How many FRESHMEN break the starting lineup this season?

[FïreBall]

Wouldn't it be cool for us to put 2 return men back (Berry and Warrior), and watch teams kick away from Evan...only to find out that Warrior is just as dangerous. Would be hella fun.

That would be awesome JP, I hated they kept kicking away from Berry towards the end of the year, and I definitely understand why.. When he made the 100 yard interception in the NW game, was just fitting for him IMO.

Maybe Berry needs to fake a bad limp going on to the field right before a kick off.. Sucker them into kicking to him? Do they make breakaway leg casts? 😃

 

[sjt18]

Callaway...i like how you said "iff possible". kid's supposed to be instant offense, and if he can help spread defenses out immediately, gonna be hard not get him on the field this year.

His size it what makes me nervous. He needs some S&C to be able to block SEC DB's or to handle physical coverage.

 

[tonybologna]

None would be a better guess.

We have solid starters at every position. Only Kongbo could theoretically start if he beats out Vereen. Preston, Malone, and Smith look locked in as starters at WR. However, Latrell Williams, Byrd, and Callaway could get significant playing time.

Here's who I see getting playing time:

1. Jonathan Kongbo - starting/backup DE
2. Latrell Williams - backup slot receiver
3. Tyler Byrd - backup receiver/special team star
4. Marquez Callaway - backup outside receiver
5. Jeff George - backup outside receiver
6. Nigel Warrior - special team star/backup safety
7. Marquill Osborne - backup nickel/special teams
8. DJ Henderson - backup corner
9. Alexis Johnson - backup DT (if he's back)

I see everyone else in the 2016 class redshirting.

1. Most definitely starts some & gets plenty of snaps as backup DE
2. No sure about him. May see some action but don't think he's necessarily a backup. Maybe he plays with certain packages.
3. Most definitely. Special teams nightmare for other teams. He could be our best PR man if you ask me. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands. Definite backup reps/snaps at WR.
4. Definitely. Gets quite a few snaps as backup WR. Way too athletic to keep off the field.
5. Yes, George will play some as a backup WR but I just don't see him getting a lot of snaps/reps. Maybe in the short passing game when we need 5 yards or less to move the chains. Tall target.
6. Most definitely as a backup safety. Also, could become a really good special teams player as well.
7. I think Osborne could become the biggest surprise of the entire bunch of freshmen. Could see quite a bit of time at CB/nickelback & most definitely special teams.
8. Don't see or agree with you on this one. Henderson will barely see the field as a freshmen. Probably even redshirt.
9. I would say yes if he's allowed to come back. He will be way down on the depth chart though. He would have to work his way back up the depth chart.

Others that could see playing time as freshmen:

Daniel Bituli(LB), Austin Pope(TE)(later in the season), Ryan Johnson(OT). I think all other freshmen do redshirt though. That would be 9 in total.

Jones has said he would like to see the health of the roster at a point where most Fr red shirt. He's there IMO.

My guesses:

Jonathan Kongbo DE/DT- IMO will carve out a role but won't start. Vereen and Barnett are too good.
Lattrell Willams WR- RS
Tyler Byrd DB/WR- contributor, possible starter at SB
Marquez Callaway Ath- RS if possible.
Marcus Tatum OL- RS
Nathan Niehaus OL- RS
Baylen Buchanan DB- RS or ST's
Desmond Henderson DB- ST's mostly
Brandon Johnson WR- RS
Ja'Quain Blakely LB- RS
Carlin Fils-aime RB- RS barring injury
Daniel Bituli LB- RS
Alexis Johnson DT- ST's and back up contributor
Austin Pope TE- RS
Jeff George WR- specialty receiver
Jarrett Guarantano QB- RS
Devante Brooks TE- RS
Marquill Osborne DB- In the rotation but not a starter
Ryan Johnson OL- RS
Nigel Warrior S- RS or ST's. I think a likely RS.

I don't think some of those predictions/assumptions are right. That has just about all freshmen redshirting & I definitely don't see that being the case.

