'16 AZ DE Jonathan Kongbo UT Signee 2/3/16

[butchna]

Wharton and Jenkins both played extensively vs Iowa last year. Would more depth at WR be a bad thing right now? UT has struggled to field enough healthy WR's since Jones arrived. Scott would have provided additional depth at RB. Helm would have been one of the top two TE's if not a starter.

Two years ago Jaylen Miller got PT as a Fr then left the program. Lemond Johnson played all 12 games on ST's and left.


UT has had the highest attrition in the SEC under Jones. That... is a fact. It is also a fact that you can't build the depth that we constantly hear as an excuse while losing so many players. It doesn't matter if they left because they miss mommy... or were talked to mean... or weren't any good... couldn't cut it academically... or whatever. Each one was a valuable scholarship spot in a recruiting class that left before attaining the experience and development that Jones says is required for a team to win. Each one was a hit on "depth".

Didn't miss a single player in that quote...players that got more playing time as a result of them getting out of the way? Upgrade. They were taking up roster spots. I'm glad they're gone.

 

[sjt18]

Showed foresight to sign vital positions BEFORE they're needed. Ask Jack Del Rio about not needing a longsnapper...had to go for two last night. Lovingood and Townsend were able to redshirt and Riley gets to take over next year while Tommy backs up potentially one of the best punters in Tennessee history. We get to whine if things don't work out. If they do? Butch is just doing what he's supposed to. :loco:

Not whining. Just looking at the reality of what UT has returning at S.... and saying it might have been better to sign a S than a punter.

LS is a unique position in college. To find a guy who can be consistent with snaps while not being a liability in coverage isn't easy. I personally don't see a problem with that scholarship.

I haven't independently confirmed but an Arky friend of mine once told me they don't give scholarships to punters out of HS. They have a tradition of walk ons.

IMO, punter could have waited til this year with a proven commodity like Renfro transferring in.

 

[sjt18]

Didn't miss a single player in that quote...players that got more playing time as a result of them getting out of the way? Upgrade. They were taking up roster spots. I'm glad they're gone.

Then you lose ALL rights to WHINE about a lack of depth. If it was good to lose those guys then fine... but don't then turn around and WHINE because there's no depth behind the "upgrades".

 

[butchna]

Then you lose ALL rights to WHINE about a lack of depth. If it was good to lose those guys then fine... but don't then turn around and WHINE because there's no depth behind the "upgrades".

Never whined about depth...you must be thinking about Charlie...he does that.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Wharton and Jenkins both played extensively vs Iowa last year. Would more depth at WR be a bad thing right now? UT has struggled to field enough healthy WR's since Jones arrived. Scott would have provided additional depth at RB. Helm would have been one of the top two TE's if not a starter.

Two years ago Jaylen Miller got PT as a Fr then left the program. Lemond Johnson played all 12 games on ST's and left.


UT has had the highest attrition in the SEC under Jones. That... is a fact. It is also a fact that you can't build the depth that we constantly hear as an excuse while losing so many players. It doesn't matter if they left because they miss mommy... or were talked to mean... or weren't any good... couldn't cut it academically... or whatever. Each one was a valuable scholarship spot in a recruiting class that left before attaining the experience and development that Jones says is required for a team to win. Each one was a hit on "depth".

You did not name a single player who was ever going to start (except maybe, Hendrix). We are better off that Wharton did leave. He could have been a pain to deal with and taken snaps away from better prospects in our rotation. There is no way that Helm was going to start over Wolf or that Scott would have taken playing time away from Kamara. We're also better off without Sawyers. The assertion that attrition could sink Jones based on who has left so far is just crazy.

 

[sjt18]

If you prefer whiners who immediately go into sky-is-falling mode, you would be much happier in the FF.

No, I don't prefer chicken littles but I also don't prefer "whiners" who can't face bad news without trying to spin it away with excuses. Neither is my "preference".

There is always chatter over players looking around. There aren't always decommits. Under Jones, we haven't seen so many high end targets turning their backs on the Vols either. In previous years, kids like Warrior were already on board and recruiting for the Vols. Jones has done great with legacies previously... but not so strong to date this year.

These are all concerns. Some of the decommits and missed targets are "bad things". No need to spin as sour grapes.

 

[sjt18]

You did not name a single player who was ever going to start (except maybe, Hendrix). We are better off that Wharton did leave. He could have been a pain to deal with and taken snaps away from better prospects in our rotation. There is no way that Helm was going to start over Wolf or that Scott would have taken playing time away from Kamara. We're also better off without Sawyers. The assertion that attrition could sink Jones based on who has left so far is just crazy.

Helm DID start. Wharton and Jenkins started too iirc.

But the issue is depth according to Jones and many here. Those guys are either missing depth or guys who were given scholarships instead of players who would have been depth. We can't expect perfection. We can expect not to have the worst attrition in the SEC.

 

[sjt18]

Never whined about depth...you must be thinking about Charlie...he does that.

Really? Are you sure you've never used "lack of depth" as a reason for UT not winning at a high level? You've never defended Jones in your own "unique" way when he did?

Without looking back... that's really hard to believe.

