Recruiting Forum Football Talk IX

[knoxvol52]

 

[25vol]

Texas and Tech would be top 2...

I agree. I’m probably gonna try to find some tickets to Tech and see how much they’re going for.

 

[jave36]

Your boy copied that question off of LinkedIn

Like almost every single "good" interview answer and question. Interviewing is the most bizarre social interaction, it's basically a test of how well you can lie and fake.

My favorite candidate response was when I asked "what would your dream job be?" he said "I don't really dream of labor." It was so honest, and so clever. I hired him, and he's been great.

 

[Glitch]

Did you know Yoda has a last name? It's "Layhehoo".

 

[Volbucky]

Your boy copied that question off of LinkedIn

I’ve seen it elsewhere too but it worked out. He’s been great

Better than others who just sit there and talk about college and that time they helped on a big project

 

[Ten_Titans]

Like almost every single "good" interview answer and question. Interviewing is the most bizarre social interaction, it's basically a test of how well you can lie and fake.

My favorite candidate response was when I asked "what would your dream job be?" he said "I don't really dream of labor." It was so honest, and so clever. I hired him, and he's been great.

There are so many applicants to every job now, and the "interview prep" material online is so extensive, I don't envy anyone who has to interview candidates for any kind of white collar job.

 

[Volbucky]

There are so many applicants to every job now, and the "interview prep" material online is so extensive, I don't envy anyone who has to interview candidates for any kind of white collar job.

I try to get people to laugh a little, the ones who refuse to laugh or even break away from the stress for a little bit are the ones who usually melt down under a little actual stress.

 

[jave36]

There are so many applicants to every job now, and the "interview prep" material online is so extensive, I don't envy anyone who has to interview candidates for any kind of white collar job.

The pendulum has kind of swung for me. If the answer is such that I suspect they copied and rehearsed it, I'm less likely to hire them. It's a fine dance, but I find myself evaluating the experience and personality more than the interview itself now.

 

[KB5252]

Will you bring dirty Mike and the boys with you?

I'm going eat some straight up packaged lettuce. Binge on spicy Thai food and open the floodgates.

What dirty Mike and the boys do with it after that.........

 

[Buoyvol2000]

Random and not important, but the 100,000th like of my posts goes to @Buoyvol2000


Here’s to 100k more sunshine pumping posts!

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Tennessee position preview: The defensive line​

There are many questions surrounding the Tennessee defense in 2026 with the arrival of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. It’s a new scheme. It’s a revamped secondary and it’s a young defensive front that simply has no time to be young.

Sophomores like Ethan Utley, Isaiah Campbell, and Mariyon Dye have to take real steps this year. Tennessee must also get impact from their portal additions in Jordan Norman, and Xavier Gilliam. Gilliam had a fantastic spring.

Daevin Hobbs has all the talent in the world and could play both inside and outside on the defensive front. But in order to do so, he has to stay healthy which has been an issue. It is a contract year for the senior. He needs to thrive.

Nathan Robinson has had a good off-season and he needs to be a core guy anchoring the middle. Being healthy this off-season has helped his game and allowed him to lead.
Then the question is the youth. Tennessee went heavy in the high school ranks last year in defensive line recruiting with nine signees. Can any of them help especially off the edge rushing the passer where Tennessee is replacing Joshua Josephs, Tyre West, Jordan Ross and Caleb Herring. Can Rodney Garner find some disruption off the edge?
That is the million dollar question.
(Insert Video)

Last season​

The Tennessee defensive front got off to a really good start in 2025. At one point they were leading the nation in sacks, but those numbers tapered off as the season went along and it was a defensive front that didn’t play the run well inside or outside on the edge.

Tennessee’s defense gave up 152 yards a game on the ground. That is not all on the defensive front, but they were not as consistent as they needed to be. It’s a group that did recored 51 TFL’s but there was too much feast and famine in defending the run
They simply gave up too many yards.

By the numbers​

3	Number of sacks by Daevin Hobbs last season. That’s the highest returning number of defensive lineman. Nathan Robinson is second with 1.5 sacks a year ago.
51	Number of tackles for loss by the DL a season ago.
152	Average yards rushing allowed per game last season, the highest of the Heupel era

