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

#1,401
#1,401
Been a long time reader but never post on here. Grew up in the Nashville area and am a life-long fan. I'll get to see Cam Akers play our local HS team ( South Panola ) on August 18th. He was a load when we last played them and has since gotten bigger but kept his speed I am told. Looking forward to the game.
 
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#1,403
#1,403
He'll be gone to Ohio. Sucks sitting back watching Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama, and GA take everyone.

What is going on? First it was get wins, be a top 10 team. We're there.


Then We thought it was the lawsuit,
but that ain't changed nothing.

Some say it's still too early, which I agree to some degree, but it's not hampering Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama, and GA. We've even had kids commit, then jump off.

Last year, it was playing time. We have that to offer again.

Now it's win the SEC and close out close games. And this staff knows what they're doing. No, we're taking what's left pretty much.

WTF is really going on? I wish these kids would say why they really didn't pick us.
Ex: I don't trust their scheme.

Or

Outside of Dobbs, Hurd, and AK. They don't have any help.

Etc.

This is a very important class. I hope come signing day, we're all laughing at how freaked out we were over nothing, but I don't think that's going to bethe case
 
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#1,404
#1,404
trapper64 said:
Been a long time reader but never post on here. Grew up in the Nashville area and am a life-long fan. I'll get to see Cam Akers play our local HS team ( South Panola ) on August 18th. He was a load when we last played them and has since gotten bigger but kept his speed I am told. Looking forward to the game.
Click to expand...

Welcome. Hope your experience is a good one.
 
#1,405
#1,405
Teams like Bama, Clemson, and OSU can sell recent success. Teams like GA can sell a program on the upswing with new staff, being a player that fits their system, playing time, and future success (like we were able to do our first couple of years). We are a team somewhere in the middle - we aren't 'new,' we can't offer the immediate playing time, and we haven't had the recent success. Once we prove it on the field this year, we will regain our identity. Our fans know we are back; now the results will prove it. And recruits will respond.

We could sign the number 1 class in the nation this year, and I wouldn't be laughing back at all the gloom and doom. It's just damn annoying!
 
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#1,406
#1,406
Kristy* said:
Teams like Bama, Clemson, and OSU can sell recent success. Teams like GA can sell a program on the upswing with new staff, being a player that fits their system, playing time, and future success (like we were able to do our first couple of years). We are a team somewhere in the middle - we aren't 'new,' we can't offer the immediate playing time, and we haven't had the recent success. Once we prove it on the field this year, we will regain our identity. Our fans know we are back; now the results will prove it. And recruits will respond.

We could sign the number 1 class in the nation this year, and I wouldn't be laughing back at all the gloom and doom. It's just damn annoying!
Click to expand...

Excellent analysis. Sort of the way I feel. I will say this, if you look at our recruiting, it appears the defensive side is doing ok. Gibbs' situation doesn't look great but I think given Warrior, we can bring that one back around given a really good season. Jacoby was never coming here. But I think the D is doing ok. I think the O is what is suffering. I think the reason has several factors. I think the O, while productive isn't sexy. I think from a coaching standpoint not having a QB coach is hurting that. I don't see DeBord exciting these kids. I've said it before, I didn't like that hire. I think it was a safe hire. From a recruiting standpoint I think we are weakest on the O side of the ball. I don't think we've got any power recruiters on the offensive side of the ball other than Gillespie. Mahoney and DeBord are probably the worst. Coach Scott is known in SFL but I feel he's still feeling his way.

I think Butch needs to upgrade his staff at seasons end. I think a really good season not only will help with recruiting players but also quality assistants. JMO
 
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#1,407
#1,407
InVOLuntary said:
Excellent analysis. Sort of the way I feel. I will say this, if you look at our recruiting, it appears the defensive side is doing ok. Gibbs' situation doesn't look great but I think given Warrior, we can bring that one back around given a really good season. Jacoby was never coming here. But I think the D is doing ok. I think the O is what is suffering. I think the reason has several factors. I think the O, while productive isn't sexy. I think from a coaching standpoint not having a QB coach is hurting that. I don't see DeBord exciting these kids. I've said it before, I didn't like that hire. I think it was a safe hire. From a recruiting standpoint I think we are weakest on the O side of the ball. I don't think we've got any power recruiters on the offensive side of the ball other than Gillespie. Mahoney and DeBord are probably the worst. Coach Scott is known in SFL but I feel he's still feeling his way.