 

[butchna]

You did not name a single player who was ever going to start (except maybe, Hendrix). We are better off that Wharton did leave. He could have been a pain to deal with and taken snaps away from better prospects in our rotation. There is no way that Helm was going to start over Wolf or that Scott would have taken playing time away from Kamara. We're also better off without Sawyers. The assertion that attrition could sink Jones based on who has left so far is just crazy.

Scott ended up making a wise decision. Kelly and Young are superior backs. He would've been the Lemond Johnson and D'Andre Payne of the running backs.

 

[butchna]

Really? Are you sure you've never used "lack of depth" as a reason for UT not winning at a high level? You've never defended Jones in your own "unique" way when he did?

Without looking back... that's really hard to believe.

You'll get past it...or you won't. Who gives a crap?

 

[Probably_in_Class]

Wharton and Jenkins both played extensively vs Iowa last year. Would more depth at WR be a bad thing right now? UT has struggled to field enough healthy WR's since Jones arrived. Scott would have provided additional depth at RB. Helm would have been one of the top two TE's if not a starter.

Two years ago Jaylen Miller got PT as a Fr then left the program. Lemond Johnson played all 12 games on ST's and left.


UT has had the highest attrition in the SEC under Jones. That... is a fact. It is also a fact that you can't build the depth that we constantly hear as an excuse while losing so many players. It doesn't matter if they left because they miss mommy... or were talked to mean... or weren't any good... couldn't cut it academically... or whatever. Each one was a valuable scholarship spot in a recruiting class that left before attaining the experience and development that Jones says is required for a team to win. Each one was a hit on "depth".

We've also signed extremely large classes the last two cycles. The attrition wasn't bad. It was necessary.

 

[bonavol]

Sorry Kongbo. We'll get back to you in a minute.

 

[butchna]

Sorry Kongbo. We'll get back to you in a minute.

He's not paying attention...trying to get his big head through that UW jersey.

 

[sjt18]

We've also signed extremely large classes the last two cycles. The attrition wasn't bad. It was necessary.

Then there were no depth problems this year and won't be next year, right? We won't here the word "depth" spoken as an excuse from coach or fan going forward, right?

To the best of my memory, those large classes were because UT had open scholarships and NEEDED to add talent and depth. If they could afford to lose an abnormally high number of them... then the scholarships wouldn't have been available to start with.

I'm not just busting your chops and in spite of Butchna's schtick... I'm not writing Jones off. But attrition is a very real problem for Jones first two classes. He really cannot afford to stall out in recruiting this year.

 

[sjt18]

Sorry Kongbo. We'll get back to you in a minute.

Kongbo is a lock... and if he happens to flip then it will obviously be because he wasn't good or UT has someone better coming. I mean... how could it be anything else? :whistling:

 

[butchna]

Then there were no depth problems this year and won't be next year, right? We won't here the word "depth" spoken as an excuse from coach or fan going forward, right?

To the best of my memory, those large classes were because UT had open scholarships and NEEDED to add talent and depth. If they could afford to lose an abnormally high number of them... then the scholarships wouldn't have been available to start with.

I'm not just busting your chops and in spite of Butchna's schtick... I'm not writing Jones off. But attrition is a very real problem for Jones first two classes. He really cannot afford to stall out in recruiting this year.

Latroy Lewis and Corey Vereen played better than the transfers (of whom's posters you weepingly listen to Sarah McLachlan songs over) you wax on about. Those are upperclassmen btw. :wink2:

 

[butchna]

Kongbo is a lock... and if he happens to flip then it will obviously be because he wasn't good or UT has someone better coming. I mean... how could it be anything else? :whistling:

You usually wait until they transfer...old strategy failing on ya? :lol:

 

[AboveAllNations]

Per Scout

While the Washington coaching staff is playing host to five official visitors this weekend, they also made time for one very important unofficial visitor, Arizona Western DE Jonathan Kongbo, and to say he and his family were impressed by what they saw would be an understatement...

"It was a great visit," Jonathan Kongbo told Dawgman.com as he made the two hour drive back to Vancouver with his parents. "Their facilities are top of the line. I've seen some great facilities and Washington's are right up there with the best of them.
"I also really loved my visit with coach 'K' (Pete Kwiatkowski) and coach (Chris) Petersen. They included my parents in everything they showed me, which was really great and my parents said they had a great time on the visit too.
"The coaches showed me their vision for the program and what they are looking for from their players and why it's so special to be a Husky."
While Kongbo said that every part of the visit really impressed him, he said one part really stood out.
"When I sat down with coach K, we watched tape of how they want to use me and how they want to use my talents," Kongbo said. "They want me as a 'BUCK', that hybrid linebacker/defensive end spot. They want me to do what I do best, get after the quarterback and they really think that I would fit perfectly into what they do."
Kongbo has already taken official visits to Ole Miss and Tennessee, committing to the latter school while he was in Knoxville.
"It was a great visit and I just really felt at home there," Kongbo said. "They knew I wanted to take all of my visits though and that is what I plan to do once we get into January."
Kongbo said he plans to visit Washington and either Oregon or Alabama although none of those dates have been set yet.
"Washington will for sure get an official visit," Kongbo said. "I want to have the full experience there of what it is like to be a player there and just to spend more time there. With Alabama and Oregon, I'm going to see one or the other, but probably not both of them. I need to sort of sit down and decide on that.
"I'm just going to take a few days and sort some things out and then work on setting up my official visits.
"Once I am done taking my trips, that's when I will sit down with my family and decide where I am going to play the rest of my (college) football."
As prep, Kongbo signed with Wyoming, but after the coaching change there, he decided to leave.
He spent his redshirt freshman season with the Matadors this past fall and led the team with 11 sacks and he tied for the team-lead with 16 tackles for loss while also racking up 55 tackles.
Kongbo is on pace to finish up his academic work this spring and he will have three years to play three following starting in the fall of 2016.

