Managing expectations tough with Vols' Trey Smith

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Shades

Shades

30 minutes of ball and we are smokin at the end
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http://tennessee.247sports.com/Arti...-tough-with-Tennessee-Vols-football--53137723

Managing expectations tough with Vols' Trey Smith

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It’s not terrifically tough to glance at your standard, garden-variety SEC football freshman and forget that you’re looking at … well … a college freshman.

In the case of Trey Smith, it’s borderline impossible.

Some athletes have to be witnessed in person to be believed.

That’s what I think virtually every time I see Smith — who arrived at Tennessee in January looking more like an NFL veteran than someone who still should have been a high school senior.

Smith was barely closer to 18 than 17 when he enrolled at Tennessee, but he stood 6-foot-6, weighed 315 pounds and had virtually no baby fat. Stop for a second and think about that. That sails past illogical and settles just south of impossible.
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I’ll forgive anyone who forgets Smith is still, legally speaking, a child. That includes Tennessee coach Butch Jones, a man who has spent the lion’s share of his adult life recruiting the nation’s biggest, strongest high school athletes.

“We have to be careful — and we’ve talked about it as a staff — that he’s still gonna be a true freshman,” Jones said. “We have to make sure that we don’t place so much responsibility on him or so many high expectations on him right now. We have to just let him continue to go through that process and grow and develop as he continues to do that, and not place those high expectations on him.

“If we do that, he’ll be fine.”

How can you remind yourself Smith isn’t a freshman when he never walks, talks or acts like a freshman?
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......during Tennessee’s spring camp, but everything we heard about Smith was astonishing. He didn’t just win most of his one-on-one battles. He obliterated people. But he still showed nothing but respect for the team’s veterans before and after every whistle. He didn’t act like he knew everything. He clung to every word he was told.

That’s what makes Smith even more unusual. It’s not just his size, stature and athleticism. It’s his humility. One of the team’s veteran O-linemen told 247Sports that Smith was “the most humble five-star (prospect) ever.”

Jones made another subtle reference to that end Sunday when asked if Smith was still wowing everyone with his ability.

“Yes. And I think it’s the same from a maturity standpoint, as well,” Jones said. “He’s mature beyond his years. This is very important to him.”
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#2
#2
Remember Richmond the next great Left Tackle and future first round draft choice now third year might not even start on a very average OL in the SEC so let him mash a few pimples before we put him in the NFL hall of fame.
 
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#4
#4
terrypedigo said:
Remember Richmond the next great Left Tackle and future first round draft choice now third year might not even start on a very average OL in the SEC so let him mash a few pimples before we put him in the NFL hall of fame.
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No one was projecting greatness for Richmond once he got on campus and was seen.

Big difference here.
 
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#5
#5
terrypedigo said:
Remember Richmond the next great Left Tackle and future first round draft choice now third year might not even start on a very average OL in the SEC so let him mash a few pimples before we put him in the NFL hall of fame.
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Richmond uses commas.
 
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#7
#7
terrypedigo said:
Remember Richmond the next great Left Tackle and future first round draft choice now third year might not even start on a very average OL in the SEC so let him mash a few pimples before we put him in the NFL hall of fame.
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There really are just as many posters on VN who try to temper expectations as elevate them.... I don't remember anyone calling Richmond a "future first round draft choice" although a few could have - that was not the consensus. We were excited to get him largely because it was such a long and involved recruitment. He was verbally committed to Ole Miss for 5 months. That was a great job by Butch of staying after a recruit he coveted... And not everyone will agree with your assessment of our offensive line as 'very average' either but we'll see.
 
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#8
#8
butchna said:
Too good to be true...but he is. :shades:
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Yep, I gotta remind myself that he's a freshman. *possible he needs a little development before he reaches his potential but I honestly feel that it's coming. The only question is which season.
 
#9
#9
terrypedigo said:
Remember Richmond the next great Left Tackle and future first round draft choice now third year might not even start on a very average OL in the SEC so let him mash a few pimples before we put him in the NFL hall of fame.
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Richmond is the typical 5 star flop.

Trey Smith is the 5 star hit.

It happens folks.
 
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#11
#11
chargervol said:
Yep, I gotta remind myself that he's a freshman. *possible he needs a little development before he reaches his potential but I honestly feel that it's coming. The only question is which season.
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True, but how many physical freak linemen with uncommon maturity have we had access to? This is a different animal imo. Most likely will play at OG (to start with), but he will PLAY. I think his learning curve will be rapid. His potential is so high a small percentage will be quite a treat.
 
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#13
#13
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
Richmond is the typical 5 star flop.

Trey Smith is the 5 star hit.

It happens folks.
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We're due some five star (and four star) hits...had some really good 3 start hits with Dobbs and others, but I want to see a kid like Smith come in and be a dominate player for his 3 years before he goes as the first pick in the NFL draft...
 
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#17
#17
Trey Smith is so impressive that he made Wes Rucker, normally a solid reporter, forget how to form coherent sentences. :)
 
#18
#18
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
Richmond is the typical 5 star flop.

Trey Smith is the 5 star hit.

It happens folks.
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Smith's parents had him in private school and working with a former NFL pro bowler who was a member of their Church in Jackson. Trey has been taught what to expect and what is expected and has learned his lessons well. Richmond did not have the head start Smith was able to take advantage of and he is FAR from a bust at this point in time.
 
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#21
#21
All it takes is one illegal block to the knee and Smith will be a flop, just like Richmond? Tim has come a long way in his rehab.. give him a chance before we brand him a flop..
 
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#24
#24
Sarms58 said:
We're due some five star (and four star) hits...had some really good 3 start hits with Dobbs and others, but I want to see a kid like Smith come in and be a dominate player for his 3 years before he goes as the first pick in the NFL draft...
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Dobbs was a 4 star. Agree with the rest
 
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