I think Butch needs to upgrade his staff at seasons end. I think a really good season not only will help with recruiting players but also quality assistants. JMO
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can agree with most of this.

There is a bit of an unknown with future recruits not knowing who their OC will be. CBJ made a good, splashy hire with Shoop. Next time around, I feel he'll make a good decision at OC. But I like Debord and don't feel he needs to go now. I would guess this will be his last job, and he has a few years left. I feel like Mahoney is more expendable, and 'allowing' him to move on to make room for a QB coach would be an improvement. And though I haven't lost all hope for Coach Z, this year is put up or shut up for him. I think he can recruit but not well enough to be a weak link.
 
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#1,410
#1,410
InVOLuntary said:
Excellent analysis. Sort of the way I feel. I will say this, if you look at our recruiting, it appears the defensive side is doing ok. Gibbs' situation doesn't look great but I think given Warrior, we can bring that one back around given a really good season. Jacoby was never coming here. But I think the D is doing ok. I think the O is what is suffering. I think the reason has several factors. I think the O, while productive isn't sexy. I think from a coaching standpoint not having a QB coach is hurting that. I don't see DeBord exciting these kids. I've said it before, I didn't like that hire. I think it was a safe hire. From a recruiting standpoint I think we are weakest on the O side of the ball. I don't think we've got any power recruiters on the offensive side of the ball other than Gillespie. Mahoney and DeBord are probably the worst. Coach Scott is known in SFL but I feel he's still feeling his way.

I think Butch needs to upgrade his staff at seasons end. I think a really good season not only will help with recruiting players but also quality assistants. JMO
Click to expand...

Debord is the QB coach and his track record coaching the position is very similar to UGA's Chaney (look up their bios), but they've not had any trouble recruiting QB's since he's been there. The QB coach thing is a nonissue. Our running game improved exponentially this past year and Debord had a lot to do with that; he's been a very solid hire. All we need to do is win and look good doing it. The last time we had a legit Heisman candidate late in a season it was Peyton Manning... Yep, Manning, 20 years and 4 or 5 OC's ago. If we win the East and Hurd does well enough to get invited to the Heisman ceremony, guys like Akers, Chandler, and that '18 kid from Mississippi will line up to play for us. Win an SECC or an NC and have a player to actually win the Heisman and we'll suddenly be the "dream school" for prospects from Key West, FL to Juneau, AK.

I do agree that outside of Scott and Gillespie, our offensive staff seems to be a little light on recruiters though.
 
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#1,411
#1,411
I think it is interesting that, depending on the thread, you either read that winning is the key to recruiting or that recruiting is the key to winning. I think both are true to a large extent, but that is why big changes in a program take time. One class doesn;'t make your program nor does it destroy it. One season doesn't suddenly convince everyone to join up. It;s a growth process and to go from where we went to where we want to be takes time. It took LSU time, it took Clemson time, it took Florida time, it took Georgia time, and still they aren't permanent winners. I'm convinced we will get where we want to be, whether this year or in the future. CBJ will win a lot of big games. Maybe this year, maybe not. A step forward in results would likely result in a step forward in recruiting, and vice versa.

When the players you want are sought after by, say, Bama, OSU, FSU, Clemson, Georgia, and Ole Miss... and most are... you can only expect to get one out of seven that all of those are in on ( based just on the math). Throw in LSU and Auburn... every school misses on way more recruits than they get. Those programs are a little more established than we are right now, but we will get a few, have some success, get a few more, and eventually be the preferred stop. But it is a growth process, and every at-bat won't be a home run. I'm okay with that as long as we are competitive and the effort is there. The results will come at some point, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Long winded, but it has been on my mind reading all the "must get, must win 12 must beat (team A)..." stuff that people keep posting. There is a reason they call it rebuilding.
 
