Recruiting Forum Football Talk [RIP 9.3.2019]

[jakez4ut]

He was moved to offense a couple weeks ago.

I’m surprised to see CFA ahead of Osborne. Haven’t heard much at all about either of those guys though

agreed, but you can put that on Taylor, Thompson and George all stepping up and providing the option to move guys like that donw the depth chart.

 

[Volnukem]

agreed, but you can put that on Taylor, Thompson and George all stepping up and providing the option to move guys like that donw the depth chart.

It’s odd seeing guys like Labruzza, Osbourne, and Bailey getting beat out. I really thought Labruzza was gonna be a multi year starter.

 

[Rishvol]

He was moved to offense a couple weeks ago.

I’m surprised to see CFA ahead of Osborne. Haven’t heard much at all about either of those guys though

CFA looked good during the spring game. Hopefully he's building off that good performance. Also, AT has been so good it's not a surprise to not hear much from anyone else.

 

[Mike4Vols]

The Dillon Bates situation is still puzzling after all these years. How could a kid so highly ranked with an NFL pedigree be such a zero?

 

[ChattaTNVol]

Weekly recruiting update

Ryan Callahan (8.21.18) - The Erik Ainge Show - Omny.fm

 

[jakez4ut]

It’s odd seeing guys like Labruzza, Osbourne, and Bailey getting beat out. I really thought Labruzza was gonna be a multi year starter.

good call on labruzza. i'll still be a little surprised if he doesn't find his way in to some productive time at some point.

 

[jakez4ut]

The Dillon Bates situation is still puzzling after all these years. How could a kid so highly ranked with an NFL pedigree be such a zero?

injuries played a big part in it. never could stay healthy, and just never developed much at all. plus i think he's a tad slow for what anyone has wanted at the mike spot. it should say something that Jumper got the nod over him.

his name has been mentioned more this off season than any that i remember in the past. what that means for him as far as PT this season....don't know. safe to say we have better options ahead of him. maybe finds a home on special teams?

 

[jakez4ut]

It’s odd seeing guys like Labruzza, Osbourne, and Bailey getting beat out. I really thought Labruzza was gonna be a multi year starter.

and labruzza may find himself in one of those tweener type spots, where he just hasn't found a place to "fit" yet in this defense.

 

[Vfl2407]

How come we don't get to make demands about OUR schedule?

Because their Athletic Directors have clout and raise hell where ours don’t. Fulmer and Pruitt need to scream their lungs out about how our 5 toughest games this year are All IN A ROW!!!!!!!

 

[jakez4ut]

Because their Athletic Directors have clout and raise hell where ours don’t. Fulmer and Pruitt need to scream their lungs out about how our 5 toughest games this year are All IN A ROW!!!!!!!

well to be honest, the GA game wasn't a big issue for a long time. and really, it's still not except in the past few years where it's sandwiched between FL and a big time west opponent.

the real issue is with the FL game being our first SEC game every year. that game really should be later on in the season.

but i'll never happen. and it's not just FL's fault. sure they've said "no", but FSU doesn't want to play UF earlier on their schedule either b/c of their annual game with Miami. basically you have 1 party crying foul, and everyone else, in the conf and out, telling you "no".

it's exasperated at the moment because GA has gotten so much better, Bama is sooo much better and the West in general has been a lot better than the East.

at the end of the day, we just need to get better. FL has played the TN game the same week on the schedule we have for 26 years, and they haven't had a problem with it...lol.....

 

[Sleegro]

well to be honest, the GA game wasn't a big issue for a long time. and really, it's still not except in the past few years where it's sandwiched between FL and a big time west opponent.

the real issue is with the FL game being our first SEC game every year. that game really should be later on in the season.

but i'll never happen. and it's not just FL's fault. sure they've said "no", but FSU doesn't want to play UF earlier on their schedule either b/c of their annual game with Miami. basically you have 1 party crying foul, and everyone else, in the conf and out, telling you "no".

it's exasperated at the moment because GA has gotten so much better, Bama is sooo much better and the West in general has been a lot better than the East.

at the end of the day, we just need to get better. FL has played the TN game the same week on the schedule we have for 26 years, and they haven't had a problem with it...lol.....

I think we could ease it a little by moving either USCe or the second west opponent a little.

 

[mrMet]

I think we could ease it a little by moving either USCe or the second west opponent a little.

