Recruiting Forum Football Talk XXVI

[AV_12]

Guys - UGA loses recruits from the state of GA to us and others every single year. They just have more available every year to lose.

So... That makes this pointless... Since they have many more to choose from

 

[West Coast Vol]

Vols win the SEC, all the recruiting struggles, what little there are, will be over.

I hope you're right. I tortured myself today by looking at the top 10 recruits in Tennessee according to 247. We have one commit from that group, Clemson has 3. #2 in state, Jacoby Stevens, unlikely to pick us. Frustrating. Butch has consistently turned in good recruiting results, so I'm hoping for lots of good surprises down the stretch in Jan/Feb.

 

[nicksjuzunk]

Today sucks, but I'm stepping back from the ledge. Here's why:

1. This team is playing in ATL, and maybe winning there. I'm going to enjoy that.

2. Passing game will be improved this year. Preston Williams is just as talented as Tee.

3. Tee may be the next AJ Green, or a bust. I'm not letting my jimmies become any more rustled over this. We need quality WR's, but this offense runs through the QB and RB position. We can still get quality WR's, even if we missed on the best in the nation.... Painfully

4. We are primed for a run of success like Clemson is experiencing. They have been winning at a high level for a few years now. We are just beginning. We expected to dominate instate recruiting this year, and that has been off. This will get going, though maybe a year or two later than we thought.

 

[Glitch]

Today sucks, but I'm stepping back from the ledge. Here's why:

1. This team is playing in ATL, and maybe winning there. I'm going to enjoy that.

2. Passing game will be improved this year. Preston Williams is just as talented as Tee.

3. Tee may be the next AJ Green, or a bust. I'm not letting my jimmies become any more rustled over this. We need quality WR's, but this offense runs through the QB and RB position. We can still get quality WR's, even if we missed on the best in the nation.... Painfully

4. We are primed for a run of success like Clemson is experiencing. They have been winning at a high level for a few years now. We are just beginning. We expected to dominate instate recruiting this year, and that has been off. This will get going, though maybe a year or two later than we thought.

Liked. We are gonna win "irregardless"! If recruits can't see it now... they will see it in the next few months. Just win!

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

The way the off season from hell is going, I'm not feeling very good about the season. This recruiting class is the biggest disappointment I've ever had as far as recruiting goes. I don't see any way we are finishing top 10 maybe not even top 15. After hearing for a couple of years how this was going to be the best class, or at least one of the best in UT history, I am just totally mind blown how bad we are struggling. I don't think we get Gibbs or Smith either. We MAY get Chandler and Holloman, but the way this going I doubt it. What is our composite star average now? It was really low the last I saw before Nixon decommitted. I've never been a stargazer like some, and I believe the staff does a good job finding underrated players, but come on. You have to get some elite recruits to continue to compete in the SEC....I'm so freakin bummed out right now...vent over.

 

[tonybologna]

The way the off season from hell is going, I'm not feeling very good about the season. This recruiting class is the biggest disappointment I've ever had as far as recruiting goes. I don't see any way we are finishing top 10 maybe not even top 15. After hearing for a couple of years how this was going to be the best class, or at least one of the best in UT history, I am just totally mind blown how bad we are struggling. I don't think we get Gibbs or Smith either. We MAY get Chandler and Holloman, but the way this going I doubt it. What is our composite star average now? It was really low the last I saw before Nixon decommitted. I've never been a stargazer like some, and I believe the staff does a good job finding underrated players, but come on. You have to get some elite recruits to continue to compete in the SEC....I'm so freakin bummed out right now...vent over.

We were up to 7th last week but now down to 8th composite. 2017 Football Team Rankings

 

[nicksjuzunk]

The way the off season from hell is going, I'm not feeling very good about the season. This recruiting class is the biggest disappointment I've ever had as far as recruiting goes. I don't see any way we are finishing top 10 maybe not even top 15. After hearing for a couple of years how this was going to be the best class, or at least one of the best in UT history, I am just totally mind blown how bad we are struggling. I don't think we get Gibbs or Smith either. We MAY get Chandler and Holloman, but the way this going I doubt it. What is our composite star average now? It was really low the last I saw before Nixon decommitted. I've never been a stargazer like some, and I believe the staff does a good job finding underrated players, but come on. You have to get some elite recruits to continue to compete in the SEC....I'm so freakin bummed out right now...vent over.

Recruiting is a mystery now, but 2017 recruits don't affect team 120.