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#1,412
#1,412
MrVolton said:
Debord is the QB coach and his track record coaching the position is very similar to UGA's Chaney (look up their bios), but they've not had any trouble recruiting QB's since he's been there. The QB coach thing is a nonissue. Our running game improved exponentially this past year and Debord had a lot to do with that; he's been a very solid hire. All we need to do is win and look good doing it. The last time we had a legit Heisman candidate late in a season it was Peyton Manning... Yep, Manning, 20 years and 4 or 5 OC's ago. If we win the East and Hurd does well enough to get invited to the Heisman ceremony, guys like Akers, Chandler, and that '18 kid from Mississippi will line up to play for us. Win an SECC or an NC and have a player to actually win the Heisman and we'll suddenly be the "dream school" for prospects from Key West, FL to Juneau, AK.

I do agree that outside of Scott and Gillespie, our offensive staff seems to be a little light on recruiters though.
Click to expand...

I disagree on DeBord. Did our running game improve, sure. Was it because of DeBord, I don't think so. I think it was because a bunch of freshman had grown up a lot in one year. It doesn't take a whole lot of offensive intellect to hand the ball off to your 240 pound bruiser of a tailback. We needed improvement in the passing game and we really didn't see that. DeBord is not the QB coach. A graduate assistant, Nick Sheridan is the QB coach. DeBord had seldom if ever worked with the zone read option. It's my opinion, and I respect yours if you disagree, DeBord is the worst hire he's made since he's been here. Hope he proves me wrong but I have zero confidence he will.
 
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#1,413
#1,413
InVOLuntary said:
I disagree on DeBord. Did our running game improve, sure. Was it because of DeBord, I don't think so. I think it was because a bunch of freshman had grown up a lot in one year. It doesn't take a whole lot of offensive intellect to hand the ball off to your 240 pound bruiser of a tailback. We needed improvement in the passing game and we really didn't see that. DeBord is not the QB coach. A graduate assistant, Nick Sheridan is the QB coach. DeBord had seldom if ever worked with the zone read option. It's my opinion, and I respect yours if you disagree, DeBord is the worst hire he's made since he's been here. Hope he proves me wrong but I have zero confidence he will.
Click to expand...

I think you've already been proven wrong. And if you think he had no effect on that OL, I'm not sure which sport you're watching.
 
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#1,414
#1,414
VolForLife83 said:
He'll be gone to Ohio. Sucks sitting back watching Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama, and GA take everyone.

What is going on? First it was get wins, be a top 10 team. We're there.


Then We thought it was the lawsuit,
but that ain't changed nothing.

Some say it's still too early, which I agree to some degree, but it's not hampering Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama, and GA. We've even had kids commit, then jump off.

Last year, it was playing time. We have that to offer again.

Now it's win the SEC and close out close games. And this staff knows what they're doing. No, we're taking what's left pretty much.

WTF is really going on? I wish these kids would say why they really didn't pick us.
Ex: I don't trust their scheme.

Or

Outside of Dobbs, Hurd, and AK. They don't have any help.

Etc.

This is a very important class. I hope come signing day, we're all laughing at how freaked out we were over nothing, but I don't think that's going to bethe case
Click to expand...

Our players have had a major role in assisting with recruiting in the past, what is their role this year? Have not heard a lot about that this year.
 
#1,415
#1,415
InVOLuntary said:
I disagree on DeBord. Did our running game improve, sure. Was it because of DeBord, I don't think so. I think it was because a bunch of freshman had grown up a lot in one year. It doesn't take a whole lot of offensive intellect to hand the ball off to your 240 pound bruiser of a tailback. We needed improvement in the passing game and we really didn't see that. DeBord is not the QB coach. A graduate assistant, Nick Sheridan is the QB coach. DeBord had seldom if ever worked with the zone read option. It's my opinion, and I respect yours if you disagree, DeBord is the worst hire he's made since he's been here. Hope he proves me wrong but I have zero confidence he will.
Click to expand...

