Recruiting Forum Football Talk IX

[RandomUTfan]

Oh thank God. I was so worried about this. I woke up several times in a panic last night because I kept freaking dreaming Josh Heupel was going to leave Tennessee for the school that fired James Franklin and can't hire anybody better.

 

[Outofmyvolcanmind]

Bama is nearly guaranteed to be in dude. The committee has made it pretty clear they don't want to punish teams that play in a conference championship game. Now if Ty Simpson were to get hurt or if Bama gets rolled by 30 points, that could change things. But as of now, Bama is most certainly in.

I still don't understand why ND remains in front of Miami when Miami has the h2h. The ND bias is astonishing for a program that hasn't won anything of relevance in nearly 40 years.

There are grumblings today that their resume has suffered and their performance (eyeball) test has taken a blow. I think this is a case where they (Bama) wish A&M won. If Georgia wins, it gives the committee the ability to remove the Miami/ND issue they have.

 

[Buddy’s Bandit]

Don't be shocked if Penn State hires DeBoer after Georgia **** kicks them in the SEC title game.

There is a reason so many staffers are leaving for lateral money jobs...

Would be hilarious is Kiff skipped LSU for bama.

 

[Carp]

Teams circle certain games every year and save plays until those games. Every team does it. And that’s why most games seem status quo with play calling and then in a big game, you’re like where was this all year? We know which games we likely can win without it and which will be our toughest.

Look at Vandy, they never played anyone on defense all year the way they did us. They scouted all off season and in season to beat our a**. I guarantee we spent way more time on UGA and Florida. And we should have won both.

I'm not sure what you mean by that. Vandy played way better defensively vs Mizzu. We didn't have a single TO all game. Vandy got the stops they needed to in the 2nd half. Props to them for that. But we moved the ball on them all game. If Matthews catches that TD pass to start the 4th Q, who knows happens. But afte that, we were playing catch up and Vandy had all the momentum.

 

[csprig9]

When is banks gonna be held accountable for his recruiting at the safety position
5 years in and we are starting turrentine

His best safety has been will brooks

 

[crawdaddyjc]

 

[RandomUTfan]

This is an old story, that was public a long time ago, that's re-emerging in the light of current events.

 

[Outofmyvolcanmind]

Would be hilarious is Kiff skipped LSU for bama.

Bama doesn't have LSU resources in the NIL era.

 

[RandomUTfan]

Zach is clickbait. We don't know whether it's Heup or Joey because Heup doesn't want us to know. There were rumors Golesh called plays not Heupel. Neither has ever said to this day which it was.

 

[knoxvol52]

Would be hilarious is Kiff skipped LSU for bama.

If Alabama wanted Kiffin they would've hired him 2 years ago when Saban retired..

 

[MoCo_Vol]

My 12 team predictions (not 100% on order but best guess)

1 - Big 10 champion (Ohio State)
2 - SEC Champion (Georgia)
3 - Big 12 Champion (Texas Tech)
4 - ACC Champion (Virginia)
5 - Indiana
6 - Oregon
7 - A&M (with no Lane Ole Miss gets punished and they'll want A&M hosting)
8 - G5 Highest rated (North Texas)
9 - Notre Dame
10 - BYU (I think a 2 loss conference champ appearance secures them a spot over others)
11 - Ole Miss
12 - Miami or OU

I think Bama wins and you see 4 SEC teams in without a doubt...Bama loses and it'll be at least 3 with heavy debate about if a 3 loss Bama should be in over 2 loss Miami, Vandy, OU... OU has the best resume and Vandy lost head to head with Bama...Miami would be in purely to keep out a SEC team.

From a "fun to watch" I'd be cool seeing these matchups.