Take a step back from recruiting for a while, and enjoy a great season. I'm betting, after NSD, no one will be freaking out about recruiting, even if we missed on some names we expected, the talent will be there.

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

I hope you're right. I tortured myself today by looking at the top 10 recruits in Tennessee according to 247. We have one commit from that group, Clemson has 3. #2 in state, Jacoby Stevens, unlikely to pick us. Frustrating. Butch has consistently turned in good recruiting results, so I'm hoping for lots of good surprises down the stretch in Jan/Feb.

Clemson has 3, but only one that the Vols wanted or could get. I don't think Rodgers was ever coming here. It seems that Butch has Chandler and other RBs higher than Richardson, and the Vols just missed on Tee unfortunately. Jacoby isn't coming here, sure and suddenly I have no confidence that we will get Smith (hope I'm wrong). But Jacoby isn't really an instate guy per say since he is from Louisiana. Hopefully though, the Vols will get Chandler and Eze and the other instate guys that they want. As it has been said, if the Vols are in Atlanta and even make it to the playoffs, they will get who they want. Plus, Butch has proven himself as a recruiter so I'm still going to wait and see. Who knows, if the Vols find themselves in the playoffs and Preston has a great year, maybe Tee comes back, tho I doubt it.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

We were up to 7th last week but now down to 8th composite. 2017 Football Team Rankings

I was asking about star average, not class rank. When I saw it last it was pretty bad. But thanks for posting anyway. Im sorry if I'm getting on anybody's nerves. I'm just really upset at the way this has gone sour. I support Butch. I believe he is working himself to death trying to turn this program around, but I really realllyyy wish he had fired ZA and hired a real WR coach, that dude is an anchor around our neck. And one other gripe..we really need a good QB coach.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Recruiting is a mystery now, but 2017 recruits don't affect team 120.

Take a step back from recruiting for a while, and enjoy a great season. I'm betting, after NSD, no one will be freaking out about recruiting, even if we missed on some names we expected, the talent will be there.

I hope you're right. I don't care what their name is, or where they're from..as long as they're elite football players. We better win big this year, or recruiting will go down the crapper, and the program and Butch Jones's career with it.

 

[LA Vol]

Pretty sure Richardson, Higgins, Smith, Stevens, Chandler and Eze were all targets that we hoped to get. We could still land a couple... but we could also miss on all of them. NSD is months away, but CBJ has made too many comments about the importance of owning our state to think that other schools cherrypicking our top in-state recruits doesn't matter. Potentially missing out on an elite QB for 2017 and 2018 isn't great, either. The season needs to start, so we can start winning and get some positive momentum going.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

I was asking about star average, not class rank. When I saw it last it was pretty bad. But thanks for posting anyway. Im sorry if I'm getting on anybody's nerves. I'm just really upset at the way this has gone sour. I support Butch. I believe he is working himself to death trying to turn this program around, but I really realllyyy wish he had fired ZA and hired a real WR coach, that dude is an anchor around our neck. And one other gripe..we really need a good QB coach.

I agree about Azzani. Honestly I still think he and Mahoney both need to go (though I don't think Mahoney is nearly as bad as many have made him out to be). We need to find a better WR coach and a QB coach. The only way to do that is to make two openings.

Ideally, we'd bring in a better WR coach and a QB coach who could coordinate the passing game.

 

[Catbone]

Really wish we had a recruit like Kmac and JG did recruiting for Tennessee

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

I agree about Azzani. Honestly I still think he and Mahoney both need to go (though I don't think Mahoney is nearly as bad as many have made him out to be). We need to find a better WR coach and a QB coach. The only way to do that is to make two openings.

Ideally, we'd bring in a better WR coach and a QB coach who could coordinate the passing game.

That would be ideal. I have heard enough good things from recruits about Mahoney to think that some of the criticism of Mahoney from certain posters here, may be based on something personal that happened. Azzani has got to go. Some of the crap he has had these guys doing is stupid. Wide receivers main function is to run good routes, and CATCH THE BALL. Not to be skinnier OLinemen.