We would have been 5-7 last year without Debord. The OL improved tremendously.
 
#1,416
#1,416
I just don't get some people on here. GFW comes in here and drops a bomb and negativity just continues to spew out of people's mouths. Thanks GFW for bringing the info and I can't wait to see Akers mow some people over in Orange and White!
 
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#1,417
#1,417
VFL10 said:
I just don't get some people on here. GFW comes in here and drops a bomb and negativity just continues to spew out of people's mouths. Thanks GFW for bringing the info and I can't wait to see Akers mow some people over in Orange and White!
Click to expand...

After 10 years of being taken to the woodshed in the SEC, a little glimmer from coach Jones has not been enough to pacify the truly damaged individual. Any small hiccup in any aspect of this team has been greatly over-exaggerated within this forum. Hence why I mostly read for entertainment. Normal people don't spend this much time arguing about the decisions of kids and when it doesn't go the volunteer way proceed to cry about it and point fingers at the glaring ineptitudes of the coaching staff.
 
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#1,418
#1,418
VFL10 said:
I just don't get some people on here. GFW comes in here and drops a bomb and negativity just continues to spew out of people's mouths. Thanks GFW for bringing the info and I can't wait to see Akers mow some people over in Orange and White!
Click to expand...

Some people just can't stand to see positivity around here. I feel like they should make a separate board for all the NegaVols.
 
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#1,419
#1,419
butchna said:
I think you've already been proven wrong. And if you think he had no effect on that OL, I'm not sure which sport you're watching.
Click to expand...

Especially considering the fact that much of our OL run blocking improvement can largely be traced directly to scheme changes. Bama even had defenders talking about how difficult it was to read where we were going with the ball with linemen pulling in all different directions on some plays.

When you can make defenders kill their feet to stop and think, run blocking becomes a lot easier.
 
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#1,421
#1,421
VolForLife83 said:
He'll be gone to Ohio. Sucks sitting back watching Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama, and GA take everyone.

What is going on? First it was get wins, be a top 10 team. We're there.


Then We thought it was the lawsuit,
but that ain't changed nothing.

Some say it's still too early, which I agree to some degree, but it's not hampering Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama, and GA. We've even had kids commit, then jump off.

Last year, it was playing time. We have that to offer again.

Now it's win the SEC and close out close games. And this staff knows what they're doing. No, we're taking what's left pretty much.

WTF is really going on? I wish these kids would say why they really didn't pick us.
Ex: I don't trust their scheme.

Or

Outside of Dobbs, Hurd, and AK. They don't have any help.

Etc.

This is a very important class. I hope come signing day, we're all laughing at how freaked out we were over nothing, but I don't think that's going to bethe case
Click to expand...

Butch is being negatively recruited to death. The power coaches are probably telling every recruit that he blows the lead in the 4th, has no passing attack, and is just a flash in the pan.

This will be the season for Butch to prove himself as a coach. He'll either prove them all wrong or prove them all right.

Just Win Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​
 
#1,422
#1,422
illumiVOLi said:
After 10 years of being taken to the woodshed in the SEC, a little glimmer from coach Jones has not been enough to pacify the truly damaged individual. Any small hiccup in any aspect of this team has been greatly over-exaggerated within this forum. Hence why I mostly read for entertainment. Normal people don't spend this much time arguing about the decisions of kids and when it doesn't go the volunteer way proceed to cry about it and point fingers at the glaring ineptitudes of the coaching staff.
Click to expand...

LOL. We definitely are not normal.:)
 
#1,424
#1,424
BigOrangeD said:
Butch is being negatively recruited to death. The power coaches are probably telling every recruit that he blows the lead in the 4th, has no passing attack, and is just a flash in the pan.

This will be the season for Butch to prove himself as a coach. He'll either prove them all wrong or prove them all right.

Just Win Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​
Click to expand...

TOTALLY agree... GA is the only school I can't understand why they are winning the recruiting battles over us unless it's playing time...
 
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