Recruiting Forum Football Talk XXXII

Status
Not open for further replies.
#7,209
#7,209
volsfan_17 said:
I'd love to see it announced this week for sure. Curious to see how long they wait.
Click to expand...

As for the timeline for the new head of athletics on Rocky Top, the hiring is expected to occur much sooner than later. In fact, numerous sources indicate to 247Sports that interviews for the vacancy are imminent, especially as we first reported a week ago that Turnkey Search and Gene DeFilippo have all materials for the pertinent candidates.
Click to expand...

- 247 (Brice)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#7,210
#7,210
While it remains largely a two-man battle between David Blackburn and Phillip Fulmer, with a Blackburn-Fulmer alliance in athletics a certainty if Blackburn earns the top job, myriad others are expressing various levels of interest, including per sources Kansas State’s John Currie. The former UT assistant A.D. also was a candidate at Florida and Texas, among some other spots. Currie was in Knoxville recently as Rick Barnes’ Vols smacked Kansas State in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge, a trip that per a source was a “last-minute decision to come” for Currie.

Blackburn is the guy who’s in the thick of college athletics, with current connections across the country and a remarkably strong relationship with the most powerful man in college football --- aka Jimmy Sexton. He’s also the guy who’s headed up the events at NCAA conventions for up-and-coming athletics directors, as well as young basketball and football coaches.

In other words, Blackburn is plugged in and boasts a strong and current track record.
Click to expand...

- 247 (Brice)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 8 people
#7,211
#7,211
Fulmer, however, also is doing his due diligence to ready himself for the interview process. Among those with whom Fulmer is speaking are both Doug Dickey and Bill Battle; likewise Fulmer is enlisting help in researching the current salaries of Power-5 A.D.s, particularly of those in the Southeastern Conference.

“They will be impressed,” a source said of Fulmer’s preparation.

Sources indicate Fulmer is showing interest in current ETSU No. 2 and former UTAD member Scott Carter for a top cabinet position and that Fulmer also intends to bring back Bruce Warwick, who’s still listed as the L.A. Rams’ Director of Operations. Warwick owns previous experience on Rocky Top as Fulmer’s director of operations.
Click to expand...

- 247 (Brice)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 people
#7,213
#7,213
Glitch said:
The BasketVols have already over achieved. I think they at least make the NIT. The NCAA would be fantastic but any extra practices would be incredible.
Click to expand...

The Georgia loss likely stands as the team’s most crippling blow to its unlikely NCAA Tournament bubble hopes, but this still is a program ahead of pace thanks to Barnes’ coaching and development of the roster, as well as Barnes’ staff’s relentless work.

On the heels of the Georgia game, Tennessee knew it had assured itself at least seven more games including Tuesday night’s loss at Kentucky.

Now at 14-12 overall with six games left, including at minimum one game in the SEC Tournament next month in Nashville, Tennessee needs to win just three more times to clinch a winning record and, with its strength of schedule as well as Barnes’ pedigree, a spot in postseason play in the NIT.
Click to expand...

- 247 (Brice)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#7,214
#7,214
Miscellaneous...

As noted earlier this week, Vols safeties Micah Abernathy and Stephen Griffin are among those recovering from offseason shoulder repair and are not expected as full participants for spring camp, which is going to open the week after spring break on the UT campus. The Vols likely are to see coach Butch Jones host a pre-spring press conference on March 20 and then open practice March 21. …

Expect the Vols’ NFL Pro Day, which will be easily among the school’s most attended in years by NFL personnel, to be around March 29. It’s likely some other schools’ players could participate in the Pro Day, including perhaps one or two stars from Chattanooga.
Click to expand...

- 247 (Brice)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#7,215
#7,215
And Bob Welton’s reputation for cultivating and developing top-notch personnel executives and talent evaluators means more turnover for the University of Tennessee’s football office.

Just after losing Matt Wilson to Indiana University, Welton and the Vols also are bidding farewell to Merci Falaise, who’s returning to his alma mater, North Carolina State, as the Wolfpack’s Assistant Director of Player Personnel.

Falaise’s time on Rocky Top includes work on and off the field for the Vols, who saw the former N.C. State standout offensive lineman log time in a graduate assistant/quality control-type of role for on-field work and then grow his career in a different direction off the field.

