3 summer arrivals who can help UT the most

#3
#3
I remember the good old days when we were loaded with talent, top to bottom, every single class chock full of high-quality players.

Back then, I never paid much attention to recruiting. It wasn't really important to us fans, watching the team play on Saturdays. Because the incoming freshmen were, 99% of the time, not seeing the field except maybe in a limited special teams or clean-up role. All the heavy lifting was being done by the sophomores, juniors and seniors. And there was plenty of time to get to know about the freshmen over the course of the following year, as they began really competing for spots in the two-deep.

In other words, they made their name once they got to Tennessee and started competing for jobs...not based on what they did in high school.

Recruiting was important to the coaches, who really know what's happening in that effort, but we fans were generally blind to it (and wouldn't have understood any of the under currents even if we'd been watching).

Well, we're back there again. We're back to having great talent in every class, top to bottom. We're back to reloading. And we're back to not many freshmen having an impact on the field in any way other than clean-up or a bit of special teams. In short, we're loaded again.

So I'm happy to leave the recruiting to the coaches, and don't feel any need to play the guessing game about which freshman will have an impact in the fall. Because in an ideal world, none of them will. They'll all be building and bulking up, learning the system and the play book so that they can compete the following year.

We're rich enough in talent now that freshmen contributing immediately ought to return to being a rarity. I'm hoping so.



NOTE: JUCO transfers like Kongbo and Kamara before him are a different matter. Often, they are brought in to fill an immediate need...and can/should often make an immediate contribution.
 
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#4
#4
VFL-82-JP said:
I remember the good old days when we were loaded with talent, top to bottom, every single class chock full of high-quality players.

Back then, I never paid much attention to recruiting. It wasn't really important to us fans, watching the team play on Saturdays. Because the incoming freshmen were, 99% of the time, not seeing the field except maybe in a limited special teams or clean-up role. All the heavy lifting was being done by the sophomores, juniors and seniors. And there was plenty of time to get to know about the freshmen over the course of the following year, as they began really competing for spots in the two-deep.

In other words, they made their name once they got to Tennessee and started competing for jobs...not based on what they did in high school.

Recruiting was important to the coaches, who really know what's happening in that effort, but we fans were generally blind to it (and wouldn't have understood any of the under currents even if we'd been watching).

Well, we're back there again. We're back to having great talent in every class, top to bottom. We're back to reloading. And we're back to not many freshmen having an impact on the field in any way other than clean-up or a bit of special teams. In short, we're loaded again.

So I'm happy to leave the recruiting to the coaches, and don't feel any need to play the guessing game about which freshman will have an impact in the fall. Because in an ideal world, none of them will. They'll all be building and bulking up, learning the system and the play book so that they can compete the following year.

We're rich enough in talent now that freshmen contributing immediately ought to return to being a rarity. I'm hoping so.



NOTE: JUCO transfers like Kongbo and Kamara before him are a different matter. Often, they are brought in to fill an immediate need...and can/should often make an immediate contribution.
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I think as football has grown in coming recruits have shown up better prepared to play. 7 vs 7 has made to easier for skill players to get more experience. That''s why you see skill players able to contribute ealier than linemen. That and linmean usually need to add size.
 
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#7
#7
Article wasn't great, but Kongbo may be a huge piece to compliment Barnett. We had a great dline last year IMO, but you can never be good enough in the trenches. I think Byrd may take cams place returning punts in 17. He is also a nice athlete to cycle in a game to wear out a defense or take some chances deep.
 
#9
#9
VFL-82-JP said:
I remember the good old days when we were loaded with talent, top to bottom, every single class chock full of high-quality players.

Back then, I never paid much attention to recruiting. It wasn't really important to us fans, watching the team play on Saturdays. Because the incoming freshmen were, 99% of the time, not seeing the field except maybe in a limited special teams or clean-up role. All the heavy lifting was being done by the sophomores, juniors and seniors. And there was plenty of time to get to know about the freshmen over the course of the following year, as they began really competing for spots in the two-deep.

In other words, they made their name once they got to Tennessee and started competing for jobs...not based on what they did in high school.