Like playing LSU late in the year in November last year

 

[jakez4ut]

I think we could ease it a little by moving either USCe or the second west opponent a little.

probably. and a 9 game conf schedule could also help a little. but they do a decent job of moving the west game around, like last year playing LSU in november. broke up the middle a little bit for us.

i'd like move vandy. that game being last is stupid. it's a rival and it's in state, but it's not like many of the other in state rivalries that matter. and i'm also not married to the idea that we have to play bama on the 3rd saturday in october. i want to still play them every year, but fixating on that date, has hurt in the past when the topic of schedules come up.

 

[VolGee4]

Yea Alabama creates their pressure from the inside mostly they love A gap pressure which i think we will see here. I don’t even remember their last great edge guy. Tim Williams was pretty good.

Ryan Anderson. Rashaan Evans had 6 sacks last year.

 

[mccrackb]

Because their Athletic Directors have clout and raise hell where ours don’t. Fulmer and Pruitt need to scream their lungs out about how our 5 toughest games this year are All IN A ROW!!!!!!!

Any team that doesn't win a game should get to set their own schedule. Aight

 

[tennesseefan31]

Continued from above...



- 247 (Lewis)

Appreciate the scoop, any chance you can post the offense also? Think it came out yesterday. Appreciate it.

 

[Sleegro]

Weekly recruiting update

Ryan Callahan (8.21.18) - The Erik Ainge Show - Omny.fm

Thanks for posting. Really good info. I did notice that Callahan when talking about Beasley likes his hitting ability like many on here, and says he could end up at LB (didn't mention safety at all cause he's probably already too big). But did sound like he thinks he probably ends up and RB and said he had 26 carries for 182 yards last week. And we know he had a least one TD because there was a video posted of it.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

we'd all like to hear they'd be able to compete and be a strength out the gate, but really, if the O line does remain healthy and you get those three guys (hall, carvin and calbert) as regular contributors the 2nd half of the season, that could be the difference in finishing 3-1 or 4-0 vs. 2-2 or worse. and we all know how important November will be in determing any modicum of success for this season, and qualifying for post season play. so yeah, it's at least good to hear they have a real shot at not sucking. lol.
i'm excited about this OL, and maybe that's just because it just doesn't seem as dire as it did at the end of last year and in the spring.

JG won't transfer until after whichever semester this year he graduates. can't remember if he's graduating in december or May. but if he does transfer, it will be as a GT with 2 for 2.

and they're giving Shrout reps because they want him to develop. he's still got 4 years. it's likely he'll see the field in some capacity in the future, and he'll need to be ready. and he'll need to provide competition for anyone else brought in.

You may be right about Shrout, but it just seems unusual for 4 QB s to be getting an equal number of reps this far into fall camp. It just seems like they might see him as a potential back up this season if someone were to transfer early. But who knows?

 

[drvenner]

No quality depth at all on that d line

We are not sure if it's quality or not. It is definitely unproven, though.

 

[jakez4ut]

You may be right about Shrout, but it just seems unusual for 4 QB s to be getting an equal number of reps this far into fall camp. It just seems like they might see him as a potential back up this season if someone were to transfer early. But who knows?

it's ceratainly possible he could skip the RS if needed. and price did say he believes shrout is pushing for that back up job.

and, strictly from a potential scenario standpoint, if JG was to transfer out, then you'd want at least 1 of the QB's you're going to carry over in to the next season to have as much experience as possible. so i would expect that Shrout will have every opportunity to play in at least the 4 games allowed under hte new RS rule. maybe more, depending on how other things may work out as the season progresses. again, that's all hypothetical...but not knowing hte future, you have an opportunity to get the kid live reps, and maintain his elgibility.....so i have to think that's the plan right now anyway.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

this. and RT to me is the only spot that remains a question, though i don't see Jamir getting the nod over tatum? definitely in the rotation until/unless Hall can play. cause i agree, if Hall was in at RT i'd feel pretty good about that line up as is.

that said, if you did put Smith at LT you can move Drew to RT, and and have Kennedy, Carvin, r johnson, tatum, J johnson to rorate at multiple positions.

but at the end of the day, he's our best player, and LG is his best position. and from a run game standpoint, i think that helps the most vs. putting him outside.

heck, we'll still see TE's line up on the outside of hte line as well to help the edges in pass pro, and run blocking, so yeah, you probably do leave him at guard....

