. It's also likely to lead to media scrutiny and negative press. I realize the VN circus of follow-the-leader, Jonestown Kool-Aid drinker fans will pass off the possibility of dropping lower rated kids before NSD as the nature of the business, as well as claim that these lower rated prospects are destined to shoot up the rankings once their undiscovered tape gets out. But we have too many big-time prospects left on our board to take on so many diamonds-in-the-rough, nor should we still be relying on a strategy of pump (in spring/summer) and dump (in Jan./Feb.) at this point in Butch's tenure. It was *perhaps* more understandable the first few years as we were pulling ourselves and our roster from the depths of Dooley despair, but we should be past that strategy now.

We currently have a top 10 roster of talent. But this current 2017 class is not reloading that same skill level of talent based on current commits rankings. The uncommitted prospects giving us a serious look, however, would more closely reflect a comparable level of talent -- thus the rub I have with our string of commits today.

Fire away (Butch)Jonestown sheeple lapdog ballsniffers.
Click to expand...

First of all the stars will change. It's June before their senior year. Most of the sites haven't even evaluated some of the prospects. Remember last year we got a commitment from a 2 star DT from Louisiana around this time that everyone howled about initially. Then after fall evaluations came out, he got into the Rivals 100, LSU, Texas, and everyone offered. We ended up losing him but that evaluation showed me how good this staff is at identifying prospects ahead of our competitors.

At least wait until it's closer to signing day before declaring a class as a bust. I dont know how many of these kids are any good. I haven't looked at their tape. However, I trust Butch Jones staff in evaluations more than internet rankings.

This will be a top 5 class at the end of the day.

And FYI there's a good chance we sign more than 25. With early entrants into the draft and inevtiable transfers, it wouldn't surprise me if we signed 28-30 kids in 2017.
 
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#13
#13
Not to mention this have Tennessee a TON of media time. Lots of artles written, tons of recruits were talking about how crazy it was. How crazy it was for there to be 8 commits in a single day, talking about how Tennessee was back and how Tennessee is a national power again and how people are fearing Tennessee. The recruits loved it, even the ones that weren't there lol
 
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#14
#14
Smokey123 said:
You act like all the players listed want to sign with Tennessee right now but CBJ said no and let the 3*'s commit instead. Almost half the players u named aren't even really considering coming to UT
Click to expand...

Sure buddy. Keep telling yourself those higher rated players "aren't even really considering coming to UT". Most all of the players I listed have visited UT this summer and I listed just about every player Hubbs had on his final list of who to expect for OCD. Every single one of the players listed have stated in an interview that UT is a contender. The evidence is in the threads here on VN. Things change quickly when recruiting high schoolers but, if they changed with the players listed, it wasn't added to their thread. Why don't you list the players I included that aren't really considering UT any more, instead of speaking in generalities with no backing substance?
 
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#15
#15
junder13 said:
Sure buddy. Keep telling yourself those higher rated players "aren't even really considering coming to UT". Most all of the players I listed have visited UT this summer and I listed just about every player Hubbs had on his final list of who to expect for OCD. Every single one of the players listed have stated in an interview that UT is a contender. The evidence is in the threads here on VN. Things change quickly when recruiting high schoolers but, if they changed with the players listed, it wasn't added to their thread. Why don't you list the players I included that aren't really considering UT any more, instead of speaking in generalities with no backing substance?
Click to expand...

You actually think the players who show interest in a school are gonna go there? Then why doesn't alabama just like 10-15 5*'s and 10 more 4*'s every class?

Also, I didn't say half of them weren't showing interest in UT. I said considering coming here. There's a huge difference
 
#16
#16
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
First of all the stars will change. It's June before their senior year. Most of the sites haven't even evaluated some of the prospects. Remember last year we got a commitment from a 2 star DT from Louisiana around this time that everyone howled about initially. Then after fall evaluations came out, he got into the Rivals 100, LSU, Texas, and everyone offered. We ended up losing him but that evaluation showed me how good this staff is at identifying prospects ahead of our competitors.

At least wait until it's closer to signing day before declaring a class as a bust. I dont know how many of these kids are any good. I haven't looked at their tape. However, I trust Butch Jones staff in evaluations more than internet rankings.

This will be a top 5 class at the end of the day.

