ESPN way to early top 25

#51
#51
I think #19 is about right. I think Ala and Fla are 2 for sure losses based off the fact we have won in Tuscaloosa or the Swamp in forever. I'll add GA as the 3rd loss based off our inability to beat Kirby Smart.So, that's 3 losses, plus CJH tends to drop one he shouldn't. If our offense doesn't improve, I can seef4 losses..Hope I'm wrong
I think Coach H has the program to the point that there are no "sure losses."
 
#52
#52
We really, really need a thumbs down button. Ignore alone just doesn't cut it with some of the jag offs on this site. OP not included, only those in the 0-25 range that post.
 
#55
#55
Our only big loss is Pearce Jr. Upgrading OL. Returning QB and most talented WRs. Secondary is loaded. McCoy will be fine by the time the season starts. Replacing Sampson with an RB with more YPC and fewer fumbles. Offense is going to be explosive again. I don't see us losing a game.

Preseason Optimism reigns supreme. At bama, at FLA and still have Uga. 3 very tough outs.
 
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#56
#56
I am a bit Skeptical of your claims. Could you please explain? Upgrading O line? Returning most talented WRs? Secondary loaded? (same secondary that played OSU?) You may be right and would love to be educated on how this is the case. Thanks
Happy to explain, sir.

Offensive Line (4 of 5 positions should be better):
OT: Heard will be year older and hopefully healthier. Campbell was playing hurt all year which is why he was splitting time with Davis. Replacing them with Warren, Perry, and Sanders Jr.
Also don't sleep on J. Heard. Physical specimen, he is.
LG: I don't know why people think Karic and Spraggins were good. Look to the Vandy game, for example, where we were stuffed on 3rd & 1 and 4th &1 on back-to-back inside runs. Pulling guards became a staple in our offense last year because without momentum, our guards couldn't move anyone out of the way. Replacing them with Moe and Pendleton (presumably). And remember, Perry and Sanders Jr. are both athletic enough to play guard or tackle. Whoever doesn't with the job at RT may have an opportunity to play the Dayne Davis role of filling in wherever needed.
C: Hard to imagine this not being a drop-off, but Satterwhite should be ready to go. If not, Pendleton can play C with Perry or Sanders Jr. at G.

Wide Receiver:
Mike Matthews > Squirrel White
Carnell Tate > Donte Thornton
2025 Brazzell > 2024 Brazzell
Staley - Elite speed and athleticism. 4A South Carolina state champion in triple jump and 200-meter dash.
3 incoming freshmen. 2 four-stars and an athletic three-star.
I love Bru McCoy, he has been my favorite Vol for 2 years, BUT he produced very little in the passing game. Great run blocker, though. This may be a stretch, but I'm thinking Boo Carter > 2024 Bru McCoy (post-injury)
Losing Nimrod, Webb, etc. means nothing to me.

Secondary:
McCoy, Gibson, Boo Carter, Jakobe Thomas, McMurray, Jourdan Thomas (He was the projected starter at safety, not Brooks), and several talented freshmen eager for an opportunity to prove themselves. We're basically just replacing Brooks with Jo. Thomas, who was the starter headed into in the 2024 season. And we're rumored to be adding a S from the portal. This group played great all season. I don't want to hear about the Ohio State game. They were going to roast anyone they played. NFL DBs will struggle with Egbuka and Smith their rookie seasons. Obviously need McCoy to get back to 100% but he has time.
 
#57
#57
We started 15 this year and finished 9. I would rather start low and finish higher than the opposite. I still think we get some disrespect because of the bad taste in the mouth people had with ranking Tennessee high sometimes during Butch Jones and Jeremy Pruitt era only to see Tennessee collapse. Keep in mind that in 2016 we started preseason #9 with Butch and finished 22 while in 2020 we started in top 15 and finished 3-7.

And let's not forget the infamous 2005 season when the Vols started out #3 and ended up 5-6. The beginning of the end for Coach Fulmer.
 