OU/Miami at Indiana
Ole Miss at Oregon
BYU at A&M
ND at North Texas

 

[RandomUTfan]

When is banks gonna be held accountable for his recruiting at the safety position
5 years in and we are starting turrentine

His best safety has been will brooks

I'll explain it but I'm not sure it will be helpful. Perhaps it helps someone. Banks' role in recruiting is so minimal if something goes wrong it's not him who is held accountable. It wouldn't have been his fault anyway because of the nature of his role in recruiting these players. There are several other individuals at UT far more involved than him. Probably a team of them.

 

[rikberry31]

Lol, Nico will never take a meaningful snap in the NFL.

That is what people said about Joe Milton.

 

[therickbol]

This is an old story, that was public a long time ago, that's re-emerging in the light of current events.

And now all these years later, as a 50 year old man, Lane has grown and matured an learned how to not act like a spoiled, self-centered.......oh wait......

 

[Orangeburst]

Just keeps getting better…..

yea, he is scum, but wasnt when he was their coach.

 

[rikberry31]

My wife is all tore up about it and I told her, consider the source.

 

[Jackcrevol]

And now all these years later, as a 50 year old man, Lane has grown and matured an learned how to not act like a spoiled, self-centered.......oh wait......

douche canoe.

 

[Orangeburst]

 

[TN-POSSUM]

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

I remember years ago this guy used to peddle his son and his ties to Grayson kids into a college job. Never knew it actually worked out for him.

 

[volbeast33]

Zach is clickbait. We don't know whether it's Heup or Joey because Heup doesn't want us to know. There were rumors Golesh called plays not Heupel. Neither has ever said to this day which it was.

We know…. It’s JH and has always been JH.

 

[Carp]

There are grumblings today that their resume has suffered and their performance (eyeball) test has taken a blow. I think this is a case where they (Bama) wish A&M won. If Georgia wins, it gives the committee the ability to remove the Miami/ND issue they have.

Again, they aren't gonna bump out a Bama team that played in the SECCG over a team that was idle. Unless Bama gets rolled or loses Simpson, they are in the CFP.

 

[tnvols72]

We'll see when LSU comes to Knoxville next year.

If we have this same defensive staff, Kiffin will name the score.

 

[WesTnVol]

My final take from the season finale upon reflection:

1) Give Inge another season. I gave him a hard time yesterday, but the talent in the LB room is getting better. Let’s see what that unit look like with another year of development and go from there.

2) Revise the offense to not lean so heavily on just counting the number of guys in the box. Vandy exposed the flaw in that ideology. More teams will take the same approach going forward. We grew schematically from 2024 to this season. That growth has to continue.

3) Move on from Tim Banks as soon as our commitments become signees. I’m on the fence with Martinez, but Banks cannot be retained under any circumstance. The number of times he called plays that took guys out of position to make a play this season was unacceptable. Change is necessary. If Heupel won’t do it, DW must do it for him.

4) Allocate more money to grabbing some studs in the portal and less money to retaining experienced guys who aren’t difference makers. If a guy like Farooq or Telander asks for more NIL money (just using them as an example, no inside info at all), let them walk. They aren’t bad players, but are they guys who can help you get back to the playoff? I don’t see them as that caliber of player. Divert those funds to getting studs who can get you to the playoff.

5) Get the QB position set for 2026. That starts with deciding if you want Joey Aguilar for another season and, if so, what are you willing to pay him? Also have to gauge the likelihood of him actually getting another season. If you’re moving on from him and/or feel that he isn’t likely to get another season, go ahead and have that conversation with him and decide if you’re going to ride with GMac & Faizon and just bring in a depth piece or if you want a proven guy from the portal. I don’t claim to know the right answer to this one, but I do know you can’t have average quarterback play and have a successful 2026 season. Heupel has to get this one right.

Absolutely agree, but on point 3 can you have DW knee cap Josh? Going over the head coach is never a recipe for success.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

I remember years ago this guy used to peddle his son and his ties to Grayson kids into a college job. Never knew it actually worked out for him.

Boston College probably is hoping he can land them some GA kids that typically end up at a bottom half SEC school. Not a bad strategy. That's good enough talent to make them more competitive in the ACC.