And FYI there's a good chance we sign more than 25. With early entrants into the draft and inevtiable transfers, it wouldn't surprise me if we signed 28-30 kids in 2017.
Click to expand...

If I were to list what I perceive as Butch Jones' staff's greatest strengths, recruiting and talent evaluation would be at the top (it certainly wouldn't be clock management, game adjustments, and maintaining momentum with a multi-score lead). I am confident several of these committed players are better than their current rating. I also am confident Jones will end up with a fairly highly rated 2017 class. It's actually my confidence in these points that makes me view today's string of commitments as most baffling.

While some of these current commits appear underrated (some perhaps significantly underrated), most all of them do not appear to be better than our 20 or so top 250 composite players that we are in good standing with. I suspect several current commits will get dropped (which I don't agree with or like as a strategy) and we will go over the 25 class cap, sacrificing numbers in 2018.

I just view today as a classic Butch gimmick to try and make headlines. I would rather have had 2-3 2017 commitments that no one expect to later be dropped no matter how great a season we have in 2016 or how many of those 20 or so top 250 composite players want to jump on board later in the recruiting season. Does that make sense? That's why I feel today was a pointless headline gimmick. We should finish with a top 10 class and, if so, several of these current commits are ultimately not likely to be part of the class. JMO. We'll see.
 
#17
#17
Smokey123 said:
You actually think the players who show interest in a school are gonna go there? Then why doesn't alabama just like 10-15 5*'s and 10 more 4*'s every class?

Also, I didn't say half of them weren't showing interest in UT. I said considering coming here. There's a huge difference
Click to expand...

You're twisting what I'm saying. I'm not saying that huge list of higher rated players all will sign with us or even intend to right now. I'm just saying that quite a few of them we are legitimately players for and that it doesn't make sense to fill up our class of lesser skilled players lower on the board until the higher rated players on the coaches' board commit. So unless the recruiting services are wrong about the rankings for the entirety of that prospective list I typed out, or we are getting commits from our highest rated prospects on our board (which I highly doubt across just about every position group), it would appear that we are accepting early commits from lower rated/skilled prospects in an attempt to orchestrate excitement and limited time to jump on board. This will either lead to a bunch of players being dropped later, or us passing on some of the higher rated players who've visited us and expressed interest in the 2017 class (I believe the former is more likely to happen).
 
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#18
#18
junder13 said:
If I were to list what I perceive as Butch Jones' staff's greatest strengths, recruiting and talent evaluation would be at the top (it certainly wouldn't be clock management, game adjustments, and maintaining momentum with a multi-score lead). I am confident several of these committed players are better than their current rating. I also am confident Jones will end up with a fairly highly rated 2017 class. It's actually my confidence in these points that makes me view today's string of commitments as most baffling.

While some of these current commits appear underrated (some perhaps significantly underrated), most all of them do not appear to be better than our 20 or so top 250 composite players that we are in good standing with. I suspect several current commits will get dropped (which I don't agree with or like as a strategy) and we will go over the 25 class cap, sacrificing numbers in 2018.

I just view today as a classic Butch gimmick to try and make headlines. I would rather have had 2-3 2017 commitments that no one expect to later be dropped no matter how great a season we have in 2016 or how many of those 20 or so top 250 composite players want to jump on board later in the recruiting season. Does that make sense? That's why I feel today was a pointless headline gimmick. We should finish with a top 10 class and, if so, several of these current commits are ultimately not likely to be part of the class. JMO. We'll see.
Click to expand...

Just because you are in "good standing" doesn't mean they will commit. With what Butch did he caused a ton of media attention. Just after the Gray committ JaCoby said he might give UT a second look. Now after 8 commits you have tons of recruits looking at UT thinking "dang, something's great going on at UT, I wanna be apart of it". These are 17 year old kids, half them will change their mind in 2 months lol. Higgins, Smith, Chandler, Gaddy, Gibbs, Jordan Williams and Holloman will all be vols, a few other great players and we'll have a top 10 class.
 
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#19
#19
junder13 said:
You're twisting what I'm saying. I'm not saying that huge list of higher rated players all will sign with us or even intend to right now. I'm just saying that quite a few of them we are legitimately players for and that it doesn't make sense to fill up our class of lesser skilled players lower on the board until the higher rated players on the coaches' board commit. So unless the recruiting services are wrong about the rankings for the entirety of that prospective list I typed out, or we are getting commits from our highest rated prospects on our board (which I highly doubt across just about every position group), it would appear that we are accepting early commits from lower rated/skilled prospects in an attempt to orchestrate excitement and limited time to jump on board. This will either lead to a bunch of players being dropped later, or us passing on some of the higher rated players who've visited us and expressed interest in the 2017 class (I believe the former is more likely to happen).
Click to expand...