We have some good freshmen coming in along with JUCO's in George & Kongbo. Like I said above, I see 9 freshmen redshirting & 12 playing this coming season including the JUCO's.

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

All of them. That's how we roll.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Jones has said he would like to see the health of the roster at a point where most Fr red shirt. He's there IMO.

My guesses:

Jonathan Kongbo DE/DT- IMO will carve out a role but won't start. Vereen and Barnett are too good.
Lattrell Willams WR- RS
Tyler Byrd DB/WR- contributor, possible starter at SB
Marquez Callaway Ath- RS if possible.
Marcus Tatum OL- RS
Nathan Niehaus OL- RS
Baylen Buchanan DB- RS or ST's
Desmond Henderson DB- ST's mostly
Brandon Johnson WR- RS
Ja'Quain Blakely LB- RS
Carlin Fils-aime RB- RS barring injury
Daniel Bituli LB- RS
Alexis Johnson DT- ST's and back up contributor
Austin Pope TE- RS
Jeff George WR- specialty receiver
Jarrett Guarantano QB- RS
Devante Brooks TE- RS
Marquill Osborne DB- In the rotation but not a starter
Ryan Johnson OL- RS
Nigel Warrior S- RS or ST's. I think a likely RS.

Latrell Williams is not redshirting. He's the fastest receiver we recruited. We need speed at that position. I think Latrell and Byrd make the biggest impact as freshmen. Callaway is also in that class.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

Jones has said he would like to see the health of the roster at a point where most Fr red shirt. He's there IMO.

My guesses:

Jonathan Kongbo DE/DT- IMO will carve out a role but won't start. Vereen and Barnett are too good.
Lattrell Willams WR- RS
Tyler Byrd DB/WR- contributor, possible starter at SB
Marquez Callaway Ath- RS if possible.
Marcus Tatum OL- RS
Nathan Niehaus OL- RS
Baylen Buchanan DB- RS or ST's
Desmond Henderson DB- ST's mostly
Brandon Johnson WR- RS
Ja'Quain Blakely LB- RS
Carlin Fils-aime RB- RS barring injury
Daniel Bituli LB- RS
Alexis Johnson DT- ST's and back up contributor
Austin Pope TE- RS
Jeff George WR- specialty receiver
Jarrett Guarantano QB- RS
Devante Brooks TE- RS
Marquill Osborne DB- In the rotation but not a starter
Ryan Johnson OL- RS
Nigel Warrior S- RS or ST's. I think a likely RS.

I wouldn't be surprised to see CFA carve out a special teams role. He and Tyler Byrd were ST stars in high school and I wouldn't be surprised if John Kelly plays less special teams in 2016, leaving an opening for somebody.

 

[sjt18]

I don't think some of those predictions/assumptions are right. That has just about all freshmen redshirting & I definitely don't see that being the case.

We have some good freshmen coming in along with JUCO's in George & Kongbo. Like I said above, I see 9 freshmen redshirting & 12 playing this coming season including the JUCO's.

JUCO's are typically recruited to play right away.

My guesses are based on two things. One, UT has depth and talent just about everywhere except WR. Two, Jones said that when he got the roster to where it needed to be that most Fr would RS.

Just guesses.... but I tried to reason them out based on what we see right now and have been told by Jones.

 

[sjt18]

I wouldn't be surprised to see CFA carve out a special teams role. He and Tyler Byrd were ST stars in high school and I wouldn't be surprised if John Kelly plays less special teams in 2016, leaving an opening for somebody.

Like Callaway, I think his issue will be size and inadequate S&C.

 

[tonybologna]

JUCO's are typically recruited to play right away.

My guesses are based on two things. One, UT has depth and talent just about everywhere except WR. Two, Jones said that when he got the roster to where it needed to be that most Fr would RS.

Just guesses.... but I tried to reason them out based on what we see right now and have been told by Jones.