None of this definitively indicates Kongbo is "gone," or even seriously waivering on his commitment to us. More likely than not, he was just being polite. For example, are Washington's facilities really "top of the line" and "right up there with the best" he's seen? Of course not. Does anybody actually believe Kongbo is thinking about decommitting from an ascending SEC power with a huge fanbase and legendary DL alums like Reggie White, Leonard Little or John Henderson to be a Washington Huskie? I don't think so.

I don't fault Kongbo and his family for doing their due diligence and exhausting all of their official visits to make sure that we're the right school for him. Kongbo was clear and up front about this with our coaching staff when decided to commit to us, and good for him for being assertive. The fact that he's still seeing different members of our coaching staff multiple times a week must be reassuring for all parties involved (him, his family, and us). He obviously knows he's a major priority for us, and we know he still intends to sign with us.

As I've said in the past, refusing to let commits visit other schools comes off as a desperate and insecure recruiting tactic, like a clingy boyfriend who won't let his girlfriend be around other people unattended. We're an elite football program and a damn good school, so as long as we stay in communication with him we should have nothing to worry about. If Kongbo actually does want to go to Alabama, Oregon, or perhaps even Washington, that's his mistake to make.

 

[Probably_in_Class]

Then there were no depth problems this year and won't be next year, right? We won't here the word "depth" spoken as an excuse from coach or fan going forward, right?

To the best of my memory, those large classes were because UT had open scholarships and NEEDED to add talent and depth. If they could afford to lose an abnormally high number of them... then the scholarships wouldn't have been available to start with.

I'm not just busting your chops and in spite of Butchna's schtick... I'm not writing Jones off. But attrition is a very real problem for Jones first two classes. He really cannot afford to stall out in recruiting this year.

You don't build depth with bad players. The reality is that players move on from every program. If the attrition had been so abnormal last offseason, you would've seen headlines on more than just VN. The truth is, no one but us took notice cause it wasn't remarkable at all. Kiffin's class had attrition issues. For Jones, it's not alarming at all that some players in huge classes moved on from UT.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

You really can't deal with bad news, can you? You immediately go into denial and excuse mode.

I'll just cut through the crap for you. It doesn't matter whether one year or another is good/bad for instate recruiting. It doesn't matter why a recruit chooses another school over UT in all reality. All that matters is that if Jones is going to build the depth he claims is needed before UT can be expected to win at a high level (McElwain has to be a bit of an embarrassment for him trying to sell that idea now) then he MUST get good recruits who become high level contributors in EVERY CLASS. He can't waste scholarships and get there. Frankly, he can't try to model the Mizzou method... they were never competitive in a championship game.

All that ultimately matters is the roster that shows up on game day. Right now, attrition is still an issue that could sink Jones... and especially in that context he cannot afford an off year in recruiting.

It is NOT good that this class isn't strong and does not appear to be getting stronger. Hopefully Jones pulls off some magic... but stop trying to pretend that it won't be a big hit if he can't.

What about me saying the in-state class sucks led you to believe I was fine with a mediocre class?

I've always said we need to recruit top 10 classes every year of we wanna compete for championships. I just didn't like the talent of a guy like JoeJuan Williams and said months ago I would pass on him in favor of other recruits.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Then there were no depth problems this year and won't be next year, right? We won't here the word "depth" spoken as an excuse from coach or fan going forward, right?

You do know both things can be true. We can still have depth issues and cutting those guys loose could still be the right move.

Maybe the guys who left just aren't good enough? I personally have no problem freeing up scholarships for better players in upcoming years.

 

[QuickSmurf]

Strip is a badass but.......where's the orange?

If you look closely you can see it in his eyes. He's wearing orange tinted contacts.

 

[engineerVOL]

If you look closely you can see it in his eyes. He's wearing orange tinted contacts.

That would be terrifying.



I love it.

 

[Big Gucci Sosa]

I really hope this guy stays. It would be a huge get

 

[bowlinggreenvol]

That is a reach considering that as of now, Dewayne Hendrix is still the only potential starter that has either transferred or been dismissed (excluding Pig who wasn't signed by Jones)... and how big a deal does that even look like with what we could have at DE next year?

Who cares if they're not starters? Depth doesn't equal starters. If the only thing that matters is starters then let's field a team of 22 + 2 specialists.