Recruiting Forum Football Talk III

[Bassmaster_Vol]

Heup has a chance to really overachieve this year. I preface this by saying that everything that follows is based upon Heup’s reputation to coach offense and develop QB’s. He’s never had a bad offense nor has he ever had bad QB play. Even with QB’s that aren’t great, he adapts to get the most out of them. Gabriel is prime example of this. Mizzou’s offense and Locke were complete trash the year before he got there.

Ok, that being said, Heup has a chance if he can do for us what lane did for Ole Miss and that is get our offense rolling. Whether we have a good defense or not, we can win games by scoring a lot of points lane won 4 conference games last year with a garbage defense. I doubt our defense will be that bad with us having what should be a good DL and a decent secondary.

So, 4 conference wins out of beatable opponents in Ky, Vandy, SC, Mizzou, Ole Miss.

Then you have the 3 cupcakes which should be guaranteed wins. Get 4 of the above and that’s 7 wins. In spite of our struggles, we still have a better roster than every team listed above. Ole Miss would be the only question there.

So, get 4, beat the cupcakes for 7, then you have a chance to beat Pitt for 8. Sweep those lower level SEC teams and you’re at 9 regular season wins. With the talent that we have on offense, this is absolutely doable.

Now, even if you just win 3 of those conference games, then the 3 cupcakes, that’s 6 wins with a chance at Pitt to have 7.

The 2nd option here is probably more likely, but again, we have more talent than those teams, especially on offense. Some may say “muh, linebacker!” I know. But again, we don’t have to be great on defense. We’ll be better than Ole Miss was last year I’m sure. But even at LB, we’ll have Banks, Joseph, Harrison, Willis, and French and I believe Whitehead. Pick up one in the portal and let’s go. Not a lot of experience, but there’s talent there.

If Heup wins 8 year 1 or, incredibly, 9, recruiting would take off and he’d win coach of the year. It’s absolutely doable, but probably not likely. Give me 7, 8 with the bowl game and I’m a happy man

 

[SSVol]

Nothing wrong with optimism and hope. Just keep your loins girded. No need for this to be binary. Kind of like Reagan's "trust, but verify".

Sip the Kool-Aid. Don't chug it.

 

[JohnnyD1024]

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

It’s remarkable until they finish in the 40’s

 

[oUTlaw]

We had a top 5 class around this time last year IIRC

 

[VOLSONLY]

Heup has a chance to really overachieve this year. I preface this by saying that everything that follows is based upon Heup’s reputation to coach offense and develop QB’s. He’s never had a bad offense nor has he ever had bad QB play. Even with QB’s that aren’t great, he adapts to get the most out of them. Gabriel is prime example of this. Mizzou’s offense and Locke were complete trash the year before he got there.

Ok, that being said, Heup has a chance if he can do for us what lane did for Ole Miss and that is get our offense rolling. Whether we have a good defense or not, we can win games by scoring a lot of points lane won 4 conference games last year with a garbage defense. I doubt our defense will be that bad with us having what should be a good DL and a decent secondary.

So, 4 conference wins out of beatable opponents in Ky, Vandy, SC, Mizzou, Ole Miss.

Then you have the 3 cupcakes which should be guaranteed wins. Get 4 of the above and that’s 7 wins. In spite of our struggles, we still have a better roster than every team listed above. Ole Miss would be the only question there.

So, get 4, beat the cupcakes for 7, then you have a chance to beat Pitt for 8. Sweep those lower level SEC teams and you’re at 9 regular season wins. With the talent that we have on offense, this is absolutely doable.

Now, even if you just win 3 of those conference games, then the 3 cupcakes, that’s 6 wins with a chance at Pitt to have 7.

The 2nd option here is probably more likely, but again, we have more talent than those teams, especially on offense. Some may say “muh, linebacker!” I know. But again, we don’t have to be great on defense. We’ll be better than Ole Miss was last year I’m sure. But even at LB, we’ll have Banks, Joseph, Harrison, Willis, and French and I believe Whitehead. Pick up one in the portal and let’s go. Not a lot of experience, but there’s talent there.

