'14 TN WR Josh Malone (UT commit 12/4/13)

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#8,326
#8,326
WillisVol said:
I'm mainly just an onlooker on the site but I do post rarely, but just because I am an onlooker doesn't mean I haven't followed this situation with Malone very closely. I've been following this one all year and It honestly refresh his thread about a thousand times a day.

With all that being said, I don't have a very good feeling about his decision and I hope that I am so wrong because I really want this kid in Neyland for 3-4 years.

The reason I don't feel very good about his decision is the due to the emphasis Malone has put on the QB position. He took a visit here and he commented about wanting to see the system and how the QB's performed. Then, instead of going to Bama he came back to Knoxville for an unofficial on what he called a trip to see how Dobbs would do.

I don't think Malone is too impressed with our QB situation and he is very very close to the Watson kid that will be attending Clemson. In the end I feel like he is going to want to go somewhere with a QB that he feels comfortable with and one that he feels like will be an elite QB.

VolNation, please convince me that this isn't a very important factor and that we are getting this guy!
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While the crystal ball thing is certainly no beacon of prophetic certainties much of the time. When it gets this close to an announcement and not one is thrown in the ring for Clemson I would say that is pretty telling. These 247 workers usually start jumping towards the ultimate choice when I comes down to the wire. Now, admittedly, there are a few hours left. So we'll see
 
#8,327
#8,327
I think he picks Clemson. Seems like he's just looking for a reason to play out of state. First it's UGA, then FSU, now Clemson. I'm sure he's got nothing against UT... just wants to go somewhere else. Can't really fault him or our staff if that's the case. I think the only thing that has kept us in contention is the fact that we've made him such a priority and clearly this staff has been relentless in the pursuit of Malone... Malone has listened because he feels he owes it to the state's school.... TK, Vic, Hurd, D. Barnett being in his ear has helped keep UT in the top 2/3 as well... but sadly i think that's where we finish, the worng end of the top 2,

I'll be shocked if he picks UT tomorrow. :twocents:
 
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#8,328
#8,328
WillisVol said:
I'm mainly just an onlooker on the site but I do post rarely, but just because I am an onlooker doesn't mean I haven't followed this situation with Malone very closely. I've been following this one all year and I honestly refresh his thread about a thousand times a day.

With all that being said, I don't have a very good feeling about his decision and I hope that I am so wrong because I really want this kid in Neyland for 3-4 years.

The reason I don't feel very good about his decision is the due to the emphasis Malone has put on the QB position. He took a visit here and he commented about wanting to see the system and how the QB's performed. Then, instead of going to Bama he came back to Knoxville for an unofficial on what he called a trip to see how Dobbs would do.

I don't think Malone is too impressed with our QB situation and he is very very close to the Watson kid that will be attending Clemson. In the end I feel like he is going to want to go somewhere with a QB that he feels comfortable with and one that he feels like will be an elite QB.

VolNation, please convince me that this isn't a very important factor and that we are getting this guy!
Click to expand...

I am prefacing this by saying that I don't know anything. I believe it could be a factor but not a determining factor. I believe Malone is well aware of Ferguson and Dobbs and that one will be a solid QB. I have also said this for a while now- I get the feeling location and family matters. He will play at least 8 games a year within 2-3 hours (whether we play at Vandy or UK) from his hometown. Next year, we will play two more at OM and UGA, 4 hours away. I believe Mizzou is probably 5 hours from Nashville. Bottom line, I believe that points to UT. JMO.
 
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#8,329
#8,329
WillisVol said:
I'm mainly just an onlooker on the site but I do post rarely, but just because I am an onlooker doesn't mean I haven't followed this situation with Malone very closely. I've been following this one all year and I honestly refresh his thread about a thousand times a day.

With all that being said, I don't have a very good feeling about his decision and I hope that I am so wrong because I really want this kid in Neyland for 3-4 years.

The reason I don't feel very good about his decision is the due to the emphasis Malone has put on the QB position. He took a visit here and he commented about wanting to see the system and how the QB's performed. Then, instead of going to Bama he came back to Knoxville for an unofficial on what he called a trip to see how Dobbs would do.

I don't think Malone is too impressed with our QB situation and he is very very close to the Watson kid that will be attending Clemson. In the end I feel like he is going to want to go somewhere with a QB that he feels comfortable with and one that he feels like will be an elite QB.

VolNation, please convince me that this isn't a very important factor and that we are getting this guy!
Click to expand...

Valid arguments. But, Watson is going to be a freshman. Not many freshman out there can have the impact that Winston has had this year (and Watson is not as good as him).

I don't think the passing game is too much of an issue. UT has demonstrated all year that we want to be able to throw the ball, but we haven't had the personnel to consistently do so. With healthy QBs and healthy WRs (North, Croom, and Pig), it has the potential to be a completely different story.

If you compare the QB situations, is Clemson in a better position? Who is going to replace Boyd? It's going to be a drop-off, but how big of one? UT is going to be able to pick from 4 QBs, 3 of which are experienced.
 