The room​

Xavier Gilliam — R-So, 6-2, 305
Daevin Hobbs — Sr, 6-4, 290
Mariyon Dye — So, 6-5, 270
Ethan Utley — So, 6-4, 287
Tyree Weathersby — R-Jr, 6-5, 268
Nathan Robinson — R-Jr, 6-7, 295
JJ Finch — Fr, 6-3, 293
Jordan Norman — R-Jr, 6-4, 265
Carson Gentle — R-So, 6-3, 265
Carter Gooden — Fr, 6-4, 267
Kedric Golston — Fr, 6-3, 243
Darryl Rivers — Fr, 6-5, 287
Christian Gass — R-Fr, 6-3, 245
Isaiah Campbell — So, 6-4, 295
Zach Groves — Fr, 6-4, 250
Dereon Albert — Fr, 6-1, 309
CJ Edwards — Fr, 6-3, 230
Nuk Simmons — Fr, 6-3, 300
Breeze Carter — Fr, 6-3, 255
Hezekiah Harris — Fr, 6-6, 248
Charles House — R-Fr, 6-3, 290
Isaiah Inge — R-So, 6-1, 280
Mike Bethea — R-Sr, 6-1, 221

 

[knoxvol52]

 

[25vol]

Like almost every single "good" interview answer and question. Interviewing is the most bizarre social interaction, it's basically a test of how well you can lie and fake.

My favorite candidate response was when I asked "what would your dream job be?" he said "I don't really dream of labor." It was so honest, and so clever. I hired him, and he's been great.

If UT would hire me at my current salary, I’d be a field maintenance worker or even just regular maintenance worker at Neyland. That’s my dream job right there.

 

[All_Vol87]

If UT would hire me at my current salary, I’d be a field maintenance worker or even just regular maintenance worker at Neyland. That’s my dream job right there.

Well lucky for you, they’re hiring

 

[Mullins2010]

Swain will be joining Mike Keith this season as the color analyst

 

[Enki_Amenra]

View attachment 846468

I'm going to go unlike a few of his posts and then like his newest one, so I can be the 100kth like. . .

 

[screenthis]

If UT would hire me at my current salary, I’d be a field maintenance worker or even just regular maintenance worker at Neyland. That’s my dream job right there.

Well come on over. $15/hr and all the hot dogs you want.

 

[Orangeburst]

I'm going to go unlike a few of his posts and then like his newest one, so I can be the 100kth like. . .

I wanna see someone break a million, it would probably crash VN like the year 2000 on computers.

 

[Buoyvol2000]

I'm going to go unlike a few of his posts and then like his newest one, so I can be the 100kth like. . .

 

[KnoxLandcruiser]

I wanna see someone break a million, it would probably crash VN like the year 2000 on computers.

@Neyland Rising has the average to get there but not the commitment

 

[Jackcrevol]

I really think that was a very bad job of utilizing a RB. The OL wasn't spectacular at driving off the ball. Seemed to PB better.

Riggs and Houston were dogs. Would love to have seen Riggs in this offense. He seemed to get better as game went on, and once he got moving he was a load, and fast for his size.

The I was not his best formation, imo.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

Tennessee position preview: The defensive line​

There are many questions surrounding the Tennessee defense in 2026 with the arrival of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. It’s a new scheme. It’s a revamped secondary and it’s a young defensive front that simply has no time to be young.

Sophomores like Ethan Utley, Isaiah Campbell, and Mariyon Dye have to take real steps this year. Tennessee must also get impact from their portal additions in Jordan Norman, and Xavier Gilliam. Gilliam had a fantastic spring.

Daevin Hobbshas all the talent in the world and could play both inside and outside on the defensive front. But in order to do so, he has to stay healthy which has been an issue. It is a contract year for the senior. He needs to thrive.

Nathan Robinson has had a good off-season and he needs to be a core guy anchoring the middle. Being healthy this off-season has helped his game and allowed him to lead.
Then the question is the youth. Tennessee went heavy in the high school ranks last year in defensive line recruiting with nine signees. Can any of them help especially off the edge rushing the passer where Tennessee is replacing Joshua Josephs, Tyre West, Jordan Ross and Caleb Herring. Can Rodney Garner find some disruption off the edge?
That is the million dollar question.
(Insert Video)

Last season​

The Tennessee defensive front got off to a really good start in 2025. At one point they were leading the nation in sacks, but those numbers tapered off as the season went along and it was a defensive front that didn’t play the run well inside or outside on the edge.

Tennessee’s defense gave up 152 yards a game on the ground. That is not all on the defensive front, but they were not as consistent as they needed to be. It’s a group that did recored 51 TFL’s but there was too much feast and famine in defending the run
They simply gave up too many yards.

