NighthawkVol
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I'm looking at the 2021 projected roster and I have to think that the NCAA allowing no eligibility to lapse this season really helps Tennessee. Here's why: I see other SEC schools' upperclass talent leaving to test the pro waters at a much higher rate than Tennessee's. And the biggest area of concern for 2021...replacing all those DLinemen...becomes an area of strength. Tennessee will now return Solomon, Middleton, Bumphus, and Butler, to go with Emerson, Garland, Thomas, and Bailey. We go from a concern to one of the best DLs in the SEC.
I'd expect the following seniors to leave:
Trey Smith- He has to take his shot at the NFL now.
Jarrett Guarantano- One of two things happens: he finally lives up to his billing, has a great year, and goes to the NFL or he languishes, gets beat out by Bailey or Shrout and either transfers or hangs it up. Let's hope it's the former.
Bryce Thompson- He'll be ready to go. But I do think Alonte Taylor returns AND now Kenneth George gets another year, lessening that loss. So does Shamburger. Taylor, Shamburger, George, Burrell (who has a lot of upside), and Key Lawrence should give Tennessee a very good corps of CBs in 2021. Again, this was a concern before the no-loss-of-eligibility rule. Now it isn't.
Other concerns alleviated by this rule:
-Kicker- Cimaglia will now be back instead of breaking in a freshman.
-TE- Pope will now be back and it's well-documented what a great blocker he is.
-WR depth- UT has some great young WR prospects, but they're unproven. Now Velus Jones and Josh Palmer can come back. I suppose Palmer could go pro, but I'd expect him to return at this point.
-OL depth- Jahmir Johnson has finally become the big athletic OT Pruitt hoped he'd be when he signed him. That development gives Tennessee options along the OLine since he now gets another season. If Cade Mays leaves early, they can probably swing Morris or Wright inside to Guard. And does Brandon Kennedy come back for a 7th year? Why not. Not sure his body is durable enough for the NFL, so he may just hang it up when he's done at UT. An OLine of (left to right) Johnson, Morris, Kennedy, Calbert, and Wright is still very good. Then add depth with Spraggins, Carvin, and a promising Cooper Mays with a year of development. And Cade may return.
-RB depth- getting Chandler and Fils-Aime back helps. This wasn't a huge concern given the arrivals of Brown and Evans, but it's still nice.
Among our rivals, I'm not sure this rule helps them as much. Let's take Florida as an example (since I hate them the most and want to beat them more than anything).
Florida's impact 2020 seniors are:
Kyle Trask- probably goes pro anyway. Some are saying with his size, athleticism, and arm talent, he could sneak into the 1st round.
Trevon Grimes- could go either way, but given his initial intent to sit the season, I don't think he's too committed to the Gators. Probably goes pro.
Kadarius Toney- flirted with the NFL last year. Gone.
Kyree Cambell- gone
Tedarrel Slaton- gone.
Shawn Davis- flirted with the NFL last year. Gone.
Brad Stewart- depends on what kind of year he has.
Stone Forsyth- needs a big year.
So other than the last two, this new rule doesn't add a lot to Florida's 2021 roster like it does Tennessee's. The same is true of Georgia and Alabama, whose impact seniors will mostly be going pro. This rule might be the stroke of good luck that Tennessee needed to break through and become elite in 2021. After that, a full roster of Pruitt's recruits will keep it going.
I'd expect the following seniors to leave:
Trey Smith- He has to take his shot at the NFL now.
Jarrett Guarantano- One of two things happens: he finally lives up to his billing, has a great year, and goes to the NFL or he languishes, gets beat out by Bailey or Shrout and either transfers or hangs it up. Let's hope it's the former.
Bryce Thompson- He'll be ready to go. But I do think Alonte Taylor returns AND now Kenneth George gets another year, lessening that loss. So does Shamburger. Taylor, Shamburger, George, Burrell (who has a lot of upside), and Key Lawrence should give Tennessee a very good corps of CBs in 2021. Again, this was a concern before the no-loss-of-eligibility rule. Now it isn't.
Other concerns alleviated by this rule:
-Kicker- Cimaglia will now be back instead of breaking in a freshman.
-TE- Pope will now be back and it's well-documented what a great blocker he is.
-WR depth- UT has some great young WR prospects, but they're unproven. Now Velus Jones and Josh Palmer can come back. I suppose Palmer could go pro, but I'd expect him to return at this point.
-OL depth- Jahmir Johnson has finally become the big athletic OT Pruitt hoped he'd be when he signed him. That development gives Tennessee options along the OLine since he now gets another season. If Cade Mays leaves early, they can probably swing Morris or Wright inside to Guard. And does Brandon Kennedy come back for a 7th year? Why not. Not sure his body is durable enough for the NFL, so he may just hang it up when he's done at UT. An OLine of (left to right) Johnson, Morris, Kennedy, Calbert, and Wright is still very good. Then add depth with Spraggins, Carvin, and a promising Cooper Mays with a year of development. And Cade may return.
-RB depth- getting Chandler and Fils-Aime back helps. This wasn't a huge concern given the arrivals of Brown and Evans, but it's still nice.
Among our rivals, I'm not sure this rule helps them as much. Let's take Florida as an example (since I hate them the most and want to beat them more than anything).
Florida's impact 2020 seniors are:
Kyle Trask- probably goes pro anyway. Some are saying with his size, athleticism, and arm talent, he could sneak into the 1st round.
Trevon Grimes- could go either way, but given his initial intent to sit the season, I don't think he's too committed to the Gators. Probably goes pro.
Kadarius Toney- flirted with the NFL last year. Gone.
Kyree Cambell- gone
Tedarrel Slaton- gone.
Shawn Davis- flirted with the NFL last year. Gone.
Brad Stewart- depends on what kind of year he has.
Stone Forsyth- needs a big year.
So other than the last two, this new rule doesn't add a lot to Florida's 2021 roster like it does Tennessee's. The same is true of Georgia and Alabama, whose impact seniors will mostly be going pro. This rule might be the stroke of good luck that Tennessee needed to break through and become elite in 2021. After that, a full roster of Pruitt's recruits will keep it going.