The thing is, a lot of coaches already know what school these players will commit to. If you wait too long then u have all these players that don't choose your school, then what? You get left with worse players than u have now cuz schools would already find the great underrated players and recruit them hard just like CBJ did. The ones who want to be a vol will be a vol, whether Tennessee has 5 commitments or 20. You think higgins, smith or Gibbs is gonna go " oh, they have a bunch of 3*'s, better not commit now".

It's crazy how people still doubt CBJ when it comes to recruiting
 
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#20
#20
Smokey123 said:
Just because you are in "good standing" doesn't mean they will commit. With what Butch did he caused a ton of media attention. Just after the Gray committ JaCoby said he might give UT a second look. Now after 8 commits you have tons of recruits looking at UT thinking "dang, something's great going on at UT, I wanna be apart of it". These are 17 year old kids, half them will change their mind in 2 months lol. Higgins, Smith, Chandler, Gaddy, Gibbs, Jordan Williams and Holloman will all be vols, a few other great players and we'll have a top 10 class.
Click to expand...

While Jordan Williams no longer seems a sure thing (appears to be trending to Clemson), I agree the other six you listed are looking like very strong possibilities at present. That is my point! Why take the commitment of several lower rated and lower ceiling players today when so many higher rated players remain on our board with a very realistic shot to land???

You're overestimating the headline of today's 7 commitments in the 2017 class (I'm not including Taylor in the 2018 class). I bet Georgia fans aren't impressed. I know if Georgia took the same seven players I would view it as a victory. If there were not scholarship limitations than that would change everything. But given that there is an opportunity cost to every commitment, I view settling for lower skilled players as a loss -- especially when more than a quarter of our class fills up in one day and not a single one of the commitments is from a composite four star.

And your example of Maleik Gray gaining JaCoby's attention furthers my point. Gray is an elite athlete and his ranking reflects this. Thus, his commitment to UT gains the attention of another elite athlete. The seven commitments we acquired today will not turn the attention of any elite prospect, unless they allow themselves to get caught up in the hype and hysteria of the event. Rival coaches will quickly temper that, however, once they tell them how OCD was more a victory for our rivals than us (considering the number of SEC teams that end the season with a top 10 class each year). Remember, in the SEC, it's all relative. Piss poor SEC teams still can beat some of the better teams from other conferences. The recruiting world is every bit as relative (i.e., the 10th overall ranked team in the nation may still be the 5th or 6th ranked in the SEC).
 
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#21
#21
Smokey123 said:
The thing is, a lot of coaches already know what school these players will commit to. If you wait too long then u have all these players that don't choose your school, then what? You get left with worse players than u have now cuz schools would already find the great underrated players and recruit them hard just like CBJ did. The ones who want to be a vol will be a vol, whether Tennessee has 5 commitments or 20. You think higgins, smith or Gibbs is gonna go " oh, they have a bunch of 3*'s, better not commit now".

It's crazy how people still doubt CBJ when it comes to recruiting
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Ha, I hear this line all the time on here. Good grief. I don't just accept someone's ability or skill or opinion in anything in life, no matter what their reputation or track record says. I evaluate everything from an objective lense (as objective as my subjective mind can be, at least) and form my own opinion. I could give a **** if Butch Jones wins the recruiting championship 10 years in a row. If that eleventh class has 3 composite four stars and 14 composite three stars eight months before NSD, and about 20-30 top 250 players have stated publicly that UT is a major consideration for their signature, I'm going to question that coaches recruiting strategy. And I will always question a recruiting strategy that involves backing out of commitments with players for reasons outside of grades, discipline problems, or athletic apathy simply because another higher rated player wants on board at a later date. If that could be the case, don't publicly accept the player's commitment who is lower on your board so early in the recruiting cycle. A majority of others seem to feel differently, that is fine.

But Jones' recruiting track record does not make him above question and reproach, and it never will (at least in my eyes as a fan and independent thinker).
 
