Eric Gray top 10 to watch 2020

[KBVol]

Tennessee will be damn good at running back in 2020

Why? Who’s the stud? In the past when we were “damn good”, we had all-SEC type running backs, even All-Americans. We clearly don’t have those on this roster.

That said, I do think we can have a good, effective running game, especially if Trey comes back and we get better (much better), consistent play then JG gave us last season. But I think to be “damn good”, or even more, we simply must have better, more talented running backs than the fairly average ones we have now.

 

[KBVol]

I mean look who u are comparing them too. Just becuase they are not alltime greats doesnt mean we are not loaded. Jordan, Chandler, and Gray could start on any SEC team except UGA and Bama. Not many SEC teams have 3 guys in the rb room who have had 100yard games, thats pretty loaded. At the very least its one of the top 3-4 rb groups in the league.

Ok then, compare them to the Georgia running backs the last several years or the Alabama running backs the last few years. Those are the type talented running backs, similar to our great running backs in the past, that we need to have the elite type running game we need IMO.

And if our guys could start for any SEC team not named Georgia or Alabama, then all those other teams just have average at best running backs. And I just don’t think that should be the standard for Tennessee. Surely wasn’t back in the 80s and 90s when we had stud after stud at running back for us.

 

[KBVol]

I mean I agree for the most part. But Lewis/Henry/Stephens is so, so unfair. That's not loaded. That's unprecedented depth. I think you can be loaded and not measure up to that. But this is all a bit premature.

Ok, if you think that Lewis/Henry/Stephens comparison is so, so unfair, how about comparisons to Cobb/Webb or Hayden/Stewart/Garner....that so, so unfair too? How about Riggs/Houston? Cause those guys, along with Lewis/Henry/Stephens are the standard for Tennessee. Guys who can make something out of nothing, guys who can make a 5 yard play a 50 yard touchdown, guys who wrong OL execution right.

What we have right now, with very rare exception, are a group of guys who get 5 yards of the play is blocked up for 5 yards. I’m just saying that they’re average, which they are, and that to get back to being a top-tier SEC program or certainly an elite national program, that we’ve gotta get better, more physically talented running backs than we currently have. Iirc, not one of our running backs made any of the all-SEC teams, not even honorable mention and that’s not the traditional standard for Tennessee running backs.

 

[KBVol]

I mean look who u are comparing them too. Just becuase they are not alltime greats doesnt mean we are not loaded. Jordan, Chandler, and Gray could start on any SEC team except UGA and Bama. Not many SEC teams have 3 guys in the rb room who have had 100yard games, thats pretty loaded. At the very least its one of the top 3-4 rb groups in the league.

Another thought....which former Tennessee running backs do you want me to compare them to? Which would be fair in your opinion? Raijon Neal? Marlin Lane? Devrin Young? Tauren Poole? Lennon Creer? Are those guys the standard you want at Tennessee, cause that’s about what we got right now. You think that’s good enough, ok, but I don’t share that opinion. We need guys now in the same mold as we had when our running backs were elite at Tennessee imo.

 

[LittleVol]

What happened with Master Teague? Wasn't he Marsalis Teague's brother?

One was from Murfreesboro Blackman. The other from Henry County in Paris, TN.

I don't think they're related.
Master Teague I imagine just can't get on the field at Ohio State, because of the talent at RB there.

 

[gule]

More Curt Watson, please

 

[Mccage]

Not yet

 

[LittleVol]

We’ve had several situations where we essentially had 2-3 all-sec type players on the team at the same time. IMHO, that’s “loaded”, as is the situation at Georgia almost every year, and Alabama most years. Perhaps our definition of loaded is a little different

And for the record, I think we’re gonna have a good situation at running back, 3-4 good SEC running backs who are pretty proven, and we’ll had a couple or 3 young guys, 2 of which we give us some diversity of talent/ability with their size.

Yeah it's not fair really how UGA has been at RB recruiting the past 10 years and were very good further back. And a lot of the time they're not even from the state of Georgia.
Gurley (North Carolina)
Micheal ( Florida)
Swift ( Pennsylvania)
Couple that with kids from Georgia
- Chubb
- Holyfield
Etc...

 

[KBVol]

Yeah it's not fair really how UGA has been at RB recruiting the past 10 years and were very good further back. And a lot of the time they're not even from the state of Georgia.
Gurley (North Carolina)
Micheal ( Florida)
Swift ( Pennsylvania)
Couple that with kids from Georgia
- Chubb
- Holyfield
Etc...

Not fair, but necessary. Picture Georgia’s offenses the last 6-7 years without the guys you listed....substitute them with Tim Jordan and Ty Chandler and what do you come up with? We need guys on the level of your list and our past great running backs. They’re out there, we just gotta start getting our share. Hopefully we get 1-2 in 2020.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Not fair, but necessary. Picture Georgia’s offenses the last 6-7 years without the guys you listed....substitute them with Tim Jordan and Ty Chandler and what do you come up with? We need guys on the level of your list and our past great running backs. They’re out there, we just gotta start getting our share. Hopefully we get 1-2 in 2020.

Not that it really matters but picture Tim Jordan or Ty Chandler running behind an O line similar to UGA's talent wise. Not saying TJ or TC are on the level of Gurley, swift etc but a dominate OL helps out tremendously. Our run blocking has a long way to go.

 

[TennMan101]

It's sad to see Amari Rodgers & Master Teague's names on that list. Two Tennessee boys that would have done very well for us. Oh well, it is what it is.

