Butch's 2017 Class Looking Even Worse Now

#1
DiderotsGhost

DiderotsGhost

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#1
With Kivon Bennett's arrest and dismissal from the team, time to remember at least a small part of the reason for our struggles is Butch Jones' awful 2017 class. It's not that there was no talent on it, but the "success ratio" is pretty low. I typically think you need at least 60% of the players to pan out.

Nearly 50% of the class either transferred, were outright busts, or had other issues. And only 10 could be considered "solid contributors" (excluding the now dismissed Bennett).

All-Stars (2)
Trey Smith
Brent Cimaglia

Good Performers / Starters (4)
Ty Chandler.
Matthew Butler.
Josh Palmer. One of the lowest rated recruits in the '17 class, but arguably the 3rd best player form it.
Deandre Johnson.

Solid Contributors (4)
Latrell Bumphus.
Cheyenne Labruzza.
Princeton Fant. Somewhere between solid contributor and backup, but currently starting at TE.
Tim Jordan. Transfered, but was a solid backup RB option when here. Would've been pushed down the depth chart this season with Gray playing so well.

Backup / Rarely Utilized (5)
Theo Jackson. Solid backup; borderline on the next category up.
Solon Page. Technically on roster, but I don't ever remember him playing.
Riley Locklear. Still on roster, but has never seen a ton of action.
K'Rojhn Calbert. He's seen a bit of action; has he had injury issues?
Shawn Shamberger. Can't remember if he was starting at one point, but either backup or solid contributor.

Busts / Left / Dismissed / Injuries / Etc (13)
Maleik Gray
Eric Crosby
Will Ignont. Transfer to Western Kentucky after being unable to crack the starting rotation.
Jordan Murphy
Kivon Bennett. Obviously contributed before drug arrest, but that's done now.
Terrell Bailey. Bust?
Shannon Reid. Transfer, don't think he's been picked up.
Trey Coleman. Transfer. Now plays at a community college.
Ryan Thaxton. Transfer. I don't even remember this guy, but apparently dismissed from the team and now plays for USF.
Jacquez Jones. Transfer to Eastern Kentucky.
James Brown. Medical retirement.
Will McBride. Bust. Remember when some people thought he was the future of the QB position?
Marquez Bembry. Transfer. Now at Kentucky.


Overall, one of the weakest recruiting classes of the past 15 years. Only Dooley's late classes were worse. Remember, this is our current Senior class.
 
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#3
#3
This is the class he signed once the jury came back on his coaching ability. He got 5 new assistants, a new Strength coach, and promoted the TE coach to OC.

Then you got the combination Butch/Pruitt class where we let Penix and Martinez walk so we could bring in Shrout and Chryst.
 
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#5
#5
Yeah, this class really set us back and we are feeling the ramifications of it on the field this year. I know Pruitt hasn't shown us much this year but having a full, quality senior class could go a long way to helping turn our team around. I think one of the biggest problems from this team is now we have a complete lack of leadership from the upperclassmen on our team and it shows in the effort we give in the games. We don't really play for each other like top teams do.
 
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#8
#8
ThreatLevelOrange said:
This is the class he signed once the jury came back in his coaching ability.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but his 2016 class didn't pan out too well either. Most of the top rated guys did reasonably well (Callaway, Warrior, Kongbo, Bituli, Osborne), but it's mostly busts and career backups after that. Which is particularly disappointing because it was a small class of 22, so should've been higher quality.

Weirdly, Butch's 2018 class looked better, but I think part of that is the underrated influence of Mike Canales. Canales was Butch's only good offensive staff hire that year. He's the guy that went after Penix and he was totally right on him.

The other thing that's obvious to me now is that Mike Bajakian was the real reason for Butch's offensive success. He's doing great this year at Northwestern.
 
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#9
#9
Being a "solid contributor" on a ****** team means nothing.

High School star ratings mean nothing.

A player that signs a LOI with UT is NOT automatically the greatest thing since sliced bread.

All American lists, All SEC lists and NFL drafts determine a player's true talent level.

We do not have talent to be competitive in the SEC.

Beat four OOC cupcakes, maybe win a couple against our weak East sisters. Get a toilet bowl.

That is our ceiling.

Change coaches like dirty drawers, it will not move the ceiling much.

Buying top players wins games. Until we do, we will never be competitive.
 
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#12
#12
DiderotsGhost said:
Yeah, but his 2016 class didn't pan out too well either. Most of the top rated guys did reasonably well (Callaway, Warrior, Kongbo, Bituli, Osborne), but it's mostly busts and career backups after that. Which is particularly disappointing because it was a small class of 22, so should've been higher quality.

Weirdly, Butch's 2018 class looked better, but I think part of that is the underrated influence of Mike Canales. Canales was Butch's only good offensive staff hire that year. He's the guy that went after Penix and he was totally right on him.

The other thing that's obvious to me now is that Mike Bajakian was the real reason for Butch's offensive success. He's doing great this year at Northwestern.
Click to expand...
Don’t forget DeBord moving to Indiana and tutoring Nick Sheridan. Sheridan is Indiana’s OC.
 
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#15
#15
I hate to go there, but the 2018 class makes the 2017 class look fantastic
 
#21
#21
DiderotsGhost said:
With Kivon Bennett's arrest and dismissal from the team, time to remember at least a small part of the reason for our struggles is Butch Jones' awful 2017 class. It's not that there was no talent on it, but the "success ratio" is pretty low. I typically think you need at least 60% of the players to pan out.

Nearly 50% of the class either transferred, were outright busts, or had other issues. And only 10 could be considered "solid contributors" (excluding the now dismissed Bennett).

All-Stars (2)
Trey Smith
Brent Cimaglia

Good Performers / Starters (4)
Ty Chandler.
Matthew Butler.
Josh Palmer. One of the lowest rated recruits in the '17 class, but arguably the 3rd best player form it.
Deandre Johnson.

Solid Contributors (4)
Latrell Bumphus.
Cheyenne Labruzza.
Princeton Fant. Somewhere between solid contributor and backup, but currently starting at TE.
Tim Jordan. Transfered, but was a solid backup RB option when here. Would've been pushed down the depth chart this season with Gray playing so well.

Backup / Rarely Utilized (5)
Theo Jackson. Solid backup; borderline on the next category up.
Solon Page. Technically on roster, but I don't ever remember him playing.
Riley Locklear. Still on roster, but has never seen a ton of action.
K'Rojhn Calbert. He's seen a bit of action; has he had injury issues?
Shawn Shamberger. Can't remember if he was starting at one point, but either backup or solid contributor.

Busts / Left / Dismissed / Injuries / Etc (13)
Maleik Gray
Eric Crosby
Will Ignont. Transfer to Western Kentucky after being unable to crack the starting rotation.
Jordan Murphy
Kivon Bennett. Obviously contributed before drug arrest, but that's done now.
Terrell Bailey. Bust?
Shannon Reid. Transfer, don't think he's been picked up.
Trey Coleman. Transfer. Now plays at a community college.
Ryan Thaxton. Transfer. I don't even remember this guy, but apparently dismissed from the team and now plays for USF.
Jacquez Jones. Transfer to Eastern Kentucky.
James Brown. Medical retirement.
Will McBride. Bust. Remember when some people thought he was the future of the QB position?
Marquez Bembry. Transfer. Now at Kentucky.


Overall, one of the weakest recruiting classes of the past 15 years. Only Dooley's late classes were worse. Remember, this is our current Senior class.
Click to expand...

How are Pruitt’s recruits doing?
 
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