This Class So Far

[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.

[Arnge&Dangerous]

I think to call any of these guys a "total whiff" at this point beyond O'Neal and Melancon would be premature.

The biggest potential for a whiff, IMO, would be Todd Campbell and possibly Hawkins, but Hawkins may be able to help at LB. He's not a bad player.

Still, enjoyed the post ...

[babercr1]

I saw Hawkins play in high school and he was good, but you could tell he was a little slow to play TB at Tennessee. My first reaction to seeing him play was that he could be a pretty good outside LB in a few years.

[KLayneUT8]

kevin cooper played last year mayne

[TennTradition]

Was Daniel Lincoln not in this recruiting class?

[Clemson Volunteer Fan]

I, personally, hate when we sign local (often mediocre) players very early in the signing period. I know there are certain benefits to signing local players, but it irks me when we are struggling at the end of the signing period trying to find room for 4 star players.

[sickemsmokey10]

Originally Posted by TennTradition

Was Daniel Lincoln not in this recruiting class?

no. he was redshirted in 06

[orangeblood]

Hawkins was on his way to sign with Kentucky so he was offered in the summer. I personally like it when local talent is signed.

[VolinArizona]

ROFL at declaring Todd Campbell a whiff, but caucasian Tyler Maples as "still having potential."

[Abeachvol]

i didnt really care for D.Willingham last yr but he has turned it up a notch

[kptvol]

Originally Posted by VolinArizona

ROFL at declaring Todd Campbell a whiff, but caucasian Tyler Maples as "still having potential."

Austin Rogers is the best wide receiver on the team. Seriously, I know people that think that. Additionally, we would have beaten Louisville if Jordan Howell had played point the entire game.

[wfordiii]

Originally Posted by VolinArizona

ROFL at declaring Todd Campbell a whiff, but caucasian Tyler Maples as "still having potential."

I thought the exact same thing while reading this. I believe Campbell will see the field before Maples will. I'm not going to knock on either guy but we're beginning to get a little deep at WR so we may never see them.

[govols182]

Creer is a hit? What did he do last year besides fumble against Southern Miss and return kicks?

[Clemson Volunteer Fan]

Originally Posted by orangeblood

Hawkins was on his way to sign with Kentucky so he was offered in the summer. I personally like it when local talent is signed.

Rogan: Yes

Hawkins: No

[TennTradition]

Originally Posted by govols182

Creer is a hit? What did he do last year besides fumble against Southern Miss and return kicks?

He has shown some potential...as a freshman. I think he was a hit. Was the Southern Miss fumble the one where he was blown up before he ever got the ball? Or....is that the one where he fumbled along the sideline (maybe I'm remembering incorrectly)?