'17 MS RB Cam Akers (FSU commit 12/27)

[VolinArizona]

but letting guys escape

I didn't say he let them escape. That is nowhere in my post.

Errrrrr?

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Errrrrr?

Lol I'll go ahead and show myself out.

That's not exactly what I was trying to get at but I'll take my loss. :thud:

 

[TNinOR]

Have asked this before and received no answer. What has this staff NOT DONE in their recruiting efforts for the missed commits this season? And "get them" is not an acceptable answer. . Remember when Dooley forgot a recruit was even coming to campus? Or when Kiffin offended several high schools and got banned from recruiting their campuses? inch: He's not been perfect...but it's not for lack of effort.

Coach Jones and staff are great recruiters, but without a doubt something that would go a long way toward helping to "get them" when they want them is to win some championships. Hopefully that's coming, and soon!

 

[butchna]

Coach Jones and staff are great recruiters, but without a doubt something that would go a long toward helping to "get them" when they want them is to win some championships. Hopefully that's coming, and soon!

I'm confident the "championships" was an initial goal. Had to deal with the pesky reality of deficient talent first.

 

[butchna]

What? Are you high?

Doesn't hurt.

 

[BruinVol]

Oh I agree it is concerning. Amari not so much, because I think he's overrated and I don't think he was ever coming here. And I agree that this is the most talent we've had in-state in some time (maybe ever), but again, not all these kids grew up in the shadow of Neyland Stadium. Higgins is the most disappointing miss since Vonn Bell maybe because of him growing up a Tennessee fan 20 minutes from campus. I have reason to believe their was some "extra incentive" for him to choose Clemson, even if CU made the most sense for him anyway. The others though; JaCoby Stevens has never really given us the time of day, we haven't pursued Jacob Phillips in the slightest, we apparently didn't make Cordarrian Richardson a priority (Akers and Chandler were higher on our board). We got Gray, Fant, Bumphus, and still have good shots at Smith and Chandler. Realistically, we have lost one guy we should have gotten in Higgins. The others who have committed, we either didn't pursue or never had a real shot anyway.

I just don't see the reason to throw our hands up in the air and think Butch Jones has suddenly forgotten how to do the one thing he's proven time and again that he does well. I'm not saying you are doing that, but several are.

Would you agree that it is a sign that things might be slipping to some degree?


IMO things are slipping. The rate of that decline is debatable as I don't think it's a severe enough fall to be scared about it but I think it's a real decline for sure

 

[bignewt]

Ignorant to say that now but....yeah ok.

 

[Catbone]

Doesn't hurt.

I knew I felt funny after hitting the Devils lettuce the other day..

 

[Crazy Ivan]

Doesn't hurt.

Oh hell! You mean I'm GAY!!!










Not that there is anything wrong with that.

 

[benholt06]

Would you agree that it is a sign that things might be slipping to some degree?


IMO things are slipping. The rate of that decline is debatable as I don't think it's a severe enough fall to be scared about it but I think it's a real decline for sure

It's ok to be slightly alarmed, because we don't have the high 4s locked up we're accustomed to at this time of previous years. But I've noticed Butch recruiting with less and less urgency each year. The only disadvantage he now has is he can't sell PT like he could before. But he knows he's got top shelf facilities and now a damn talented team that WILL be highly competitive. Bottom line, it's way too early to panic, Butch will close with a class ranked 6-7th.

 

[Grand Vol]

I knew I felt funny after hitting the Devils lettuce the other day..

That funny feeling was actually the positive vibes you get from Team 120 winning.

 

[sonofUT62]

It's ok to be slightly alarmed, because we don't have the high 4s locked up we're accustomed to at this time of previous years. But I've noticed Butch recruiting with less and less urgency each year. The only disadvantage he now has is he can't sell PT like he could before. But he knows he's got top shelf facilities and now a damn talented team that WILL be highly competitive. Bottom line, it's way too early to panic, Butch will close with a class ranked 6-7th.

No he won't lol. This time last year we were ranked higher, had more spots open and finished 15th. The only way we end up top 7 is if we pull about 12 offers and replace them with higher rated players. I'm not particularly concerned about it, and I trust Butch, but top 7 isn't happening.

 

[BruinVol]

No he won't lol. This time last year we were ranked higher, had more spots open and finished 15th. The only way we end up top 7 is if we pull about 12 offers and replace them with higher rated players. I'm not particularly concerned about it, and I trust Butch, but top 7 isn't happening.

Agreed

 

[CrunchingTheVolz]

No he won't lol. This time last year we were ranked higher, had more spots open and finished 15th. The only way we end up top 7 is if we pull about 12 offers and replace them with higher rated players. I'm not particularly concerned about it, and I trust Butch, but top 7 isn't happening.