 

[LA Vol]

I believe we would have cut ZA free last year, but CBJ didn't want to make too many staff changes in one year. But the wideout issues go beyond ZA. We're not going to be WRU under CBJ, and Dobbs isn't going to be slinging it all over the field. I'm just as concerned about our inability, thus far, to secure elite RB and QB commitments. There's still plenty of time, but many of the elite prospects are already off the board.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

I believe we would have cut ZA free last year, but CBJ didn't want to make too many staff changes in one year. But the wideout issues go beyond ZA. We're not going to be WRU under CBJ, and Dobbs isn't going to be slinging it all over the field. I'm just as concerned about our inability, thus far, to secure elite RB and QB commitments. There's still plenty of time, but many of the elite prospects are already off the board.

I don't think we'll be "WRU" under Butch by any means, but I do think some people are vastly underestimating his system's ability to feature productive WRs. He's had some very productive WRs at previous stops. I think our lack of passing success has less to do with "the system" than with a combination of WRs not getting open, not having a QB who has been able to consistently get them the ball, and not having an OL that can consistently give the QB a pocket to work with and get in a rhythm.

 

[Smokey123]

Pretty sure Richardson, Higgins, Smith, Stevens, Chandler and Eze were all targets that we hoped to get. We could still land a couple... but we could also miss on all of them. NSD is months away, but CBJ has made too many comments about the importance of owning our state to think that other schools cherrypicking our top in-state recruits doesn't matter. Potentially missing out on an elite QB for 2017 and 2018 isn't great, either. The season needs to start, so we can start winning and get some positive momentum going.

Add Amari Rodgers, take out Richardson.

 

[nicksjuzunk]

What really sucks is my attitude is affected by this today. I'm struggling to be positive around people, and that's taking this too far in my book.

It feels like a game lost, SMH

 

[Catbone]

What really sucks is my attitude is affected by this today. I'm struggling to be positive around people, and that's taking this too far in my book.

It feels like a game lost, SMH

You and me both. July 4th shouldn't be like this lol

 

[JohnD13]

I see a lot of complaining about our passing attack and inability to get top WR recruits.

Everyone wants to blame WR coach, OC, play calling, etc....

You need to really look no further than the O-Line. First two years in Butch's tenure it was flat out HORRIBLE. Last year it was okay, but still not good enough to allow for a decent passing game. I honestly think with our running ability and a better O-Line the passing game this year makes great strides.... or maybe I'm just an optimist....lol

 

[InVOLuntary]

I believe we would have cut ZA free last year, but CBJ didn't want to make too many staff changes in one year. But the wideout issues go beyond ZA. We're not going to be WRU under CBJ, and Dobbs isn't going to be slinging it all over the field. I'm just as concerned about our inability, thus far, to secure elite RB and QB commitments. There's still plenty of time, but many of the elite prospects are already off the board.

JG may be why getting a top tier QB is proving difficult. RB on the other hand is a mystery right now. We're still on some great backs.

 

[Lovesomebigorange]

I usually don't care much for Basilio but he had something from VC that I completely agreed with especially with yesterday's news. With media days coming up, Butch needs to go with some moxy. No more of this we're still young and tempering expectation crap. This is put up or shut up time for Butch. Go in there like a damn bull and keep that mentality throughout camp and into the season. Players need to see that and recruits also. This is the most talented team barring injury we have had in a while. The future of this program especially given recruiting struggles this year hinges on this season. Hopefully the Tee fiasco and losses last year coming back to bite in recruiting battles will only make coach and our players that much more hungry for championships.

 

[YorkVol]

So to sum up, everyone bought into the insider information that a guy who had already decommitted from us was going to recommit on July 4th. Everyone saw the guy taking visits, but the insider info was from some of our more reliable and respected guys so we all bought in. Then it turns out our insiders had bad info, which happens, and the guy decides to go somewhere else and now recruiting is a failure and we are all ready to close down the program and collectively jump off a bridge

I love Volnation.

 

[CrunchingTheVolz]

So to sum up, everyone bought into the insider information that a guy who had already decommitted from us was going to recommit on July 4th. Everyone saw the guy taking visits, but the insider info was from some of our more reliable and respected guys so we all bought in. Then it turns out our insiders had bad info, which happens, and the guy decides to go somewhere else and now recruiting is a failure and we are all ready to close down the program and collectively jump off a bridge

I love Volnation.

I don't think recruiting is a failure. I mean we've got 3* coming out the woodwork. What it will come down to is can this staff take 3* signees and beat teams with 4-5* talent.

 

[theutvolunteers]

I don't think recruiting is a failure. I mean we've got 3* coming out the woodwork. What it will come down to is can this staff take 3* signees and beat teams with 4-5* talent.

3* don't win big. Need more 4 and 5s.