2002 recruiting class

#1
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tnwalkingVols

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#1
So the 02 class was one of the highest ranked classes we have ever had here at UT but when I was looking through the list of kids we signed in that class none of them stood out to me as game changers in college and/or good NFL players. So I pose this question to you. Was this because the kids were not properly coached, didn't have much character/work ethic, or do stars really not matter as much as we think they do?
 
#2
#2
tnwalkingVols said:
So the 02 class was one of the highest ranked classes we have ever had here at UT but when I was looking through the list of kids we signed in that class none of them stood out to me as game changers in college and/or good NFL players. So I pose this question to you. Was this because the kids were not properly coached, didn't have much character/work ethic, or do stars really not matter as much as we think they do?
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Can you list the names?
 
#3
#3
tnwalkingVols said:
So the 02 class was one of the highest ranked classes we have ever had here at UT but when I was looking through the list of kids we signed in that class none of them stood out to me as game changers in college and/or good NFL players. So I pose this question to you. Was this because the kids were not properly coached, didn't have much character/work ethic, or do stars really not matter as much as we think they do?
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They just underperformed. They were expected to challenge for the SEC championship and play in a BCS bowl. You could attribute this subpar performance to poor work ethic, but it seems like a distant possibility with the 2002 Vols. You could make that argument for the 2005 Vols.

I would say that it was a combination of stars not having as much of an effect on the team's performance as a whole and average coaching,which was as a result of the staff putting too much faith in the players' talents and their stars rather than their coachable flaws. Stars don't make players great.
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#6
#6
Jason Allen 4 stars ATH Muscle Shoals, AL 6'2" 200 4.3 4 stars 7/8/03 5 65 12/14/01
James Banks 5 stars QB Indianapolis, IN
Ben Davis 6'3" 195 4.5 5 stars 7/8/03 3 30 12/14/01
Heath Benedict 4 stars OL Highstown, NJ
The Peddie School 6'6" 285 4.8 4 stars 7/8/03 7 85 11/23/01
Mondre Dickerson 5 stars DE Coffeyville, KS
Coffeyville C.C. 6'4" 268 4.6 5 stars 7/8/03
Cody Douglas 4 stars OL La Marque, TX 6'4" 310 4.9 4 stars 7/8/03 12 12/14/01
Omar Gaither 4 stars LB Charlotte, NC
Myers Park 6'2" 210 4.5 4 stars 7/8/03 10 1/11/02
Jason Hall 2 stars DE Chattanooga, TN
McCallie School 6'4" 245 4.7 2 stars 7/8/03 56 1/11/02
Chris Hannon 4 stars ATH Sarasota, FL
Riverview 6'4" 190 4.4 4 stars 7/8/03 19 1/11/02
Parys Haralson 4 stars DE Canton, MS
Madison Central 6'2" 235 4.7 4 stars 7/8/03 4 70 1/18/02
Justin Harrell 4 stars DT Martin, TN
Westview 6'5" 300 4.8 4 stars 7/8/03 36 1/18/02
LaRon Harris 4 stars DT Memphis, TN
Kingsbury 6'3" 305 4.9 4 stars 7/8/03 20 1/11/02
Brandon Jeffries 5 stars OL Shelby, NC
Crest 6'5" 265 4.9 5 stars 7/8/03 2 19 1/11/02
Greg Jones 4 stars DT Jonesboro, AR
Jonesboro Senior 6'6" 265 4.8 4 stars 7/8/03 16 12/14/01
Aaron Kirkland 4 stars TE Fayetteville, NC
Jack Britt 6'5" 240 4.8 4 stars 7/8/03 3 77 1/18/02
David Ligon 4 stars DE Memphis, TN
Christian Brothers 6'5" 275 4.7 4 stars 7/8/03 20 1/18/02
Jonathan Mapu 5 stars DE Kahuku, HI 6'3" 265 4.8 5 stars 7/8/03 3 34 1/18/02
Ruben Mayes 4 stars RB Memphis, TN
Ridgeway 6'2" 240 4.5 4 stars 7/8/03 8 1/11/02
Marvin Mitchell 3 stars LB Norfolk, VA
Lake Taylor 6'3" 230 4.6 3 stars 7/8/03 56 1/18/02
Leon Pinky 2 stars TE Santa Clarita, CA
College of the Canyons 6'3" 255 4.7 2 stars 7/8/03 12/14/01
Gerald Riggs Jr. 5 stars RB Chattanooga, TN
Red Bank 6'0" 220 4.5 5 stars 7/8/03 2 12 1/11/02
Rob Smith 4 stars OL Fort Thomas, KY
Highlands 6'4" 290 4.7 4 stars 7/8/03 5 95 12/14/01
Antwan Stewart 3 stars ATH Dumfries, VA
Potomac Senior 6'0" 180 4.4 3 stars 7/8/03 28 12/14/01
Jonathan Wade 4 stars ATH Shreveport, LA
Evangel Christian 5'11" 180 4.3 4 stars 7/8/03 6 83 9/28/01
James Wilhoit 4 stars K Hendersonville, TN 6'1" 180 4 stars 7/8/03 1 1/11/02
Gibril Wilson 4 stars


This class had 5-five stars and 16-four stars. It was loaded according to "star power". Number 2 class in the nation that year.
 
#8
#8
Jaytrain5 said:
Number 1 class in the nation produced a national championship three years later.