If Heup wins 8 year 1 or, incredibly, 9, recruiting would take off and he’d win coach of the year. It’s absolutely doable, but probably not likely. Give me 7, 8 with the bowl game and I’m a happy man

 

[NMVol]

Gave me pause, but doesn't change my mind.

 

[butchna]

One of the assistant coaches said after he came back from injury, he needed to put in the work to get out there and that's on him. Made it sound like Walker expected playing time to be handed to him instead of having to work for it.

That’s an interpretation I can buy. I’d counter that coaches would be doing the interpretation of how hard he was working. And if there was a predetermined mindset towards that, he was never going to satisfy them.

 

[ChattaTNVol]

List our current commitments and get back to me.

Current status: recruiting is dead. Not saying it’s where we end up, but to argue is our current reality? ... the orange tint is so thick on those glasses it’s opaque

I think Heupel has been asked a couple of times what is his sales pitch to recruits and he’s basically said the same thing every other coach we’ve had in recent times have said. Tennessee is a storied football program and we want guys who will help bring Tennessee back. I’m wondering if as time passes the selling point of our legacy sort of loses its impact, especially when it doesn't seem like the guy saying the words has all that much conviction. jmo.

The elephant in the room is obviously the NCAA issues. I’ve heard Danny White say that is just a bump in the road. I think in recruiting it’s perhaps a sledgehammer opposing teams are using to their benefit. The NCAA issues are potentially most damning right now because no one knows the outcome. There is speculation, on our side, and by our opponents, but nobody knows yet. Who are the kids going to believe?

I think we have good recruiters on offense in Burns and Mack and good recruiters on defense in Garner, Jean-Mary, and Banks. They’ll be able to get some guys that would prefer P5 and the SEC over G5 schools but under the circumstances I’m not sure how they can do against other P5 schools and especially SEC schools.

I was looking at the Ole Miss situation for informational purposes. I don’t know if our fate will be better or worse.

The NCAA imposed the following penalties against the Ole Miss football program:

• Three years of probation from Dec. 1, 2017, to Nov. 30, 2020.
• A financial penalty of $5,000 plus 1 percent of its average football budget for three years, which was calculated at $179,797 (self-imposed by the university).
• A postseason ban for the 2017 (self-imposed by the university) and 2018 seasons.
• The head coach must serve a two-conference-game suspension for the 2018 season should any NCAA school hire him between Dec. 1, 2017, and Nov. 30, 2018.
• An eight-year show-cause order for the operations coordinator, during which he must not hold any athletically related duties or have contact with prospective student-athletes and their families.
• A five-year show-cause order for the assistant coach who facilitated standardized test fraud and living arrangements. He must not hold any athletically related duties during this time.
• A two-year show-cause order for the other involved assistant coach. During this time, he must not participate in off-campus recruiting activities or hosting any meals for prospects or student-athletes.
• A five-year show-cause order for the assistant athletics director. He must not participate in any recruiting activities during this time.
• Vacation of all regular-season and postseason wins in which ineligible student-athletes competed.
• Scholarship reductions through 2018-19, as detailed in the public report (self-imposed by the university).
• Recruiting restrictions, as detailed in the public report.
• Disassociation of boosters, as detailed in the public report (self-imposed by the university).

https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/...sippiIIInfractionsDecisionPUBLIC_20171201.pdf

This is the 247 composite ranking for Ole Miss recruiting classes:

2011 - 20
2012 - 43
2013 - 8
2014 - 15
2015 - 17
2016 - 5
2017 - 31
2018 - 32
2019 - 22
2020 - 34
2021 - 17

The open practice Saturday is only officially for the fans. It's actually an opportunity to give some prospects a closer look at what we're doing. The staff is trying and we'll have a class but this year's roster might be the best roster we have for 2 or 3 years. jmo.

I don't think we'll be able to judge the new staff until 2024 which happens to coincide perfectly with the dates marked on my calendar for the next great VolNation coaching search. I'll be approaching 70 years old then but for now I'm thinking I'll still be good for the night shift. jmo.