Falaise, after all, owns considerable credit for many of the Vols’ popular and trendy social media successes from the past year, including the “Views” imaging with Alvin Kamara atop Neyland Stadium that was a take-off on Drake’s “Views” album cover. The social media concept, executed with the brilliant VFL Films crew, drew national acclaim.

Falaise also stood as a great resource to players, because he wasn’t too far removed from his playing days. Prior to his standout career at N.C. State, Falaise earned a scholarship with the Pack after voluntarily electing to attend Georgia Military College, despite being an initial qualifier, in order to improve his scholarship options. Falaise then was considered an NFL prospect until a nasty hip/leg injury, similar to that of Bo Jackson, robbed Falaise of his ability to further play football.
Click to expand...

- 247 (Brice)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#7,216
#7,216
Kiper isn't the only NFL draft analyst optimistic about Barnett's projection to the next level. CBS Sports draft analyst Dane Brugler wrote a glowing overview of Barnett and what he brings to the table:

A three-year starter, Barnett lined up primarily at right defensive end in a three-point stance in Tennessee's 4-3 defense, occasionally standing up or rushing from inside position -- most productive collegiate resume among pass rush prospects in this class. He developed at an early age, which allowed him to make an instant impact in the SEC and established himself as the "heart and soul" of the Vols' defense, according to defensive coordinator Bob Shoop. He became the first Tennessee true freshman to start a season opener on the defensive line, setting school freshman records for tackles for loss (20.5) and sacks (10.0) in 2014 to earn Freshman All-American honors. Barnett started all 13 games in 2015 and led the team with 10.0 sacks, adding 69 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and one fumble to earn Second Team All-SEC honors. As a junior in 2015, he finished with a career-best 13.0 sacks and also led the team with 19.0 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles to earn First Team All-SEC honors.

Unlike most productive pass rushers, Barnett lacks explosive traits, but makes up for his methodical burst with powerful hands and off-the-charts awareness to consistently be in the right place at the right time. Although he doesn't have a high pro ceiling as a pass rusher due to his average athleticism, Barnett is a reliable run defender and his consistency on every snap is valuable.
Click to expand...

OK...I need some help. Can someone please tell me how these scouts have concluded that Barnett lacks explosiveness? This is the second or third time I've seen these comments about Barnett. Maybe my definition of explosiveness is different from these bleacher scouts. And average athleticism? On what scale? IMO, that is anything but a "glowing" overview.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#7,218
#7,218
LynxVol said:
OK...I need some help. Can someone please tell me how these scouts have concluded that Barnett lacks explosiveness? This is the second or third time I've seen these comments about Barnett. Maybe my definition of explosiveness is different from these bleacher scouts. And average athleticism? On what scale? IMO, that is anything but a "glowing" overview.
Click to expand...

They're just feeding off each other. You know being lazy.

I also wouldn't be surprised if he has a faster 10 yard dash than Allen and Garrett
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#7,219
#7,219
AD choice is obvious...if Fulmer is willing to work in some type of role with Blackburn as the AD, then that's the hire...both of them. Get this done ASAP.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#7,220
#7,220
LynxVol said:
OK...I need some help. Can someone please tell me how these scouts have concluded that Barnett lacks explosiveness? This is the second or third time I've seen these comments about Barnett. Maybe my definition of explosiveness is different from these bleacher scouts. And average athleticism? On what scale? IMO, that is anything but a "glowing" overview.
Click to expand...

The only thing I can fathom is Barnett doesn't beat his man around the edge by as much as other elite ends. That's not due to a lack of burst though it's just better technique. He gets a step and then uses his strength and balance to take the shortest route to the QB as possible, which is usually low and through the tackle's extended arm. This makes it harder for the QB to step up and away from the pressure. Some ends just run all the way around the tackle and hope the DTs have enough push that they can get the sack.

Either that or they just assume his burst isn't good because of his build.

That's all I've got, his beat his man around the outside A LOT in college. His burst is great.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#7,221
#7,221
OGbabyaviVol said:
AD choice is obvious...if Fulmer is willing to work in some type of role with Blackburn as the AD, then that's the hire...both of them. Get this done ASAP.
Click to expand...

Everything will collapse if not!

Oh wait...everything seems to be motoring right along. We have till when Hart leaves, June right? Unless you have unquenchable thirst to fire someone between now and then.
 
New posts
Status
Not open for further replies.
Advertisement



Back
Top