1. Yeah, I already knew that about JUCO's
2. I think we have quite a bit of talent at WR especially with the additions of the couple of incoming freshmen WR & JUCO George
3. I can understand RS certain freshmen but you can't redshirt freshmen impact players. Not only are they needed. They will also look to transfer if they don't get to show their talent right away. I'm talking about impact freshmen here(4*-5*) recruits & not the lower star recruits like 3 star & lower.

 

[LittleVol]

Like Callaway, I think his issue will be size and inadequate S&C.

Carlin Fils-Aime will be around 200 lbs of all muscle come fall. I expect him to be our most productive recruit.

I agree what you said about JUCOs and Vereen is damn good. Then theres Kyle Phillips. Kongbo is kind of raw. I see him possibly redshirting...

Callaway is far too skilled to RS. Josh Malone hasn't made anything certain. No RS IMO.

I love Gaulden, but I feel like he won't hold up at safety. Evan Berry is the most talented, but Nigel Warrior... if he can learn to like "studying" the game then he can be a starter oppoiste of Kelly Jr. Hes a bigger Janzen Jackson.

Warrior
Callaway
Byrd
CFA

and Blakely all have a chance to make some noise.

More than likely, none of these guys start a game next year

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

Like Callaway, I think his issue will be size and inadequate S&C.

Could be the case, but in the past we've seen plenty of undersized freshmen contribute on special teams since Butch came to town. Often ST is a place where kids who are lacking in S&C, but are just good football players can carve out a role early.

 

[norrislakevol]

Latrell Williams is not redshirting. He's the fastest receiver we recruited. We need speed at that position. I think Latrell and Byrd make the biggest impact as freshmen. Callaway is also in that class.

Agreed. Only way Williams red shirts is if he gets injured during camp. I saw a report (In Football Time magazine) where he clocked a 4.27 in the 40. Even if that's off a little, that is still ridiculous speed and you don't red shirt speed like that.

 

[justwatch123]

Carlin Fils-Aime will be around 200 lbs of all muscle come fall. I expect him to be our most productive recruit.

I agree what you said about JUCOs and Vereen is damn good. Then theres Kyle Phillips. Kongbo is kind of raw. I see him possibly redshirting...

Callaway is far too skilled to RS. Josh Malone hasn't made anything certain. No RS IMO.

I love Gaulden, but I feel like he won't hold up at safety. Evan Berry is the most talented, but Nigel Warrior... if he can learn to like "studying" the game then he can be a starter oppoiste of Kelly Jr. Hes a bigger Janzen Jackson.

Warrior
Callaway
Byrd
CFA

and Blakely all have a chance to make some noise.

More than likely, none of these guys start a game next year

Phillips isn't talked about enough to me. I think the kid will put up really good numbers this year. Just has to stay healthy.

 

[walkenvol]

Kongbo is kind of raw. I see him possibly redshirting...

Barring injury or some off the field issue, has the #1 ranked JUCO recruit ever red shirted before? I can't recall that ever happening.

 

[sjt18]

1. Yeah, I already knew that about JUCO's
2. I think we have quite a bit of talent at WR especially with the additions of the couple of incoming freshmen WR & JUCO George
3. I can understand RS certain freshmen but you can't redshirt freshmen impact players. Not only are they needed. They will also look to transfer if they don't get to show their talent right away. I'm talking about impact freshmen here(4*-5*) recruits & not the lower star recruits like 3 star & lower.

A few years ago Bama signed a top 5 class and RS'd all of them. I think you also overestimate how many true Fr should have an impact on a upper tier team with a healthy roster.

If the past 3 classes were as good as billing.... and we have reason to think they are.... and they have experience plus significant SEC level S&C then few Fr should be able to wedge in.... and that includes those with great natural talent.

The guys already there still have the natural talent we were excited about when they signed. Now they have that plus significant development in the program.

There were 8 Fr 4/5* players in this class. There were 15 in the 2015 class. Even with significant attrition, there are 8 remaining from the '14 class

Then you have 3* players who aren't going to be moved out by Fr like Foreman, Sutton, Wolf, Wiesman, et al.