Recruiting was important to the coaches, who really know what's happening in that effort, but we fans were generally blind to it (and wouldn't have understood any of the under currents even if we'd been watching).

Well, we're back there again. We're back to having great talent in every class, top to bottom. We're back to reloading. And we're back to not many freshmen having an impact on the field in any way other than clean-up or a bit of special teams. In short, we're loaded again.

So I'm happy to leave the recruiting to the coaches, and don't feel any need to play the guessing game about which freshman will have an impact in the fall. Because in an ideal world, none of them will. They'll all be building and bulking up, learning the system and the play book so that they can compete the following year.

We're rich enough in talent now that freshmen contributing immediately ought to return to being a rarity. I'm hoping so.



NOTE: JUCO transfers like Kongbo and Kamara before him are a different matter. Often, they are brought in to fill an immediate need...and can/should often make an immediate contribution.
Click to expand...

Enjoyed this post. I totally agree with the JUCO mentions, we should always be ready to take a good JUCO out there if for no other reason if he's on our roster he's not on somebody's we have to play, so take really good ones.
 
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#10
#10
jonnon111 said:
Article wasn't great, but Kongbo may be a huge piece to compliment Barnett. We had a great dline last year IMO, but you can never be good enough in the trenches. I think Byrd may take cams place returning punts in 17. He is also a nice athlete to cycle in a game to wear out a defense or take some chances deep.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't count out Latrell Williams as a possible PR either.
 
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#13
#13
jonnon111 said:
Article wasn't great, but Kongbo may be a huge piece to compliment Barnett. We had a great dline last year IMO, but you can never be good enough in the trenches. I think Byrd may take cams place returning punts in 17. He is also a nice athlete to cycle in a game to wear out a defense or take some chances deep.
Click to expand...

Vereen is going to have a huge year
 
#14
#14
VFL-82-JP said:
I remember the good old days when we were loaded with talent, top to bottom, every single class chock full of high-quality players.

Back then, I never paid much attention to recruiting. It wasn't really important to us fans, watching the team play on Saturdays. Because the incoming freshmen were, 99% of the time, not seeing the field except maybe in a limited special teams or clean-up role. All the heavy lifting was being done by the sophomores, juniors and seniors. And there was plenty of time to get to know about the freshmen over the course of the following year, as they began really competing for spots in the two-deep.

In other words, they made their name once they got to Tennessee and started competing for jobs...not based on what they did in high school.

Recruiting was important to the coaches, who really know what's happening in that effort, but we fans were generally blind to it (and wouldn't have understood any of the under currents even if we'd been watching).

Well, we're back there again. We're back to having great talent in every class, top to bottom. We're back to reloading. And we're back to not many freshmen having an impact on the field in any way other than clean-up or a bit of special teams. In short, we're loaded again.

So I'm happy to leave the recruiting to the coaches, and don't feel any need to play the guessing game about which freshman will have an impact in the fall. Because in an ideal world, none of them will. They'll all be building and bulking up, learning the system and the play book so that they can compete the following year.

We're rich enough in talent now that freshmen contributing immediately ought to return to being a rarity. I'm hoping so.



NOTE: JUCO transfers like Kongbo and Kamara before him are a different matter. Often, they are brought in to fill an immediate need...and can/should often make an immediate contribution.
Click to expand...

Good post

I used to not follow recruiting at all. My dad and great uncle did somewhat and would tell me anytime a recruit was a "blue chip." I can't remember but I think they had a number they used to call to find out recruiting info. (correct me if I'm wrong) It really didn't matter cuz year after year we were stocked with high end talent. Like you said, most we didn't get to see until their 2nd-3rd year. I used to see players names on ST's that I had never heard of. Lol

Times have changed and it's EZ to follow recruiting now.
 
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#15
#15
The writer took 3 of the 4 highest rated recruits that we signed. The 4th was Jarrett Guarantano, a QB who will not unseat Dobbs or Dormady, at least not early on.

It was the easy guess.

How about B Johnson or Calloway? They are just as likely to help as Byrd.
 
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