IMO top 15 is realistic as I've said for a while. I felt that way around 15 commits. While I'm a bit shocked how the list looks with 22-24 on it, top 15 MIGHT still be attainable. We need to add at least 6 4* while dropping about 5-6 3* to get in that 13-17 range. 6 doesn't sound like a lot, till you realize we've only got 3 since Feb.

 

[Volunteer2012]

No he won't lol. This time last year we were ranked higher, had more spots open and finished 15th. The only way we end up top 7 is if we pull about 12 offers and replace them with higher rated players. I'm not particularly concerned about it, and I trust Butch, but top 7 isn't happening.

The whole class will look different in February. Some kids will be told to look else where when higher prospects want in. If things go the way they are expected to this season we will have a top 10 class. It's going to be alright

 

[sonofUT62]

The whole class will look different in February. Some kids will be told to look else where when higher prospects want in. If things go the way they are expected to this season we will have a top 10 class. It's going to be alright

I hate to agree with the Crunchy one. But the number of offers that would have to be pulled to make a top 10 class would not be ideal in the least. I know that recruiting is a cutthroat business but having ten+ decommits is bad publicity. Hopefully our performance in 2017 will allow us to be a little more picky in 2018.

 

[LA Vol]

That's the thing-- we'll have to churn half our list to hang in the Top 10. Some of the schools above us are recruiting lights-out this year, and there are schools below us with lots of spots left and top prospects in their sights. Clemson, Florida, MSU, Auburn, Miami and others are all likely to finish strong, and UGA, Bama, LSU, OSU, Michigan, FSU and Okla are unlikely to collapse down the stretch. We can make a run, but it will come at a cost.

 

[LittleVol]

I hate to agree with the Crunchy one. But the number of offers that would have to be pulled to make a top 10 class would not be ideal in the least. I know that recruiting is a cutthroat business but having ten+ decommits is bad publicity. Hopefully our performance in 2017 will allow us to be a little more picky in 2018.

We'll cut some, while others will get a boost.

Tre Lawson
Theo Jackson
Murphy
J Henderson

will all be 4 stars.

Page and Byrum wont be Vols.

 

[BondJamesBond]

I realize you cannot keep them all, but letting guys like Tee and Amari escape when they live 20 minutes from Neyland is at least somewhat disappointing.

I understand what you are saying, but for some local kids, being wanted by the local team isn't nearly as big of a deal as being wanted by a team from another state or region. Familiarity breeds contempt, they say, and maybe the "go play at UT" isn't as special as it was when they were told that as 7th graders. Kids are all different, and ultimately are kids. Loyalty extends as far as the next Nike fashion statement.

 

[PA Vol]

We'll cut some, while others will get a boost.

Tre Lawson
Theo Jackson
Murphy
J Henderson

will all be 4 stars.

Page and Byrum wont be Vols.

I see Labruzza, Jackson, Lawson, and Henderson all getting rankings bumps but not high enough to become four stars. They've got a lot of ground to cover. I think Lawson might be the highest rated and he's like the #26 at his position according to 247.

*Edit: I know Henserson is ranked higher as a safety, but I wonder if he won't be ranked as an OLB by season's end.

 

[Biopsyman]

Good pickup

 

[chaseasl]

Labruzza, Jackson, Henderson, and Murphy will all be 4 stars at the end, they are already about as high ranked as a 3 star can get. I believe we end up dropping Lawson, Burnam, Bembry, and Tucker. Possibly Page and Rodgers too even though I don't think Rodgers will be by choice.

 

[85SugarVol]

Labruzza, Jackson, Henderson, and Murphy will all be 4 stars at the end, they are already about as high ranked as a 3 star can get. I believe we end up dropping Lawson, Burnam, Bembry, and Tucker. Possibly Page and Rodgers too even though I don't think Rodgers will be by choice.

We're not dropping Bembry.

Doubt Lawson gets dropped either, we'll see.

 

[PA Vol]

Labruzza, Jackson, Henderson, and Murphy will all be 4 stars at the end, they are already about as high ranked as a 3 star can get. I believe we end up dropping Lawson, Burnam, Bembry, and Tucker. Possibly Page and Rodgers too even though I don't think Rodgers will be by choice.

Bembry isn't going anywhere.

Doubt Lawson does unless we land Webb and maybe another big name at end.

Lot of people going to be disappointed when most if not all of our current three stars don't get bumped up. Doesn't mean they're bad players, though.

 

[chaseasl]

Bembry isn't going anywhere.

Doubt Lawson does unless we land Webb and maybe another big name at end.

Lot of people going to be disappointed when most if not all of our current three stars don't get bumped up. Doesn't mean they're bad players, though.

That's what I was thinking, if Webb and somehow Williams both want in then Lawson may get a git shirt, same with Tucker if we are able to get Eze and Smith.