Stars matter.
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The 2005 Tennessee Volunteers would like to have a word with you.
volwarrior33 said:
There are seven players from that class currently in the NFL fwiw.
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Yes, but they did not reach a BCS bowl as expected. We expected a team coming off an incredible season with an SEC championship game appearance and a blowout bowl victory over Michigan to build on that success. They did not. Great players, but they didn't play to their potential, and the coaching that year was average at best.
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#9
#9
While that class didn't result in the ultimate goal of a national championship, to say that none of them stood out as game changers might be a little steep. I see several names on that list that might not have been All-Americans but were very good football players while at UT and are now in the NFL.
 
#10
#10
tnwalkingVols said:
So the 02 class was one of the highest ranked classes we have ever had here at UT but when I was looking through the list of kids we signed in that class none of them stood out to me as game changers in college and/or good NFL players. So I pose this question to you. Was this because the kids were not properly coached, didn't have much character/work ethic, or do stars really not matter as much as we think they do?
Click to expand...

as I look through the list, I found 6 players that ran into off field problems and were dismissed or left the program. I player did not qualify. two transfer after 1st or 2nd year to lower division to play. so that gets us down to 16 players.

10 of those 16 players played at least one season in the NFL with several still playing in the NFL.

the other players started at least one year.

not too bad..
 
#12
#12
TheNation said:
While that class didn't result in the ultimate goal of a national championship, to say that none of them stood out as game changers might be a little steep. I see several names on that list that might not have been All-Americans but were very good football players while at UT and are now in the NFL.
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I agree that they were game changers and are now successful in the NFL, but that year, they had the opportunity to do something great, but they underperformed.
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#13
#13
Ulysees E. McGill said:
No.2 class in the nation produced next to nothing. The right stars matter.
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There will always be hits and misses, busts and diamonds in the rough. But the teams that consistently recruit in the top 10 are the teams that play for championships.

It's really not all that complicated.
 
#15
#15
Mapu was a good player and person. Glad he was a Vol. Many others were too in that class but he's the only one I knew to some extent
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#16
#16
Jaytrain5 said:
There will always be hits and misses, busts and diamonds in the rough. But the teams that consistently recruit in the top 10 are the teams that play for championships.

It's really not all that complicated.
Click to expand...

Oregon?
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#18
#18
Jaytrain5 said:
There will always be hits and misses, busts and diamonds in the rough. But the teams that consistently recruit in the top 10 are the teams that play for championships.

It's really not all that complicated.
Click to expand...

Agree 100%. Just restating his point... Personally these players were expected to perform much better together. I'm from a small town in southern middle Tennessee and went to watch Jason Allen play in high school after his commitement to the VOLS. I have never seen a high school player with such talent and versatility. He returned a couple of kickoffs for td's. He ran for close to two hundred yards. He threw the ball a few times for completions, and he played defense like the ball hawk he was at UT! At least one INT. that night I think two... I know I'm not exposed to alot of great players in my small town area, but this was amazing to me, and I was so happy he was gonna wear the orange and white. Just thought I would share that. Sorry if it bored anyone.:)
 
#19
#19
What us fans tend to forget is that in 03 we were in the running for an at-large bcs bid, but bowl representatives noticed that fans weren't turning up in usual numbers for end us season games. We should remember that everytime we ***** about the coaches+players
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#20
#20
ReeceBobby said:
What us fans tend to forget is that in 03 we were in the running for an at-large bcs bid, but bowl representatives noticed that fans weren't turning up in usual numbers for end us season games. We should remember that everytime we ***** about the coaches+players
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The bigger factor is that Kansas State upset Oklahoma in the Big XII Championship game. Since OU was still #1 in the BCS and was guaranteed a spot, there was only one at-large bid remaining, and the BCS was forced to choose between #5 Ohio State and #6 Tennessee. Oklahoma wins and we're in the BCS, fans or not.
 
#21
#21
Jaytrain5 said:
There will always be hits and misses, busts and diamonds in the rough. But the teams that consistently recruit in the top 10 are the teams that play for championships.

It's really not all that complicated.
Click to expand...


Trying to convince some people of this simple fact is futile.

I miss the days when Tennessee could put together classes like that.
 
#22
#22
That class went 5-6 as seniors, losing to Vandy. It's a shame, but just another brick in the crumbled wall of our program.

Whatever the reason, those guys underachieved aggregiously.
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#24
#24
Recruiting in the top 10 every year is certainly a way of competing for a championship but coaching is undervalued IMO. Ron Zook found that out the hard way. Les Miles is an average at best coach but his recruiting is off the charts so LSU stays relevant. LSU is also susceptible to underachieving as we've seen the past two years. So recruiting in the top 10 every year is not the end all and be all of championship football. It takes good coaching to get the talent to translate from paper to the field.
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#25
#25
VolinMichigan said:
Recruiting in the top 10 every year is certainly a way of competing for a championship but coaching is undervalued IMO. Ron Zook found that out the hard way. Les Miles is an average at best coach but his recruiting is off the charts so LSU stays relevant. LSU is also susceptible to underachieving as we've seen the past two years. So recruiting in the top 10 every year is not the end all and be all of championship football. It takes good coaching to get the talent to translate from paper to the field.
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I mostly agree. Development is key. This is why Saban does so well. Top classes with few misses, and developing talent. He's won a lot of games without a top flight QB, stellar line play on both sides of the ball.
 
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