By the numbers​

3	Number of sacks by Daevin Hobbs last season. That’s the highest returning number of defensive lineman. Nathan Robinson is second with 1.5 sacks a year ago.
51	Number of tackles for loss by the DL a season ago.
152	Average yards rushing allowed per game last season, the highest of the Heupel era

The room​

Xavier Gilliam — R-So, 6-2, 305
Daevin Hobbs — Sr, 6-4, 290
Mariyon Dye — So, 6-5, 270
Ethan Utley — So, 6-4, 287
Tyree Weathersby— R-Jr, 6-5, 268
Nathan Robinson— R-Jr, 6-7, 295
JJ Finch— Fr, 6-3, 293
Jordan Norman — R-Jr, 6-4, 265
Carson Gentle — R-So, 6-3, 265
Carter Gooden — Fr, 6-4, 267
Kedric Golston — Fr, 6-3, 243
Darryl Rivers — Fr, 6-5, 287
Christian Gass — R-Fr, 6-3, 245
Isaiah Campbell — So, 6-4, 295
Zach Groves— Fr, 6-4, 250
Dereon Albert — Fr, 6-1, 309
CJ Edwards — Fr, 6-3, 230
Nuk Simmons — Fr, 6-3, 300
Breeze Carter — Fr, 6-3, 255
Hezekiah Harris — Fr, 6-6, 248
Charles House — R-Fr, 6-3, 290
Isaiah Inge — R-So, 6-1, 280
Mike Bethea — R-Sr, 6-1, 221

Way way way too many freshmen and redshirt freshmen in the trenches! We are in deep trouble if we get bitten with the injury bug.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

Swain will be joining Mike Keith this season as the color analyst

happy for Swain...but yikes, at least he's got the best next to him!

Maybe Swain will be better at getting thoughts out of his head during a broadcast than he is on the radio.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

Tennessee position preview: The defensive line​

There are many questions surrounding the Tennessee defense in 2026 with the arrival of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. It’s a new scheme. It’s a revamped secondary and it’s a young defensive front that simply has no time to be young.

Sophomores like Ethan Utley, Isaiah Campbell, and Mariyon Dye have to take real steps this year. Tennessee must also get impact from their portal additions in Jordan Norman, and Xavier Gilliam. Gilliam had a fantastic spring.

Daevin Hobbshas all the talent in the world and could play both inside and outside on the defensive front. But in order to do so, he has to stay healthy which has been an issue. It is a contract year for the senior. He needs to thrive.

Nathan Robinson has had a good off-season and he needs to be a core guy anchoring the middle. Being healthy this off-season has helped his game and allowed him to lead.
Then the question is the youth. Tennessee went heavy in the high school ranks last year in defensive line recruiting with nine signees. Can any of them help especially off the edge rushing the passer where Tennessee is replacing Joshua Josephs, Tyre West, Jordan Ross and Caleb Herring. Can Rodney Garner find some disruption off the edge?
That is the million dollar question.
(Insert Video)

Last season​

The Tennessee defensive front got off to a really good start in 2025. At one point they were leading the nation in sacks, but those numbers tapered off as the season went along and it was a defensive front that didn’t play the run well inside or outside on the edge.

Tennessee’s defense gave up 152 yards a game on the ground. That is not all on the defensive front, but they were not as consistent as they needed to be. It’s a group that did recored 51 TFL’s but there was too much feast and famine in defending the run
They simply gave up too many yards.

By the numbers​

3	Number of sacks by Daevin Hobbs last season. That’s the highest returning number of defensive lineman. Nathan Robinson is second with 1.5 sacks a year ago.
51	Number of tackles for loss by the DL a season ago.
152	Average yards rushing allowed per game last season, the highest of the Heupel era

The room​

Xavier Gilliam — R-So, 6-2, 305
Daevin Hobbs — Sr, 6-4, 290
Mariyon Dye — So, 6-5, 270
Ethan Utley — So, 6-4, 287
Tyree Weathersby— R-Jr, 6-5, 268
Nathan Robinson— R-Jr, 6-7, 295
JJ Finch— Fr, 6-3, 293
Jordan Norman — R-Jr, 6-4, 265
Carson Gentle — R-So, 6-3, 265
Carter Gooden — Fr, 6-4, 267
Kedric Golston — Fr, 6-3, 243
Darryl Rivers — Fr, 6-5, 287
Christian Gass — R-Fr, 6-3, 245
Isaiah Campbell — So, 6-4, 295
Zach Groves— Fr, 6-4, 250
Dereon Albert — Fr, 6-1, 309
CJ Edwards — Fr, 6-3, 230
Nuk Simmons — Fr, 6-3, 300
Breeze Carter — Fr, 6-3, 255
Hezekiah Harris — Fr, 6-6, 248
Charles House — R-Fr, 6-3, 290
Isaiah Inge — R-So, 6-1, 280
Mike Bethea — R-Sr, 6-1, 221

Several have tried to be positive about the d-line, but it's still a ton of question marks. What has made me a little more optimistic is how big the freshman are and they have Owings helping them.

 

[OrangeMoundTNVol]

We have not said enough about this kids origin story. I hope he crushes souls this season.

He's up there with the Sullin's twins of doing more with less.

Coach Heup with Bishop pre game