FWIW last week Richmond was at RT and J Johnson at LT apparently. Maybe the coaches just want to see what they have with him, but Johnson may be ahead of Tatum at this point.

 

[LynxVol]

Appreciate the scoop, any chance you can post the offense also? Think it came out yesterday. Appreciate it.

Here you go.

Projecting Tennessee's Depth Chart: Offense

Quarterback:

1. Jarrett Guarantano 2. Keller Chryst 3. Will McBride OR JT Shrout

Pruitt doesn't sound like a coach on the verge of naming a starter publicly, and frankly he doesn't sound like a coach enamored with any of his quarterbacks right now. Despite the coach revealing the Vols gave all four quarterbacks reps in Saturday's scrimmage, the starting job is coming down to Guarantano and Chryst, and Tennessee may have just been trying to figure out who its No. 3 will be between McBride and Shrout. Neither Guarantano nor Chryst lit it up on Saturday, and Guarantano had a bad interception late in the scrimmage.

The Vols gave both Guarantano and Chryst first-team reps on Saturday. While it remains likely Guarantano will earn the starting nod against West Virginia, he hasn't exactly blown away the coaching staff and run away in the competition. However, has Chryst done enough to warrant a chance in the opener?

Running Back:

1A. Tim Jordan 1B. Madre London 1C. Ty Chandler

ennessee's running back situation has become a little clearer over the past two scrimmages, with Michigan State transfer London staking his claim to a role alongside sophomores Jordan and Chandler. Don't get too caught up in the order of these three backs, because all of them are likely to see playing time. The makeup of the Tennessee's backfield always suggested the Vols might go the by-committee route, and these three seem to have separated themselves from freshman Jeremy Banks and sophomore Trey Coleman.

London was the standout in the first scrimmage, Chandler was the standout in the second one and Jordan has remained reliable throughout camp with Pruitt seeming pleased publicly with how his running backs have performed.

Fullback/H-Back:

1. Austin Pope 2. Ja'Quain Blakely

The third-year sophomore from Knoxville and the converted defensive end appear the most likely bets to be on the field when the Vols go to their I-formation. Pope, who has added 10 pounds since last offseason, has impressed the new staff with his toughness and quietly has himself poised for a role on offense. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Blakely may not offer the same kind of threat as Pope as a receiver, but he looks like a fullback should look.

Wide Receiver:

1. Jauan Jennings 2. Josh Palmer

Jennings hasn't been 100 percent this month, but he solidified his spot here by going through Saturday's scrimmage. The Vols have been careful with their star wide receiver this month after his knee scope in the winter and his hyperextension last week, and he's not done every rep or gone through every practice. Tennessee's staff wanted to get a better look at Jennings, but they also need him healthy for the season.

Palmer still has room to improve, but has made some plays this month and appears to have solidified a role as one of the top one or two receivers beyond the projected starting trio and a potential starter if Jennings is unavailable.

Wide Receiver:

1. Marquez Callaway 2A. Tyler Byrd 2B. Cedric Tillman

Callaway is expected to play a prominent role in Tennessee's offense, and the Vols will need him to become a reliable playmaking threat who can generate big gains in the passing game. The tools are there, but Callaway is a junior now and it's time for him to take the next step. He was hampered late last week and didn't go through some reps during a couple of practices, but there doesn't appear to be any real concern.

The question for Byrd and Tillman is how many receivers will the Vols want to play. Both players have had solid camps, with Byrd looking solid and Tillman already looking like a diamond-in-the-rough steal for Tennessee. Yet Josh Palmer and Jordan Murphy appear to have warranted more opportunities, and it's unclear how big Tennessee's new staff will want its receiver rotation to be.

Wide Receiver:

1. Brandon Johnson 2. Jordan Murphy

Tennessee will move its wide receivers around within the offense in an effort to create favorable matchups, but Johnson and Murphy are poised to be the main threats as slot specialists. Johnson has continued to be a steady performer in practices and scrimmages and like Callaway should have plenty of opportunity to take the next step. The emergence of the sophomore Murphy has been one of the preseason positives for Tennessee, and he's likely solidified a role in the offense with what he's done this month.

- 247 (Lewis)

 

[LynxVol]

Continued from above...

