Chris Donald, Daryl Vereen, Josh Hawkins at LB

#32
#32
Donald moved to DE towards the end or Fall Practice, IIRC. He probably won't ever be relevant here at UT, so it really doesn't matter anyway.
 
#33
#33
g8terh8ter_eric said:
Donald moved to DE towards the end or Fall Practice, IIRC. He probably won't ever be relevant here at UT, so it really doesn't matter anyway.
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I always heard he would move to DE but never heard for sure. Point it out somewhere and I will gladly acknowledge. But you are right either way, it doesn't matter. Looks like the next Daniel Brooks.
 
#34
#34
tabrams said:
Ok guys, please stop hiding and get some playing time!!!
Anyone say Rod Wilks at LB??? :eek:lol:
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tabrams said:
Maybe Donald switched in fall camp.......that could be it......I just wish he'd do something somewhere.......same as I'd like Rod Wilks to show up somewhere........those local guys are total busts, let's face it......:eek:lol:
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What exactly is it that you find humorous about any of that ?
 
#36
#36
tabrams said:
Yeah, when he picked UT at the All=Army American game, I thought he would be a total stud......he was ranked the #1 ILB in the country, and his highlight reel was insane......he must be a total screwup, and not nearly as fast as we thought.....
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I've talked about this several times. I really, really don't know why this kid was so highly ranked. Now, he might blow up and become the next Lawrence Taylor, but I will be shocked if it happens. He was one of those kids who lived in a perfect storm of circumstances.... He was listed as 6'3" - 220 pounds as a 14 year old high school freshman... He was blessed with the good fortune of being on a very good 2A (now 1A) high school football team and was surrounded by talent for his freshman and sophomore years, which enabled him to get more exposure. He was anointed by Murphy Fair during the 2003 2A championship game as being "the real deal". Even though Murphy Fair has been very suspect with his ability to spot talent, he has been given the title of "Tennessee high school football's resident guru"... He had a decent junior year, then fell off during his senior season, reportedly due to injuries. He was still listed as 6'3" - 220 pounds in the TSSAA official program for the 2A state playoffs as a senior. For me, this was a ginormous red flag, but I suppose Scout, Rivals, the Mr. Football committee, and all the colleges who were after him didn't see it that way. Now, he's at UT and he's listed at 6'1" - 224 pounds. Now, I'm not a doctor, but it would appear that either he has shrunk by 2 inches and only gained 4 pounds in 7 years, or somebody at UT doesn't know how to run a ruler, OR somebody was lying their ass off about his physical stats at Huntingdon.
 
#37
#37
926 said:
I've talked about this several times. I really, really don't know why this kid was so highly ranked. Now, he might blow up and become the next Lawrence Taylor, but I will be shocked if it happens. He was one of those kids who lived in a perfect storm of circumstances.... He was listed as 6'3" - 220 pounds as a 14 year old high school freshman... He was blessed with the good fortune of being on a very good 2A (now 1A) high school football team and was surrounded by talent for his freshman and sophomore years, which enabled him to get more exposure. He was anointed by Murphy Fair during the 2003 2A championship game as being "the real deal". Even though Murphy Fair has been very suspect with his ability to spot talent, he has been given the title of "Tennessee high school football's resident guru"... He had a decent junior year, then fell off during his senior season, reportedly due to injuries. He was still listed as 6'3" - 220 pounds in the TSSAA official program for the 2A state playoffs as a senior. For me, this was a ginormous red flag, but I suppose Scout, Rivals, the Mr. Football committee, and all the colleges who were after him didn't see it that way. Now, he's at UT and he's listed at 6'1" - 224 pounds. Now, I'm not a doctor, but it would appear that either he has shrunk by 2 inches and only gained 4 pounds in 7 years, or somebody at UT doesn't know how to run a ruler, OR somebody was lying their ass off about his physical stats at Huntingdon.
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There was a guy named Patrick Willis who was from a small town in west Tennessee. His highlight reels looked identical to Donald's. He was at best a 3 star.

In case no one remembers him, he was a 2 time SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

Rivals and Scout preceded to take the next LB with speed from west TN and over hype him just in case he became a college stud. This is what happened to Donald and why the recruiting services drooled over him.
 
#38
#38
justingroves said:
There was a guy named Patrick Willis who was from a small town in west Tennessee. His highlight reels looked identical to Donald's. He was at best a 3 star.

In case no one remembers him, he was a 2 time SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

Rivals and Scout preceded to take the next LB with speed from west TN and over hype him just in case he became a college stud. This is what happened to Donald and why the recruiting services drooled over him.
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That might explain Rivals and Scout... and Lord knows that the TSSAA is renowned for keeping it's head firmly planted in a dark and stinky place, which would explain the Mr. Football award (they give the award to the best players about 50% of the time), but it still doesn't explain why all the colleges were after him. Common sense has to kick in at some time or another and they have to start looking at the obvious.


If I am the recruiting coordinator, this is what I'm seeing and what my thought process is...

Freshman...6'3" 220#... Starting FB and MLB on State Championship team.... "This kid has potential! If he's this size now, he's going to be a beast by the time he's a senior."

Sophomore...6'3" 220#... Same situation and made it back to the championship game... "Hmmm... This kid doesn't have the talent around him that he had last year, but still made it back to the championship. A little concerned that he is same size as last year, but at 6'3", he has a frame that we can fill out. He's a winner."