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#8,330
#8,330
Honestly, I wish all athletes/parents handled recruiting like they have. They have avoided the spotlight as well as any 5* possibly could (with the FSU leak being the exception that kind of ignited things). There has been ZERO twitter activity/attention seeking, or countless interviews, etc. He and his family have kept it close to the vest and an actual family decision with the athlete's best interest at heart. Isn't that what this decision is supposed to be any way?
 
#8,331
#8,331
volssam said:
While the crystal ball thing is certainly no beacon of prophetic certainties much of the time. When it gets this close to an announcement and not one is thrown in the ring for Clemson I would say that is pretty telling. These 247 workers usually start jumping towards the ultimate choice when I comes down to the wire. Now, admittedly, there are a few hours left. So we'll see
Click to expand...

I hope that is the case but it just worries me because we are down to the final two, us and Clemson, and the only other crystal ball predictions are for UGA.

Clemson has just put on a lot of steam here lately and it has been known that Josh likes the Watson kid. I've been to Clemson on recruiting trips with some of my players where I coach and Clemson has a lot to offer. The atmosphere is top notch, the facilities are good, and the coaches do make you feel like a family there.

I guess just knowing how well Clemson recruits, living in SC, and Malone being close with Watson while at the same time being concerned about our QB situation...I'm just worried about it.

I hope I'm way wrong.
 
#8,332
#8,332
UT's#1Fan said:
I think he picks Clemson. Seems like he's just looking for a reason to play out of state. First it's UGA, then FSU, now Clemson. I'm sure he's got nothing against UT... just wants to go somewhere else. Can't really fault him or our staff if that's the case. I think the only thing that has kept us in contention is the fact that we've made him such a priority and clearly this staff has been relentless in the pursuit of Malone... Malone has listened because he feels he owes it to the state's school.... TK, Vic, Hurd, D. Barnett being in his ear has helped keep UT in the top 2/3 as well... but sadly i think that's where we finish, the worng end of the top 2,

I'll be shocked if he picks UT tomorrow. :twocents:
Click to expand...

To play devil's advocate, the only constant in his list lately is UT. That's nothing but a good sign, IMO.
 
#8,333
#8,333
volinSmyrna said:
Honestly, I wish all athletes/parents handled recruiting like they have. They have avoided the spotlight as well as any 5* possibly could (with the FSU leak being the exception that kind of ignited things). There has been ZERO twitter activity/attention seeking, or countless interviews, etc. He and his family have kept it close to the vest and an actual family decision with the athlete's best interest at heart. Isn't that what this decision is supposed to be any way?
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If he hadnt signed with 4 different schools I would completely agree but that is a very questionable move if we are discussing staying out of the spotlight
 
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#8,336
#8,336
I hate to beat this dead horse, but all the comments from people saying "UT has pulled out all the stops, they've done everything they can, it won't be from lack of trying, etc" are almost identical to what people were saying around the end of Vonn Bell's recruiting cycle. Most were guessing he was picking UT, UT had pulled out all the stops, it would be a complete surprise if he didn't, etc, and of course he did pick someone else. It's eerily similar.

I hope this outcome is very different from that one, but as someone else said, it seems like he is really looking for a reason to go out of state. A lot of similarities between the way these are both playing out, which doesn't leave me feeling too confident given how it turned out last year.
 
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#8,337
#8,337
Reading Ryan C's notes... I didn't take it as harshly as some of you guys.

I think it was a "this isn't a prediction, just a note on what we do know about the Malone situation".

And that is UT has pulled out all the stops to pull Malone. And that is already an enormous improvement over the Dooley "lets ignore a top national player with a UT lean in our own back yard" era.
 
#8,338
#8,338
BruinVol said:
If he hadnt signed with 4 different schools I would completely agree but that is a very questionable move if we are discussing staying out of the spotlight
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Wasn't that leaked by FSU though and the family was wanting to keep the FA signings private?
 
#8,339
#8,339
BruinVol said:
If he hadnt signed with 4 different schools I would completely agree but that is a very questionable move if we are discussing staying out of the spotlight
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It's only a "spotlight" move because it's a new rule and he's a very high profile recruit in SEC country. If the rule remains in existence five years from now, it won't get as much attention when a kid signs aid agreements with his four finalists. He only did it to get more time with each staff, not to create drama and attention.
 
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#8,340
#8,340
SeanJean said:
I hate to beat this dead horse, but all the comments from people saying "UT has pulled out all the stops, they've done everything they can, it won't be from lack of trying, etc" are almost identical to what people were saying around the end of Vonn Bell's recruiting cycle. Most were guessing he was picking UT, UT had pulled out all the stops, it would be a complete surprise if he didn't, etc, and of course he did pick someone else. It's eerily similar.

I hope this outcome is very different from that one, but as someone else said, it seems like he is really looking for a reason to go out of state. A lot of similarities between the way these are both playing out, which doesn't leave me feeling too confident given how it turned out last year.
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Big difference in doing it all year vs a few weeks with Bell
 
#8,341
#8,341
Anyone know what time tomorrow? I assume no big announcement from him, he'll just call the coaches and either UT Rivals or Clemson Rivals will release an article?
 
#8,343
#8,343
surpirsed-baby.gif
 
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