'16 D.C. DE/TE Devante Brooks (UT commit 1/15/15)

[85SugarVol]

I would like to see him be receptive to greyshirting. It is a win-win… He still gets to be a part of the Tennessee football program, but we don't have to use a number in this small class on him. He gets 2 full years to rehab and get his knee as strong as possible without losing any eligibility.

Except there's that whole pesky issue of actually paying for school and all...

 

[kwhite40]

This class is going to be so small. I'm not sure you can risk taking a kid with two ACL tears in the same knee, all while in high school. I would hate it for him, but kids have been dropped for lesser reasons than his.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

Except there's that whole pesky issue of actually paying for school and all...

He doesn't pay for school. He waits to enroll January 2017, and is placed on scholarship immediately. Gives him extra time to rehab his knee without using a year of his eligibility.

 

[appvol]

Thomas Davis of the Panthers is all you need for a example. 3 torn ACL in the right knee and he had a great year last year.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Thomas Davis of the Panthers is all you need for a example. 3 torn ACL in the right knee and he had a great year last year.

True. However Davis didn't have these injuries in high school or college. Each ACL tear takes a little out of you. Not saying he cannot recover but assuming he will be like the example you used is fallacious.

I have to think this puts Brooks into the risky category. Butch is going to have to tread carefully here. Brooks is very talented and I hope he recovers well but Butch cannot be faulted if he decides to pull his offer.

 

[Catbone]

This class is going to be so small. I'm not sure you can risk taking a kid with two ACL tears in the same knee, all while in high school. I would hate it for him, but kids have been dropped for lesser reasons than his.

Sad but true

 

[Wickman]

Thomas Davis of the Panthers is all you need for a example. 3 torn ACL in the right knee and he had a great year last year.

You're right, but Davis is the exception. Cadillac Williams is the norm

 

[JohnMarxism]

Thomas Davis of the Panthers is all you need for a example. 3 torn ACL in the right knee and he had a great year last year.

small sample size, sir. I do like the optimism, though

 

[Roustabout]

My wife is no career athlete but surgery was essential. Don't know who you've been talking too. Everyone i know whose gone through it had surgery.

Depends on your knee stability. If you recall, Gilliam played on a torn acl. How? Lots of muscle around the knee. Some people, like me have no meat around their knee joint.

 

[85SugarVol]

He doesn't pay for school. He waits to enroll January 2017, and is placed on scholarship immediately. Gives him extra time to rehab his knee without using a year of his eligibility.

Hmmm, what you're describing sounds more like a blueshirt?

Greyshirts are usually responsible for paying for that 1st semester I believe.

Blueshirts walk-on, then are immediately placed on scholarship and counted forward. They get to practice and participate like the others.

Greyshirts are not afforded the same privileges, and wait a semester to be placed on scholarship (if they ever are at all).

It's why you'll find very few players with multiple D1 offers that are willing to greyshirt

 

[B-sideVol18]

With the way we're recruiting, we're going to be signing a good tight end every class that we want to take a tight end. If he doesn't recover it won't be a big deal, the way we're recruiting. If he does then he has the chance to be very special. Worth the risk because of how good this staff is at recruiting.

 

[Outofmyvolcanmind]

Screw the dang numbers. Right now a 17 year old kid is scared to death about his future. We're sitting here discussing the luxury of having 4 healthy tight ends.

I sincerely hope Devante heals quickly and truly commits to the physical therapy after surgery. My heart and prayers are with him and his family. I pray if he doesn't remain committed to us that he gets his education paid somewhere.

God bless this young man and we all need to support him regardless of the final outcome.

 

[jave36]

My wife is no career athlete but surgery was essential. Don't know who you've been talking too. Everyone i know whose gone through it had surgery.

My brother's doc said intense rehab is the preferred method for partial tears in non athletes. Take it up with him lol

 

[jave36]

Two tears on the same ACL is tough. The positive is that he has 15 months before his freshman season starts at UT. He could probably even redshirt if necessary. He will be a good one if he can stay injury free after this.