Tight End:

1. Dominick Wood-Anderson 2A. Eli Wolf 2B. Austin Pope

Wood-Anderson, the big junior college transfer, appears to have settled in quickly at Tennessee and is poised to be a major immediate-impact player for Tennessee's offense. He'll still need to show he can hold up as a run blocker against SEC defenders, but the Vols would be wise to target him regularly in their passing game. Wood-Anderson is a jumbo sure-handed option, and the coaching staff has continued to push him hard this month, a sure sign they believe in his talent and know they need him to be ready right away.

What the Vols do beyond Wood-Anderson could depend on the situation, but Wolf and Pope in some order are safe bets to get snaps ahead of some of the other players the Vols have at the position.

Left Tackle:

1. Trey Smith 2. Jahmir Johnson

Smith has been limited to light-contact work in individual drills throughout preseason camp, but he's expected to be cleared for full contact this week. The Vols have moved anybody and everybody around on the offensive line this month, but the first domino to fall always was going to be Smith, who has gotten work at left tackle in the individual drills he's done in camp. There's still a chance he could play left guard, but Smith is Tennessee's best offensive lineman, so putting him at left tackle makes sense, and it appears that's what the Vols want to do.

Johnson, the junior college transfer, has made a real push in the past week or so. He's far from a finished product, he's on the lighter side (listed at 285 pounds) and still needs to improve his conditioning, but he's caught the eye of the staff lately and appears to have gotten himself into the mix. Johnson has worked mostly at left tackle, but he's gotten some reps at guard, too, and while it seems premature to put him in the starting lineup, he's now a factor on the offensive line.

Left Guard:

1A. Riley Locklear 1B. Jerome Carvin

Both Locklear, the sophomore who would love nothing more than to start against his home-state program (his brother plays at Marshall, West Virginia's in-state rival), and Carvin, the freshman who enrolled early and exited spring practice as a first-teamer, have worked extensively at both guard spots all preseason. Lately, though, they've worked mostly at left guard. Things remain fluid up front for Tennessee with Smith coming back into the fold this week, but this seems to be the least settled position on the offensive line.

Carvin was the presumed starter heading into camp, but Locklear has gotten plenty of first-team work at both guard spots. Regardless of who starts, it looks like both players will be factors this season.

Center:

1. Brandon Kennedy 2. Ryan Johnson

The Alabama transfer is another newcomer who has settled in quickly since joining the Vols this summer. Kennedy is the ideal build for a center and has quick feet to go with his short, stocky build. His addition was hailed as a major one for Tennessee when it happened, and him coming in and emerging quickly as a likely starter — while everything around him remains a little fluid, Kennedy at center is as much of a lock as there is up front — only validates how important was the Vols got him.

Right Guard:

1. Ryan Johnson 2. K'Rojhn Calbert

Johnson worked mostly at left guard during the first week or so of preseason camp, but he's seen more work at right guard in the past week and could wind up starting there. The former four-star prospect out of Nashville also could slide over to center if needed and might be the second-best option there. It seems likely he'll open the season as a starter at guard.

Calbert, the 6-foot-5, 327-pound redshirt freshman, is another player who has shown up more in the past week or so. Tennessee's new staff always has viewed him as an intriguing player, and after he was limited most of the spring they've gotten a closer look at him this month. The Vols appear to have liked what they've seen from Calbert, and he's another player to monitor the next two weeks and early in the season.

Right Tackle:

1. Drew Richmond 2. Marcus Tatum


Tennessee's on-and-off starter at left tackle the past two seasons could begin his fourth-year junior season at right tackle, assuming Smith remains at left tackle. Richmond worked primarily on the left side through the first week of scrimmage, but he's seen his workload on the right side increase over the past week or so, and the expectation is he'll open the season on the right side. Richmond's play left a lot to be desired the past two seasons, and the Vols will hope to see an improved version of the former top-100 prospect this season.

Tatum was the first-team right tackle early in camp and got some work there with the first-team offense on Saturday, so even if he doesn't wind up as a starter, he will remain in the picture there.

While there remains some optimism Chance Hall will be able to play this season, he spent every practice last week working out on the side and it doesn't sound like he scrimmaged on Saturday. Thus it's a little early to include him in a projection like this. Hall remains a wildcard for Tennessee and could get into the picture at some point this season, but some patience may be needed.

- 247 (Lewis)

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

View attachment 164173

I love that thing..

 

[LA Vol]

I think the coaches will go with experience against WVU to calm first-game jitters as much as possible. Then some of the young guys will get a chance the next two games to see how they handle live game reps. So the rotations and some of the starters could change for UF.