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#58
#58
And let's not forget the infamous 2005 season when the Vols started out #3 and ended up 5-6. The beginning of the end for Coach Fulmer.

2002 as well. Started #4 and finished unranked at 8-5.

The 2002 season seemed to be a turning point for me. Prior to that, Fulmer was always in contention with Spurrier for the SEC. From 2002 and on, it seemed like Fulmer's teams were alright but we just weren't the contender anymore.

I do wonder what would have happened had the fanbase had more patience in 2008 or, better yet, Arian Foster hadn't fumbled in that UCLA game (as the UCLA game, to me, was the major catalyst for the collapse in 2008). We had just brought in Dave Clawson and he went on to have a lot of success at Wake Forest and other stops. Fulmer was willing to adapt and change in 2008 and started down that road. It is a big what if because we still could have flopped with Fulmer or we could have had another Renaissance with Clawson's system. The defenses never quite fell off with Fulmer (like they would after him) but we definitely had issues with offense. This year's team reminded me a lot of vintage Fulmer teams like 2003, 2004, 2005, or even 1998 that relied totally on defense to win. Interestingly, I think the 1997, 1999, and 2001 teams had better talent and execution than 1998 at times, they just didn't have the grit (and luck).
 
#59
#59
2002 as well. Started #4 and finished unranked at 8-5.

The 2002 season seemed to be a turning point for me. Prior to that, Fulmer was always in contention with Spurrier for the SEC. From 2002 and on, it seemed like Fulmer's teams were alright but we just weren't the contender anymore.

I do wonder what would have happened had the fanbase had more patience in 2008 or, better yet, Arian Foster hadn't fumbled in that UCLA game (as the UCLA game, to me, was the major catalyst for the collapse in 2008). We had just brought in Dave Clawson and he went on to have a lot of success at Wake Forest and other stops. Fulmer was willing to adapt and change in 2008 and started down that road. It is a big what if because we still could have flopped with Fulmer or we could have had another Renaissance with Clawson's system. The defenses never quite fell off with Fulmer (like they would after him) but we definitely had issues with offense. This year's team reminded me a lot of vintage Fulmer teams like 2003, 2004, 2005, or even 1998 that relied totally on defense to win. Interestingly, I think the 1997, 1999, and 2001 teams had better talent and execution than 1998 at times, they just didn't have the grit (and luck).

I have a copy of the 1999 Vol Media Guide. In the "Meet the Vols" section there is at least one player on nearly every page who went on the the next level. In retrospect, the '99 Vols had more NFL talent than most NFL teams.
 
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#60
#60
2002 as well. Started #4 and finished unranked at 8-5.

The 2002 season seemed to be a turning point for me. Prior to that, Fulmer was always in contention with Spurrier for the SEC. From 2002 and on, it seemed like Fulmer's teams were alright but we just weren't the contender anymore.

I do wonder what would have happened had the fanbase had more patience in 2008 or, better yet, Arian Foster hadn't fumbled in that UCLA game (as the UCLA game, to me, was the major catalyst for the collapse in 2008). We had just brought in Dave Clawson and he went on to have a lot of success at Wake Forest and other stops. Fulmer was willing to adapt and change in 2008 and started down that road. It is a big what if because we still could have flopped with Fulmer or we could have had another Renaissance with Clawson's system. The defenses never quite fell off with Fulmer (like they would after him) but we definitely had issues with offense. This year's team reminded me a lot of vintage Fulmer teams like 2003, 2004, 2005, or even 1998 that relied totally on defense to win. Interestingly, I think the 1997, 1999, and 2001 teams had better talent and execution than 1998 at times, they just didn't have the grit (and luck).
If only Fulmer had a one year sabbatical 😀
 
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#63
#63
According to the below article, the SEC has 9 of the top 15 in giving to athletics. I know this is from 2023. But, it should be pretty accurate as of now assuming it was accurate then. TN wasn't far behind OSU and ahead of Michigan.

