Biggest Disappointment this Signing Class

[WA_Vol]

I thought UT had a real need to sign a top 10 prospect at LB.

Someone said in another thread, this was a need recruiting year, but there was a real need at that position. I think UT graduated 4 pretty good linebackers (mitchell, simon, poe, gathers).

Second, I would say was wide receiver. We needed a top 10 prospect at wr so we could bench a couple of guys who have been disappointing, that didn't happen either.

Any thoughts?

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Brent Vinson should be a great WR. His is an inch taller and a step faster in the 40yd than Percy Harvin. He had over 1,600 yards offense and 15 TDs his Sr. season. Probably would have been ranked higher but his Sr. year turned out to be his breakout season, so I think he was probably the victim of not being a highly rated HS Jr.

Lamarcus Thompson is a good LB who probably needs to bulk up a bit which should be no problem. I don't know as much about Gerald Williams since he evidently did not show up at any camps to get rated but his Sr stats are also pretty impressive (from UT spotrs site) Stats: As senior, 135 tackles with 15 for loss, nine sacks and three interceptions ... Had 23 tackles, two sacks and 25-yard interception return for TD against Dillard ... Against Miramar, had 20 tackles and 89-yard interception return for TD ... In 2003, had 132 tackles with six sacks.

I almost forgot that we still have an outside shot with the Riley-Sheppard LB duo that are soft for LSU, although people are saying that Riley is definitely LSU bound.

 

[smokedog#3]

we needed playmakers and lost goggans to auburn, probably our second best recruit. pretty sorry class all the way around by UT standards.

 

[thunder5]

Biggest disappointment, the whole class ( with the exception of a very few). On the other hand, we've had highly ranked classe the last five years and we saw what that gave us last year. It wouldn't surprise me at all if this turns out to be the most productive class we've had this millenium.

 

[utvolpj]

See Freak's redshirt list. There are 2 top LB's from last years recruiting class on there.

Rico McCoy
Andre Mathis

They should eliminate some of our need for this years class. If I remember correctly, McCoy was going to be a beast coming out of last spring

 

[OrangePappy]

See Freak's redshirt list. There are 2 top LB's from last years recruiting class on there.

Rico McCoy
Andre Mathis

They should eliminate some of our need for this years class. If I remember correctly, McCoy was going to be a beast coming out of last spring

And I seem to remember Chief saying these guys were better than the ones that were leaving.

 

[OWB]

And I seem to remember Chief saying these guys were better than the ones that were leaving.

You're right about that. Chavis said that he thinks people are going to be pretty surprised about the defense next year......in a good way. Considering that Chavis hardly ever runs his mouth about this kind of stuff, it's pretty big that he would say such a thing. Chavis is the LB coach, you can pretty much expect them to be solid every year.

 

[CSpindizzy]

Well our defense has been carrying the load to this point. Does this mean we'll lose in a style like the Bama game last year? 6-3, etc. I guess we need a good kicker. WAIT! Is THAT why we were big on kickers this year? Because THAT is what the hope in next season is based on???

 

[Low Country Vol]

Is simon coming back for a 6th year or has that already been settled by the NCAA.

 

[OWB]

Well our defense has been carrying the load to this point. Does this mean we'll lose in a style like the Bama game last year? 6-3, etc. I guess we need a good kicker. WAIT! Is THAT why we were big on kickers this year? Because THAT is what the hope in next season is based on???

I see next year as being more balanced between offense and defense. Defense probably won't be as good as last year (Chavis thinks they could be better though) and the offense will be better from last year....how could they not be. Cut told them that he expected to score at least 35 points a game.