You may be right and they're just that good but I think your opinion may be skewed due to UT suffering through many years where they HAD to play guys who weren't really ready.

 

[sjt18]

Latrell Williams is not redshirting. He's the fastest receiver we recruited. We need speed at that position. I think Latrell and Byrd make the biggest impact as freshmen. Callaway is also in that class.

Fast guys need development too. It is likely Williams RS's. But the needs at WR could force these guys into playing before they should.

Byrd is the one who looks to be best developed and have the better skill set at this point.

 

[sjt18]

Carlin Fils-Aime will be around 200 lbs of all muscle come fall. I expect him to be our most productive recruit.

I agree what you said about JUCOs and Vereen is damn good. Then theres Kyle Phillips. Kongbo is kind of raw. I see him possibly redshirting...

Callaway is far too skilled to RS. Josh Malone hasn't made anything certain. No RS IMO.

I love Gaulden, but I feel like he won't hold up at safety. Evan Berry is the most talented, but Nigel Warrior... if he can learn to like "studying" the game then he can be a starter oppoiste of Kelly Jr. Hes a bigger Janzen Jackson.

Warrior
Callaway
Byrd
CFA

and Blakely all have a chance to make some noise.

More than likely, none of these guys start a game next year

Not trying to be snotty or throw water on your excitement over these Fr.... but if UT is that dependent on Fr then this season won't go as we all hope it will.

Do you have a reason for your thoughts on Gaulden? I think they are working hard at putting good weight on him, aren't they? Even at 170, he was a pretty fearless hitter. Usually the guy who takes the hit to the opponent isn't the one who gets hurt.

 

[sjt18]

Could be the case, but in the past we've seen plenty of undersized freshmen contribute on special teams since Butch came to town. Often ST is a place where kids who are lacking in S&C, but are just good football players can carve out a role early.

Not arguing... just discussing... but my thought would be that you save a year of eligibility for him if you don't have to use him on ST's. UT should not have to use them considering the talent returning. You also put those guys at significant risk of injury even if you just put them on ST's without being physically ready for it.

 

[sjt18]

Agreed. Only way Williams red shirts is if he gets injured during camp. I saw a report (In Football Time magazine) where he clocked a 4.27 in the 40. Even if that's off a little, that is still ridiculous speed and you don't red shirt speed like that.

I have been here long enough to remember Kenny "Spotted Ape" O'Neal. He was one of the faster players in the SEC at the time.... with no football skills.

 

[walkenvol]

Agreed. Only way Williams red shirts is if he gets injured during camp. I saw a report (In Football Time magazine) where he clocked a 4.27 in the 40. Even if that's off a little, that is still ridiculous speed and you don't red shirt speed like that.

Recruiting Nation Football - ESPN

Might want to tap the breaks on that 4.27 ... might really be a 4.54? Some reason he was a 2-3 star ranked recruit?

 

[KBVol]

Carlin Fils-Aime will be around 200 lbs of all muscle come fall. I expect him to be our most productive recruit.

I agree what you said about JUCOs and Vereen is damn good. Then theres Kyle Phillips. Kongbo is kind of raw. I see him possibly redshirting...

Callaway is far too skilled to RS. Josh Malone hasn't made anything certain. No RS IMO.

I love Gaulden, but I feel like he won't hold up at safety. Evan Berry is the most talented, but Nigel Warrior... if he can learn to like "studying" the game then he can be a starter oppoiste of Kelly Jr. Hes a bigger Janzen Jackson.

Warrior
Callaway
Byrd
CFA

and Blakely all have a chance to make some noise.

More than likely, none of these guys start a game next year

Why won't Gaulden hold up at safety? Says he's up to 184. He wasn't injured as a freshman, played a lot of special teams and was about as good as we had there. Had an unfortunate foot injury. Kid is tough as nails and the coaches rave about him. Heard Thig tell Doug Mathews that we'd have won both the Oklahoma and Florida games last year had Rashaan been on the field.