Junior...6'3" 220#... Didn't make it back to the championship this year, but he was definitely on everyone's radar. Haven't seen him play in person, but he looks good on the film they sent me... as if they would send me film of him screwing up. All these other schools are offering him. Do they know something we don't? We have to get him into camp so we can get a good look at him up close and check his skills and his times."

Senior...6'3" 220#... Was pretty much ineffective this year. He was supposed to have been injured which would explain his statistical drop off. Rivals and Scout both have him listed in the top 3 linebackers in the nation. Did they see something I didn't? I was a little disappointed that we measured his height 2 inches less than listed while he was in camp this past summer. He's a Tennessee kid, so he will probably choose UT if they offer. He has potential, but I would be lying if I didn't say I had expected him to be significantly larger. He was, after all, listed at 6'3" as a freshman. I'm not super concerned with his height, though. I think 6'1" is an ample size for a college LB. He doesn't appear to have a mean streak and his lack of having to drop back into coverage makes me wonder if he can read the play. He is listed as a 5 star recruit, and it would be a feather in our program's hat to land a 5 star recruit. What to do? Go with my gut or go with the ranking services? Take a chance on him being a bust and burning a valuable scholarship or let him go and take a chance on him turning into the next Patrick Willis for somebody else... somebody else that we have to play against every year? What to do, what to do?
 
#41
#41
Rock33 said:
Kiffin won't play these guys for various reasons. He will take losses this year to get "his" guys on the field.. CLK couldn't care less about this Season, he's here for the long haul !!!!!!!!!!!
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First off that is straight up moronic, Second off these guys aren't playing because they aren't worth a crap on the football field. There is a reason these guys haven't even showed up in articles throughout the season. I played against Josh Hawkins in HS and was shocked when UT signed him because he was a good player but nothing spectacular at the 2A level. There is a reason the other two have yet to even get meaningful reps in scrimmages, its because they dont have any game.
 
#42
#42
justingroves said:
There was a guy named Patrick Willis who was from a small town in west Tennessee. His highlight reels looked identical to Donald's. He was at best a 3 star.

In case no one remembers him, he was a 2 time SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

Rivals and Scout preceded to take the next LB with speed from west TN and over hype him just in case he became a college stud. This is what happened to Donald and why the recruiting services drooled over him.
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This.
 
#43
#43
Hate to bust everyone's bubble but Chris Donald is a line backer...I watched him every year in highschool...my brother played agaist him when he played for Camden...Donald is from a little town about 15 miles west of me called Huntingdon...I was really looking forward to seeing him play for UT also...but here is the problem...First of all I think the only reason he was picked up by fuller is because he missed his chance with Patrick Willis a few years ago from Bruceton..{He is playing for San Fran now}...Figured now was an opportunity for some talent...Donald is very explosive in hitting and held the number one spot his senior year in takles...but his problem is this....he don't like to "get hit"...and from "That" aspect he is not college material...Now scince he has been there I don't know if he has gotten better in that category or not...but I saw him many,many times take hisself out of games cause of a hit or two...When MK came to town I knew right then.......No way in hell Chris Donald would survive with MK....I believe he is a sophmore or a junior this year so if he was doing well I dunno why LK would't play him...but who knows...UT is very unpredictable this year...so who knows "What" will happen in the next few games...if there was any time to shine..Now would be it...cause so many defensive players are hurt...
 
#44
#44
BiG_OrAnGe_CrUsH said:
Hate to bust everyone's bubble but Chris Donald is a line backer...I watched him every year in highschool...my brother played agaist him when he played for Camden...Donald is from a little town about 15 miles west of me called Huntingdon...I was really looking forward to seeing him play for UT also...but here is the problem...First of all I think the only reason he was picked up by fuller is because he missed his chance with Patrick Willis a few years ago from Bruceton..{He is playing for San Fran now}...Figured now was an opportunity for some talent...Donald is very explosive in hitting and held the number one spot his senior year in takles...but his problem is this....he don't like to "get hit"...and from "That" aspect he is not college material...Now scince he has been there I don't know if he has gotten better in that category or not...but I saw him many,many times take hisself out of games cause of a hit or two...When MK came to town I knew right then.......No way in hell Chris Donald would survive with MK....I believe he is a sophmore or a junior this year so if he was doing well I dunno why LK would't play him...but who knows...UT is very unpredictable this year...so who knows "What" will happen in the next few games...if there was any time to shine..Now would be it...cause so many defensive players are hurt...
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Your battle with the English language is truly one of epic proportions, sir.

And not to be a "playa hata," but I am rooting for English to win.
 
#46
#46
Rock33 said:
Kiffin won't play these guys for various reasons. He will take losses this year to get "his" guys on the field.. CLK couldn't care less about this Season, he's here for the long haul !!!!!!!!!!!
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Who would've thought that BB would be leading the SEC in yds... oh wait, that's Hardesty! Your comment is just plain stupid!
 
#47
#47
justingroves said:
There was a guy named Patrick Willis who was from a small town in west Tennessee. His highlight reels looked identical to Donald's. He was at best a 3 star.
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I'm fairly positive that Willis was a 2star. Now imo, he is the best LB in the NFL...
 
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