 

[ConantheVolbarian]

I wish Jeremy Banks had kept it together. I loved the way he ran

 

[peaygolf]

I wish Jeremy Banks had kept it together. I loved the way he ran

Easy to run without the football in your hands.

 

[white65]

It's gonna be the classic conundrum if he adds 10-20 pounds this off-season can he keep his speed?

 

[cgrish]

Why? Who’s the stud? In the past when we were “damn good”, we had all-SEC type running backs, even All-Americans. We clearly don’t have those on this roster.

That said, I do think we can have a good, effective running game, especially if Trey comes back and we get better (much better), consistent play then JG gave us last season. But I think to be “damn good”, or even more, we simply must have better, more talented running backs than the fairly average ones we have now.

I think we have very good rb.most teams have stacked los to stop the run. Until we get a consistant passing game with a good qb the running game will continue to struggle regardless of who the rb are.

 

[dcm3w]

We’re in no way loaded at running back. We have some pretty good guys there, and I think the coaches did a nice job adding Whitehead and Hodge to some size/strength at the position. So we can be good and surely improved at the running back position, but we’re nowhere near “loaded”. Loaded at the position is when we had Lewis, Henry and Stephens or Hayden and Stewart or Cobb and Webb.

Agree 100%

I would like for us to sign a top back in the nation next year.

 

[Daniel_Lincolns_Foot]

You can talk up Gray all you want, but he won’t be worth anything without a strong O Line. Is that looking to be Top 10 in 2020?

 

[RollerVol]

KBVol is feeling it today...sic'em...

GO BIG ORANGE...BEAT THE HOOSIERS!

 

[901 Orange]

Another thought....which former Tennessee running backs do you want me to compare them to? Which would be fair in your opinion? Raijon Neal? Marlin Lane? Devrin Young? Tauren Poole? Lennon Creer? Are those guys the standard you want at Tennessee, cause that’s about what we got right now. You think that’s good enough, ok, but I don’t share that opinion. We need guys now in the same mold as we had when our running backs were elite at Tennessee imo.

If u wanna start to compare these guys to alltime UT greats u need to ask yourself are the players around them comparable. Are Gray, Chandler, or Jordan playing with a Peyton?? That 1st group of RB's u named had a prolific passer in Peyton, a dual threat in Martin, & a gunslinger in Clausen. Heck do they even have a Tyler Bray at qb bc that matters in football. How many of those olineman were NFL draft picks??? It matters when u have a Wells, Clifton, Coleman or Richardson, Fulton, James up front. Who was the last olineman to get drafted from UT???The guys we have at RB are really good and at least 2 of them have the potential to be special. U threw out a few bottom of the barrel guys. Neal was the best one of that group and Chandler will pass him on the rushing list next season. He nearly has more yards then Lane right now and he has played less seasons. Jordan has half the carries Neal did in his career so its no surprise he has half the yards he has. Gray put himself in the school record books as a freshman. Barring injury there is no reason to believe he wont improve over the next 2 years. That kid literally maybe better then Neal, Lane, Creer, & Young right now. When Gray and Chandler leave UT they will both be top 10 rushers in vol history while playing in one of the worse eras in our schools history. These guys have played with new OC's every year, an undersized oline in the SEC, and a revolving door at QB. U should probably look at all this when u attempt to compare these guys

 

[tnvols72]

One was from Murfreesboro Blackman. The other from Henry County in Paris, TN.

I don't think they're related.
Master Teague I imagine just can't get on the field at Ohio State, because of the talent at RB there.

you just throwing crap against the wall and see if it sticks? he had 128 carries for 780 yds. looks like he sees the field quite often

 

[TAF]

I hope this is true. The last couple years have been a LOT of fall down on first touch...and NOT forwards.

 

[WiseOlVol]

Eric Gray for College Football Hall Of Fame

View attachment 249225

GREAT PIC!

 

[CrybabyVol]

Ok, if you think that Lewis/Henry/Stephens comparison is so, so unfair, how about comparisons to Cobb/Webb or Hayden/Stewart/Garner....that so, so unfair too? How about Riggs/Houston? Cause those guys, along with Lewis/Henry/Stephens are the standard for Tennessee. Guys who can make something out of nothing, guys who can make a 5 yard play a 50 yard touchdown, guys who wrong OL execution right.

What we have right now, with very rare exception, are a group of guys who get 5 yards of the play is blocked up for 5 yards. I’m just saying that they’re average, which they are, and that to get back to being a top-tier SEC program or certainly an elite national program, that we’ve gotta get better, more physically talented running backs than we currently have. Iirc, not one of our running backs made any of the all-SEC teams, not even honorable mention and that’s not the traditional standard for Tennessee running backs.

I don't want any comparisons. I think this is all premature

 

[LittleVol]

you just throwing crap against the wall and see if it sticks? he had 128 carries for 780 yds. looks like he sees the field quite often

I was misinformed. No need to be a jerk.
I definitely was not trying to down the kid

I watched a few OSU games not all thr way through and completely forgot he went there because i never saw him get on the field.

But your're correct it looks like he is a big part of that offense.

 

[tnvols72]

I was misinformed. No need to be a jerk.
I definitely was not trying to down the kid

I watched a few OSU games not all thr way through and completely forgot he went there because i never saw him get on the field.

But your're correct it looks like he is a big part of that offense.

Actually I thought you was the poster who was saying something similar about DWA dropping 30 passes and I thought here we go again, but it was not you and I apologize. It seemed like every time OS was on this kid got a lot of playing time. He is going to be good but the weak10 is just that , its weak.