'15 IN LB Darrin Kirkland Jr (UT Commit 12/15/14)

The coaches pushed Cecil to take visits, IMO, whether people want to admit it or not. Just look at the timeline...Kirkland contacts the coaches about 1.5 months ago and tells them about his situation to gauge interest with the Vols; coaches say let us see where we are at and we will get back to you; shortly after, Cecil is visiting Texas and Kirkland is setting up his OV to Rocky Top. It's recruiting...it's a business and the nature of the beast. We have been on the flip side of this numerous times.

I don't think so. IF the coaches were going to do that why tell Kirkland the numbers weren't working out early on when he became available. Cherry lost his spot when he started taking visits not before.

"About a month ago, we had been talking for a long time, but about a month and a half ago I reached out to them and let them know about my situation and they were very excited about it but numbers-wise it just wasn't working out," Kirkland Jr. explained. "But, after a couple of weeks went by and they figured some things out they are excited about me and want me to be a Vol."
 
I don't think so. IF the coaches were going to do that why tell Kirkland the numbers weren't working out early on when he became available. Cherry lost his spot when he started taking visits not before.

Maybe the staff used the time in between discussions with Kirkland to discuss the pros and cons of both players and the pros and cons of trying to sign DKjr vs already having a solid commit in Cherry. After careful consideration, they decide that they much prefer DKjr in terms of talent and they view his reaching out to them as a sign that they stand a good chance at signing him. Then they are forthright with Cherry about their intentions to pursue DKjr (who plays the same position) and encourage Cherry to explore all his options.

Just a hypothetical of course.
 
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Maybe the staff used the time in between discussions with Kirkland to discuss the pros and cons of both players and the pros and cons of trying to sign DKjr vs already having a solid commit in Cherry. After careful consideration, they decide that they much prefer DKjr in terms of talent and they view his reaching out to them as a sign that they stand a good chance at signing him. Then they are forthright with Cherry about their intentions to pursue DKjr (who plays the same position) and encourage Cherry to explore all his options.

Just a hypothetical of course.

For two weeks they discussed pros and cons, I guess it's possible but highly doubtful. What's more likely they tell a recruit that they are still evaluating that there is no room or that a committed player opens up his recruitment and then we move on? I just can't see the staff telling someone the numbers don't work if we're considering getting them in at that point.
 
For two weeks they discussed pros and cons, I guess it's possible but highly doubtful. What's more likely they tell a recruit that they are still evaluating that there is no room or that a committed player opens up his recruitment and then we move on? I just can't see the staff telling someone the numbers don't work if we're considering getting them in at that point.

Just as unlikely though it would seem, that a guy who has been committed for a year and a half and is very outwardly pro-Tennessee in social media just up and randomly decides he's over it and claims Texas as his dream school.

We may never know, but I could make case for either scenario.
 
I will stop debating this topic...really, it doesn't matter anymore which came first. The fact of the matter is that Cherry will most likely not be a Vol, and if not, hopefully Kirkland will.
 
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I will stop debating this topic...really, it doesn't matter anymore which came first. The fact of the matter is that Cherry will most likely not be a Vol, and if not, hopefully Kirkland will.
Yep doesn't matter what caused it. I think Kirkland will be a great player for us regardless of the circumstances.
 
Confidence we get Kirkland? I'll go 65% Ole Miss could be a factor with Richmond and possibly Newsome headed there.
 
Confidence we get Kirkland? I'll go 65% Ole Miss could be a factor with Richmond and possibly Newsome headed there.

Per TOS, if we make a push for Kirkland we have a good shot.

75 percent is my guess plus having the last visit is huge.
 
Per TOS, if we make a push for Kirkland we have a good shot.

75 percent is my guess plus having the last visit is huge.

No doubt we are making a big push now and I expect the Mizzou game environment to blow him away.
 
Confidence we get Kirkland? I'll go 65% Ole Miss could be a factor with Richmond and possibly Newsome headed there.

Thought this before but it seems that TN has momentum after a spot opened up at LB. We finished runner up before so you know he has strong feeling toward this staff. I think Newsome prefers TN over Ole Miss as well but I don't know that he will leave TX. Getting Kirkland would really help.
 
Also seems to have a pretty good relationship with McKenzie. I'm sure he'd love to play behind him.
 
Confidence we get Kirkland? I'll go 65% Ole Miss could be a factor with Richmond and possibly Newsome headed there.

70-75% IMO. I think it's just a matter of the formalities of making the visit with his family and making sure. He'll commit and shut things down first of the week IMO.
 
70-75% IMO. I think it's just a matter of the formalities of making the visit with his family and making sure. He'll commit and shut things down first of the week IMO.

I think he said he will announce his decision at the under armor game.
 
100% correct. orange glasses do amazing things

It's been said multiple times now...Cam is a true shutdown CB. He shuts down one side of the field every game. Ramsey played FS last year and is at NB this year. He gets moved around a lot and has more of an opportunity to "take over games" and "singlehandedly beat teams." Comparing a true CB's ability to take over a game with a roving FS/NB doing the same just isn't much of a comparison. No orange tinted glasses needed to see that. Replace Cam with any other top-CB in the country and the facts remain the same. Cam does his job and he does it at an elite level. All you can ask for of a CB is handle business on his side and limit an offense's options. That's exactly what Mr. Sutton does game in and game out.
 
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Confidence we get Kirkland? I'll go 65% Ole Miss could be a factor with Richmond and possibly Newsome headed there.

I don't think he leaves Knoxville this weekend without committing. He likes the staff, is very comfortable with the program, has visited a few different times. I think this weekend is about making sure he and his family are comfortable. I expect him to pull the trigger this weekend.
 
99% Vol. Only chance is if something goes horribly wrong this weekend.

Gonna be fun getting some national pub via a commitment at the All star game.
 
I believe it was Hubbs the other day that mentioned that Kirkland had some conncections to the UT program and that we were a "close second" when he picked Michigan.

This one strongly points Vol.
 
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I believe it was Hubbs the other day that mentioned that Kirkland had some conncections to the UT program and that we were a "close second" when he picked Michigan.

This one strongly points Vol.

The Volquest Tea Leaves are leaving my water heavily colored orange on this one.
 
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