No, he's not the biggest kid in the world, but then neither was Dale Carter who was about the same size and like a Mac truck like RS. How about we let him have more than one injury that keeps him out of a regular season game in 2+ years before we label him "not able to hold up".

 

[dovervolz]

Osborne and Warrior are my picks as well...Some say that Warrior may be a better kick returner than Berry, hard to believe but that would be amazing to see them side by side for the kickoff.

That would be something to see, kinda like " pick your poison" for the opposing teams on kick offs.

 

[tonybologna]

A few years ago Bama signed a top 5 class and RS'd all of them. I think you also overestimate how many true Fr should have an impact on a upper tier team with a healthy roster.

If the past 3 classes were as good as billing.... and we have reason to think they are.... and they have experience plus significant SEC level S&C then few Fr should be able to wedge in.... and that includes those with great natural talent.

The guys already there still have the natural talent we were excited about when they signed. Now they have that plus significant development in the program.

There were 8 Fr 4/5* players in this class. There were 15 in the 2015 class. Even with significant attrition, there are 8 remaining from the '14 class

Then you have 3* players who aren't going to be moved out by Fr like Foreman, Sutton, Wolf, Wiesman, et al.

You may be right and they're just that good but I think your opinion may be skewed due to UT suffering through many years where they HAD to play guys who weren't really ready.

Has nothing to do with my thinking about the past. I know we have a lot of upper class talent now. Jones has brought some very nice talent into Knoxville. Yes, barring injury we could probably take all of our sophomores-seniors plus RS Freshmen & reach our goals.

Problem is you don't hardly ever see any college program redshirt nearly an entire incoming freshmen class. Maybe teams loaded with lower level talent & not have nothing but exactly what they need coming from upper classmen.

Bama or any other school I don't think this would have ever been done. You can't allow immediate impact players in the 4*-5* range to just redshirt for really no reason but to tell them we have enough talent right now so we're going to redshirt you. That's just absurd!

Players will be leaving Knoxville like crazy to get to other schools. A freshman that comes to a program with high credentials doesn't want to just take a redshirt for nothing when he knows he has the skills to provide for the team he chose. I'm sorry but I disagree bigtime with you on this buddy. Thanks!

 

[sjt18]

Recruiting Nation Football - ESPN

Might want to tap the breaks on that 4.27 ... might really be a 4.54? Some reason he was a 2-3 star ranked recruit?

He's raw. That's why I think he RS's. There is a slight chance he catches on that quick.... very slight.

 

[sjt18]

Has nothing to do with my thinking about the past. I know we have a lot of upper class talent now. Jones has brought some very nice talent into Knoxville. Yes, barring injury we could probably take all of our sophomores-seniors plus RS Freshmen & reach our goals.

Problem is you don't hardly ever see any college program redshirt nearly an entire incoming freshmen class. Maybe teams loaded with lower level talent & not have nothing but exactly what they need coming from upper classmen.

Bama or any other school I don't think this would have ever been done. You can't allow immediate impact players in the 4*-5* range to just redshirt for really no reason but to tell them we have enough talent right now so we're going to redshirt you. That's just absurd!

Players will be leaving Knoxville like crazy to get to other schools. A freshman that comes to a program with high credentials doesn't want to just take a redshirt for nothing when he knows he has the skills to provide for the team he chose. I'm sorry but I disagree bigtime with you on this buddy. Thanks!

Please take no disrespect but your disagreement is as much with Jones as with me. He expects that most Fr will RS when he has the program where he wants it. He has said so.

Not all 4/5* kids are immediate impact. On a roster with good depth in all groups.... only a few Fr are ready to contribute enough to break in. If they "leave like crazy" then it won't be because Jones refused to burn a year of eligibility just to get them mop up reps. Most of them will likely see the wisdom in taking a RS to get them really ready to play at that level before trying and failing.


You STILL assume that a LOT of these kids are ready to knock developed, experienced, upper classmen out of PT. Very, very few are. UT has had to play Fr because they didn't have talent or experience or developed players. Now they do.