Where's our resident medical professionals when we need them? Wondering what popular professional opinion is on multiple tears.

 

[Volunteer_Kirby]

Hell even if his career was over I'd still want us to honor him w/ a scholarship.

Keep your head up Mr Brooks! VN still supports you.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

Hmmm, what you're describing sounds more like a blueshirt?

Greyshirts are usually responsible for paying for that 1st semester I believe.

Blueshirts walk-on, then are immediately placed on scholarship and counted forward. They get to practice and participate like the others.

Greyshirts are not afforded the same privileges, and wait a semester to be placed on scholarship (if they ever are at all).

It's why you'll find very few players with multiple D1 offers that are willing to greyshirt

Incorrect. Read the rules for greyshirting. Instead of enrolling for fall 2016, he doesn't enroll at all (misses that semester), and enroll in January 2017 as an EE for the 2017 class. He is placed immediately on scholarship.

 

[LittleVol]

Hell even if his career was over I'd still want us to honor him w/ a scholarship.

Keep your head up Mr Brooks! VN still supports you.

You can't just give out full ride scholarships like candy.
What if we did what you suggested then Rashan Gary comes calling on signing day, but all of our schollies are taken??

No. The kid has not played a down for us and already has two acl tears in the same knee.

It's sad, but the coaches should certainly go about his recruitment differntly now.
Other kids are wanting a chance too.

Heck we let go of a healthy monster DE out of Florida last year, to make room...

 

[InVOLuntary]

Incorrect. Read the rules for greyshirting. Instead of enrolling for fall 2016, he doesn't enroll at all (misses that semester), and enroll in January 2017 as an EE for the 2017 class. He is placed immediately on scholarship.

This and I might add that he is a counter for the next class.

 

[NochNoch]

This and I might add that he is a counter for the next class.

Which sounds good in theory but, from the kid's perspective, he has no guarantees that the coaches will still take him as part of the next class. Not talking specifically about our staff, just the sport in general but any kid passing on a scholarship now for a promise from a coach for one in the future is pushing their luck.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Which sounds good in theory but, from the kid's perspective, he has no guarantees that the coaches will still take him as part of the next class. Not talking specifically about our staff, just the sport in general but any kid passing on a scholarship now for a promise from a coach for one in the future is pushing their luck.

Yep, no guarantees for the player.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

Which sounds good in theory but, from the kid's perspective, he has no guarantees that the coaches will still take him as part of the next class. Not talking specifically about our staff, just the sport in general but any kid passing on a scholarship now for a promise from a coach for one in the future is pushing their luck.

While I agree with what you are saying, he may not have many or really any options to play big-time college football after this second injury. A lot of power five teams will back away now.

 

[CobbVol]

He needs to be part of this class if you ever want to recruit the DC area and Northern Virginia going forward.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

He needs to be part of this class if you ever want to recruit the DC area and Northern Virginia going forward.

Not necessarily. Just depends how the staff goes about handling it. I think the greyshirt option makes the most sense for all parties. We are getting thin at the TE position, and will need the TE from this class to come in ready to compete for playing time in 2016. Unfortunately, he probably won't be ready physically and mentally to see the field until 2017. That's why the greyshirt would be a perfect option for him.

 

[engineerVOL]

Not necessarily. Just depends how the staff goes about handling it. I think the greyshirt option makes the most sense for all parties. We are getting thin at the TE position, and will need the TE from this class to come in ready to compete for playing time in 2016. Unfortunately, he probably won't be ready physically and mentally to see the field until 2017. That's why the greyshirt would be a perfect option for him.

I agree with this approach but it makes me extremely leery to suit up a guy who won't play a game of football for 4 straight years. Just seems nearly impossible he will get back to form.

 

[Through_The_T]

Think we should still take the kid. Wolf is the starter and Creamer is coming along nicely. Also have Ellis and Bransiel in there for depth purposes, so I think we're okay at the position and can wait on him to get healthy.