 

[Rishvol]

Nothing wrong with optimism and hope. Just keep your loins girded. No need for this to be binary. Kind of like Reagan's "trust, but verify".

Sip the Kool-Aid. Don't chug it.

Sorry about drowned in this Kool aid... What'd you say?

 

[Kristy*]

That’s an interpretation I can buy. I’d counter that coaches would be doing the interpretation of how hard he was working. And if there was a predetermined mindset towards that, he was never going to satisfy them.

To me, Coach Barnes seems like a pretty fair guy. He enjoys coaching and mentoring young men. He also expects hard work and discipline. I don't always agree with his personnel decisions. But I don't feel like he would put someone in the dog house and leave him there to prove a point. Walker was publicly called out by a coach for not putting in the work. HE didn't remedy that.

 

[Jackcrevol]

we had no 4 class, until someone dropped a couple a Benjamin's in front of the compliance lady.

i remember as a kid pointing to the Rutgers flag in Neyland from Section J saying 'who's that Dad?'

'Son, they're one of the worst teams in football'.

all of sudden he's selling a turd? cmon.

 

[NMVol]

"VOLSONLY, post: 19700291, member: 78383"

I can read it but I don't want to.

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

.

I don’t understand this.

Also, I tried hitting the done button 3 times before I realized it was in the photo

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

I really enjoy how comfortable Coach Heupel is at the podium.

Been a while since we saw that from a coach.

 

[mikemist]

I don’t understand this.

Also, I tried hitting the done button 3 times before I realized it was in the photo

Rick roll

 

[engineerVOL]

I don’t understand this.

Also, I tried hitting the done button 3 times before I realized it was in the photo

You’ve been phonetically Rick Roll’d

 

[Catbone]

I don’t understand this.

Also, I tried hitting the done button 3 times before I realized it was in the photo

 

[Revived2002]

I really enjoy how comfortable Coach Heupel is at the podium.

Been a while since we saw that from a coach.

I agree. I’ve noticed that as well. I’m optimistic he can bring stability to this place. Just seems to have a calm confidence about him. I’m no longer demanding titles - I just want regular relevance, onfield competence and a sense that we can at least make the best teams on our schedule sweat a little. Make it fun again!

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

I agree. I’ve noticed that as well. I’m optimistic he can bring stability to this place. Just seems to have a calm confidence about him. I’m no longer demanding titles - I just want regular relevance, onfield competence and a sense that we can at least make the best teams on our schedule sweat a little. Make it fun again!

And his answers flow. I mean, there’s some coachspeak but he sounds genuine and real in saying it.

I know there are concerns about his ability to recruit - but the more I hear him, the more I think he’ll connect easily with a lot of these kids and family.

 

[Revived2002]

I’ve never really thought a staff or team picked before until twice under Pruitt.... the end of 2018 i think Helton knew he was gone and Pruitt did too and that’s why the offense took a dump vs Missouri and candy. Then 2020...... let’s not talk about it anymore.

I started getting a sense in the 2018 Florida game that once things started going against Pruitt’s plan, he packed it in, accepted defeat and figured he could turn it around the next game.

 

[butchna]

A great letter! My bro-in-law works with this HC at the school.

 

[Revived2002]

And his answers flow. I mean, there’s some coachspeak but he sounds genuine and real in saying it.

I know there are concerns about his ability to recruit - but the more I hear him, the more I think he’ll connect easily with a lot of these kids and family.

Agreed. I’m also in the camp of believing Tennessee recruits itself to a certain degree. Not a perennial top 5 level but definitely a top 10-13 level. I think he can at least hit that average and his scheme may maximize that kind of talent against opponents with truly elite talent.

 

[SweetasSoda]

Wow that is true, John Jenkins. Juco guy that last played for Georgia in 2012, selected in the 2013 draft. That's really surprising.

UGASports - NFL Draft History - Georgia Bulldog edition

Georgia Bulldogs Draft History

Shocking

 

[CAVPUT]

A great letter! My bro-in-law works with this HC at the school.

He's a better man than I. After the second player strike when Glavine was the rep, I'd had enough. Haven't watched MLB since. When it became clear that fans no longer mattered, I walked away.