D.J. Swearinger

[sjt18]

Originally Posted by govols182

Valid first point. To answer the others, would you rather have Eric Berry starting in your secondary or Antonio Gaines?

That suggests that the rankings are always an accurate measure of not just potential but future performance.

Who would you rather have Slick Shelley or Josh Briscoe?

[govols182]

Originally Posted by Volsguy12

thats a stupid argument. Eric Berry is a once in a decade player. would you rather have LaMarcus Coker or Steve Slaton in your backfield? answer me that..

Alright...would you rather have Robert Meachem or Quentin Hancock?

[govols182]

Originally Posted by sjt18

That suggests that the rankings are always an accurate measure of not just potential but future performance.

Who would you rather have Slick Shelley or Josh Briscoe?

There are arguments that can be made for different players. I'm just saying we need more 4*'s. That's it.

[sjt18]

Would you rather have Mapu or Big Dan right now?

The point is that many 3* players can and do out perform higher rated players. A player ranking may be only about talent but it also has to do with who goes to what camp/combine, who gets marketed effectively by their coaches/supporters, media exposure in known "hotbeds", and often who plays on the better teams or in the better HS leagues.

[sjt18]

BTW 182, I wouldn't mind having that security that others though highly of UT's commits as well. The recruiting rankings game is entertaining if nothing else and it is nice to get the props for the program. It is true that when a perception develops that top players want to play for a team other top players will follow- to that extent the rankings matter.

However you have to hope that CPF is smart enough not to bring in a bunch of duds as critical as the next couple of years are going to be for the program and him personally. If he wants to survive to break Neyland's record, he better be getting guys who won't lose to UF, UGA, Bama, etc every year. He better be getting guys who can put UT in BCS contention.

[85Destiny]

I would like more 4 stars also. But you can't only recruit 4-5 star players.

[govols182]

Originally Posted by sjt18

BTW 182, I wouldn't mind having that security that others though highly of UT's commits as well. The recruiting rankings game is entertaining if nothing else and it is nice to get the props for the program. It is true that when a perception develops that top players want to play for a team other top players will follow- to that extent the rankings matter.

However you have to hope that CPF is smart enough not to bring in a bunch of duds as critical as the next couple of years are going to be for the program and him personally. If he wants to survive to break Neyland's record, he better be getting guys who won't lose to UF, UGA, Bama, etc every year. He better be getting guys who can put UT in BCS contention.

Exactly my point. If we want to contend with the best we have to get the best. I know some of these guys could end up being all americans, I understand that. I just don't want our class to be like the 2006 class. Here's to some 4*'s in the next few weeks.

[govols182]

Originally Posted by 85Destiny

I would like more 4 stars also. But you can't only recruit 4-5 star players.

I understand this, what I am saying is I don't want a class full of 2 and 3 star prospects. The odds wouldn't be in our favor.

[head1]

This is really a useless argument because there are still camps and a full season left of football and ranking are going to change so much. With these kids getting attention from UT that will get them more recognition and gurus will critique their film even more. Some may drop some may go up but rankings right now are useless.

[govols182]

2002
Jason Hall 2*-Started SR year, pretty good player
Marvin Mitchell 3*-Good LB for us
Leon Pinky 2*-Don't remember his name
Antwan Stewart 3*-injuries slowed him, good player

2003
Corey Campbell 3*-had a few INT late in some games
Britton Colquitt 3*-K/P's aren't usually rated highly
Brad Cottam 3*-came on strong late JR year
Roshaun Fellows 3*-promising early, disappointment later
Zarnell Fitch 3*-never hear his name
Antonio Gaines 2*-reserve player
Bill Grimes 2*-who?
Bo Hardegree 2*-clipboard holder
Jon Hefney 3*-disappointing SR season
Jared Hostetter 3*-never finished here I don't believe
Brandon Johnson 3*-dismissed from team
Anthony McDaniel 3*-dismissed from team, NFL now
John Poe 3*-reserve LB

2004
Ell Ash 3*-didn't play much
Chris Brown 2*-very dependable VOL
Sinclair Cannon 3*-has he even lettered?
Arian Foster 3*-soon to be Vol leading rusher
Ramon Foster 3*-big, strong OL. starter JR and SR
Inky Johnson 2*-big heart, Would have been a great one
Ryan Karl 2*-slow for UT LB but started JR and SR
Cameron Mayo 3*-injury prone, never finished
Anthony Parker 3*-best OL we have right now
Antonio Reynolds 3*-decent career
James Turner 2*-did he letter?
Ja'kouri Williams 3*-switched positions too many times
Ellix Wilson 2*-Starter this year, key reserve so far

2005
Josh Briscoe 3*-very good JR, has improved all 3 yrs
Jeff Cottam 3*-high expectations for him this year
Marsalous Johnson 3*-starter last year, was sophomore
Ricardo Kemp 3*-good, but transfered
Darius Myers 3*-yet to letter, will be sophomore
Vlad Richards 3*-key reserve, should start next year
Austin Rogers 3*-had some drops,still good career so far
Antonio Wardlow 3*-good ST guy, dismissed from team
Dan Williams 3*-started soph. year, best DT we have

2006-these guys still have time to do something
Chad Cunningham 2*-key reserve when Britton injured
Dorian Davis 2*-dismissed from team
Blake Garretson 3*-dismissed before arriving
Justin Garrett 3*-grade issues
Quentin Hancock 3*-spring standout so far
Daniel Lincoln 2*-big kicker, good so far
Dustin Lindsey 3*-grade issues
Chase Nelson 3*-weight problems, we will see this year
Cody Pope 3*-weight issues, position switches
Stephaun Raines 2*-will be his first year this year
Jarrod Shaw 3*-switched from DT, yet to letter
Lee Smith 3*-dismissed from team
Nick Stephens 3*-strongest arm of QB's,2nd string so far
Luke Stocker 3*-good spring, key reserve last year
Victor Thomas 3*-weight issues, position switch
Lamarcus Thompson 3*-ST so far, key reserve this year


Out of 55 from these classes, only 25 have made some type of significant contribution to the team. Hopefully the trend changes with 07 and 08 classes.

[sjt18]

I don't know if results will change or not... However some of these guys were signed as fallbacks. The guys being signed now are apparently people the coaches want to lock down early.

[govols182]

Originally Posted by sjt18

I don't know if results will change or not... However some of these guys were signed as fallbacks. The guys being signed now are apparently people the coaches want to lock down early.

Good point! I just hope some higher rated guys get the ball rolling. Maybe the Giles commitment will help with some other guys.

[Volsguy12]

do you really think there is a huge difference in 3 star and 4 stars?

[govols182]

Originally Posted by Volsguy12

do you really think there is a huge difference in 3 star and 4 stars?

Depends on the rivals rating system. A 5.7 is closer than a 5.6.

[VOLNBAMA]

182 you know some of our players could jump from 3* to 4* and 4* to 5*.