I know Michigan has Larry Ellison, 200 billion dollar net worth donor. Who is the other worth 100 billion? Even without the other, that is a dude that could literally put all the premier players with Michigan. Unless, the NIL is capped.

I seriously think the NIL should be capped at 250K a year per player. No player needs to make more money a year than a coach, period! Also, that would allow most or all of the top 50 programs to compete for the same players with approximately a 10 million NIL for each football team. I believe only about half of the roster is making the NIL deals worth really talking about.

The SCOTUS is not likely to cap what a person can earn from advertisements. And as long as collectives can set up promotional events for companies and businesses, I dont see any type of restraint on earnings from selling your Name, Image, or likeness being deemed legal.

There is a cap on what a university will be allowed to pay players, but not on what a player can earn advertising for a business.
 
#64
#64
I am a bit Skeptical of your claims. Could you please explain? Upgrading O line? Returning most talented WRs? Secondary loaded? (same secondary that played OSU?) You may be right and would love to be educated on how this is the case. Thanks
Bro, that Ohio State WR group chumped everyone this season. Our secondary will be loaded.
 
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#65
#65
The SCOTUS is not likely to cap what a person can earn from advertisements. And as long as collectives can set up promotional events for companies and businesses, I dont see any type of restraint on earnings from selling your Name, Image, or likeness being deemed legal.

There is a cap on what a university will be allowed to pay players, but not on what a player can earn advertising for a business.
The SCOTUS thing is interesting to me. How can they not allow a salary cap in the NCAA but allow it in other pro sports? It it because of CBAs and employee stratuses by “pro” sports organizations? Legit asking; I am not very knowledgeable about this stuff. I just like ball
 
#66
#66
The SCOTUS thing is interesting to me. How can they not allow a salary cap in the NCAA but allow it in other pro sports? It it because of CBAs and employee stratuses by “pro” sports organizations? Legit asking; I am not very knowledgeable about this stuff. I just like ball
There are no salary caps in pro when it comes to endorsements. The salary caps in the NFL are apparently agreed to by the owners and the player union. The owners, like any business owner can state how much they are going to pay employees as long as it is minimum wage or better and is non discriminatory towards a protected class (age, sex, race etc). I guess if an owner really wanted to push against salary caps in the NFL they could take it to court and maybe they would win but why would they? My understanding is the agreed upon caps are based on percentage of expected income for the league.
 
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#67
#67
Well, so much for being back.
user name checks out.



They put Tennessee at 19. That is too low IMO. I think Tennessee should be in 11-15 range. LSU in top 10 makes 0 sense. People keep hyping LSU and they keep under performing.

South Carolina also seems over ranked.

We will end the season ranked higher without a doubt. I think our biggest issue at this point is our talent. I think our recruiting needs to improve for us to get those preseason top 8ish range poll projections.
 
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#70
#70
Preseason Optimism reigns supreme. At bama, at FLA and still have Uga. 3 very tough outs.
Tough games for sure. I’ll be impressed when we win one of those. And I believe Heupel will find a way this coming year. No facts, just a feeling.
 
#73
#73
I don’t see how anyone looks at where we were 4 years ago and isn’t impressed by where we are now. Even with Texas and OU added to the SEC, we’re projected as the 3rd most wins. Yes, that’s projections but based on the last 3 years it’s reasonable.
It’s where we were projected last season too. Actually it’s higher than where we were at this point last season. If we hit the over we’re back in the CFP .
 
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#74
#74
Vols have some work to do, like:
--rebuild an offensive line that really wasn't that good
--replace an RB who did more with less talent around him better than anyone since Travis Henry in 2000
--Find a deep threat in the WR corps along with 2 or 3 guys who can be relied on to catch the ball consistently
--Hope NIco starts to live up to the great hype that accompanied his arrival in Knoxville
--Develop some LBs who can actually cover sideline to sideline
--Replace (for at least a month) the best cover man Vols D has had in years
--Develop safeties who can consistently play at an SEC level.

Whan you consider all of this, 19th sounds about right.
 
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