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#23
#23
junder13 said:
Below is a breakdown of our current 17 commitments: six on offense, ten on defense, and one on special teams. Three of our current commits are composite four stars on 247 (Gray, Crosby, Nixon), the remaining 14 are composite three stars.

Offense - 6 commits, 4 estimated remaining spots

QB -
RB - Trey Coleman (875)
WR - KD Nixon (290), Princeton Fant (525), Jacquez Jones (819)
TE - Chase Rogers (832)
OL - Jordan Tucker (676)

Defense - 10 commits, 2 estimated spots remaining

DE - LaTrell Bumphus (438), Tre Lawson (537), Marquez Bembry (614)
DT - Eric Crosby (193)
LB - Jaquan Henderson (402), Solon Page (882), Mo Burnam (884)
CB - Cheyenne Labruzza (437)
NB - Maleik Gray (59)
S - Theo Jackson (385)

Special Teams - 1 commit, 0 estimated remaining spots

K - Brent Cimaglia

Using the best case scenario of taking 25 signees in the 2017 class -- a prospect I previously never thought possible based on the number of current scholarship players we have, rising seniors this season, and anticipated juniors who may leave for the NFL early -- we would have eight spots left for our 2017 class.

Now consider who were are still in on with what we have been led to believe is a realistic chance of landing. I listed the players that I am familiar with based on this forum. I added gray font to any player whose composite rating is below the highest rated current commit at his position.

QB - Jack Sears (205), Ty Brock (733)
RB - Cam Akers (16), Ty Chandler (111), Devan Barrett (247), Damon Williams (412), Chase Hayden (427)
WR - Tee Higgins (15), Jerry Jeudy (44), Jaylen Harris (167), Jeremiah Holloman (220)
TE - Tre McKitty (450)
OT - Jedrick Wills (36), Trey Smith (48), Andrew Thomas (49), Chuck Filiaga (93), Tony Gray (127), Kendall Randolph (174), Obinna Eze (212), TJ Moore (226), Adrian Ealy (249), Riley Locklear (642)
OG - Nick Brahms (153), Billy Ross (362), Jalen McKenzie (439)

DE - Robert Beal (30), Jordan Williams (183), Zachary Carter (97), Malik Herring (99), LaBryan Ray (102), Ryan Johnson (187), Markaviest Bryant (194), MJ Webb (240), Michael Allen (359), Elijah Conliffe (441)
DT - Fred Hansard (165), Breyon Gaddy (275), Donovan Jeter (278), Kivon Bennett (452), Brandon Gaddy, Malik Young (JUCO)
LB - Justin Foster (79), Tyler Taylor (227), Marchiol (269), Kenney Britt (313)
CB - Deangelo Gibbs (34), Jamyest Williams (52), Lamont Wade (53), Amir Riep (115), Yusuf Corker (315), TJ Carter (466), Gentry Bonds (648)
S - JaCoby Stevens (24), Devon Hunter (58), Derek Pitts (435)

It would appear that many of the fans celebrating today's string of seven 2017 commitments are not familiar with the principle of "opportunity cost", or they were too busy "booming" from a cascade of composite three star commits to realize our 2017 class just crossed the 2/3 full mark with only have three composite four star commits.

Granted, Jones has a history of dropping lower rated kids at the 11th hour right before NSD, and that may happen again. But that strategy may eventually make the "family atmosphere" at UT look very superficial. It's also likely to lead to media scrutiny and negative press. I realize the VN circus of follow-the-leader, Jonestown Kool-Aid drinker fans will pass off the possibility of dropping lower rated kids before NSD as the nature of the business, as well as claim that these lower rated prospects are destined to shoot up the rankings once their undiscovered tape gets out. But we have too many big-time prospects left on our board to take on so many diamonds-in-the-rough, nor should we still be relying on a strategy of pump (in spring/summer) and dump (in Jan./Feb.) at this point in Butch's tenure. It was *perhaps* more understandable the first few years as we were pulling ourselves and our roster from the depths of Dooley despair, but we should be past that strategy now.

We currently have a top 10 roster of talent. But this current 2017 class is not reloading that same skill level of talent based on current commits rankings. The uncommitted prospects giving us a serious look, however, would more closely reflect a comparable level of talent -- thus the rub I have with our string of commits today.

Fire away (Butch)Jonestown sheeple lapdog ballsniffers.
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We're doomed. :cray:
 
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