Grade the 2012 class

#52
#52
I give it a B-. We filled some needs, but missed on the LB's we really needed. Biggest issue for me is that we are still in the back of the pack in the SEC. Hard to change your position unless you are consistently beating your competition with talent. We'll see if CDD can coach 'em up!
 
#53
#53
As Al used to say "just win baby". Adequate class not great but enough to fill some depth issues. Have a decent season next year and recruiting will explode. Now the question becomes can we coach em up? Damn sure hope so. GBO
 
#54
#54
It's a top 20 class out of 120 schools.

That is in the 85th percentile, which in grade terms puts you at a 3.0 or a B.

I think that's right.

some pretty sound logic there...

However, I'm still going to say its a C+.

I can't really fault the staff for Santos, or even Peters for that matter, but their attrition still hurts.

The addition of Patterson was great, holding onto McNeil cannot be understated and McCullers I think might be the biggest get of all, literally and figuratively.
 
#55
#55
I give it a B-. We filled some needs, but missed on the LB's we really needed. Biggest issue for me is that we are still in the back of the pack in the SEC. Hard to change your position unless you are consistently beating your competition with talent. We'll see if CDD can coach 'em up!

That made me lol

Maybe CSS can coach em up - that's all I'm gonna say.
 
#56
#56
If you dont have the perspective to see this class in comparision to our situation then you need to attempt to improve your critcal thinking skills.

Compared to our situation (B+ or A-)
Talent compared to SEC (B-)
 
#57
#57
I give it a B-. We filled some needs, but missed on the LB's we really needed. Biggest issue for me is that we are still in the back of the pack in the SEC. Hard to change your position unless you are consistently beating your competition with talent. We'll see if CDD can coach 'em up!

Back of the pack? How is 6th or 7th out of 14 back of the pack? And really, you can group it into three groups: The top 2 (Bama, Jort-U), the middle 6 (LSU, UT, aTm, Barn, UGA, and USCe), then the rest.

Top half at the very least.
 
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#58
#58
Considering we went 5-6, lost to Kentucky, missed a bowl game, and lost six coaches, I would have to say that landing a top 15 class according to Rivals would make this class an A-. The ONLY reason this class doesn't get an A+ is because we lost out on both Peters and Santos. With that said, we still have a shot at the Cincy linebacker from Florida that is visiting this weekend. AND we will have a few extra spots open for next year's class, which could turn out to be one for the ages!!! Go Vols!
 
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#60
#60
My heart say B-, but my head says C+. Losing Santos, Peters & Kirven took a lot of wind out of the sail. Many are trying to dress it up with the basketball team of WR's. Lot's of questions going into spring and summer from a recruiting standpoint for 2013. One key question would be can Dooley bring in recruits when every coach out there is telling the recruits that Dooley is on the hot seat and UT will be going through coaching changes again. That is going to be his biggest hurdle to over come in convincing recruits he's going to be here. Face it he is on the hot seat and the cure all is win win win!

Sorry bro, but we never LOST Kirven.
 
#61
#61
Given the situation with coaches and the end of the season swoon, the players rate a solid B grade.

However since we gained the best new player mom (MZTerry) in the SEC, this bumps this class up to very solid A!

VFL! :thumbsup:
 
#62
#62
We're not done at LB, could definitely be a solid B+, with the landing of Bynum.
 
#63
#63
Current SEC Rivals Rankings (as of 2:10 PM EST):

1. Alabama
3. Florida
9. Georgia
12. aTm
16. LSU
17. UT
18. South Carolina
19. Auburn
28. Vanderbilt
30. Mississippi State
32. Missouri
35. Arkansas
48. Ole Miss
NR Kentucky
 
#64
#64
Solid B just looking at the class.

But considering the odds the staff was up against with the poor record, and staff defections, it is pretty impressive overall.

The program's future now hinges on the sucess of the 2012 season. Go Vols.
 
#65
#65
Considering we went 5-7, lost to Kentucky, missed a bowl game, and lost six coaches, I would have to say that landing a top 15 class according to Rivals would make this class an A-. The ONLY reason this class doesn't get an A+ is because we lost out on both Peters and Santos. With that said, we still have a shot at the Cincy linebacker from Florida that is visiting this weekend. AND we will have a few extra spots open for next year's class, which could turn out to be one for the ages!!! Go Vols!

fyp.

Spot on, IMO. Not overly optimistic or pessimistic. A fair assessment of the reality of our program. All things considered, it was a great class. Would have been a phenomenal class had we not lost the LBs.
 
#66
#66
Back of the pack? How is 6th or 7th out of 14th back of the pack? And really, you can group it into three groups: The top 2 (Bama, Jort-U), the middle 6 (LSU, UT, aTm, Barn, UGA, and USCe), then the rest.

Top half at the very least.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Obviously, Alabama and their class is OUT OF THIS WORLD GOOD...and Florida is not too far behind. However, the difference in the classes at UT, LSU, T A&M, Auburn, UGA, and USC are very minor. In fact, we have one 3-star commit, Tino Thomas, that doesn't count in this year's class for ranking purposes even though he is coming in as a true freshman! The future is bright on Rocky Top as long as we start showing results on the field. Go Vols!!!
 
#68
#68
14 out of our 20 signees are ranked 4-star or higher by either Rivals, Scout, ESPN, or 247.
 
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#72
#72
C+
Losing the LBs and not signing a single OL is a big mistake imho.

Bingo. I was ready to give this class a B with Peters/Santos. Two guys who can come in and help immediately.

It's a C+. Deciding not to pursue any o-linemen hurt considering how they played.

Could have used two HS DT's.
 
#73
#73
C+. 20ish in the nation is not a horrible day by any means but middle of the pack in the SEC only gets an average grade.
 
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#74
#74
B- or C, we have some positions of real need where we lost out on some much needed help. I always think you should bring in at least one quality OLineman and we may or may not have gotten that stud running back we desperately need.
 
#75
#75
Overall B-

Highlights of this class:
-Extremely nice group of WRs
-Solid DL additions that might help immediately (Kirven would of made this excellent)
-If 1 of McNeil or Bonner can help right away, we'll be much better in the secondary

Areas that could've been better:
- I think every class needs at minimum (1) OT.
- I like Alden Hill as a bruiser but we still whiffed on an instant gamechanger @ RB. USC, AUB, Bama, UF, UGA all seem to get freshmen RB's that can come in and contribute immediately.
- LBs dish out and receive a beating. It's reasonable to assume Maggit, Johnson, or Lathers will get hurt at some point. It would be nice to have more talented depth here. Perhaps Harris, Probst, & Crump have developed enough to contribute.
- While I like our WR haul it kinda looks like Chaney biased our recruiting to look like something Arky or TTU would do. How long do we have to keep going down this road. Air raid offenses don't win championships in the SEC. Run the ball, control the clock, play action pass is the proven recipe.
- Finally there's one or 2 guys in this year's class that I'm not sure you give scholarships. I'm not gonna call them out but I just think one of those spots could've been used on a guy like Jelks or Mathers. I still wonder how ZR is on scholarship.
- And while this class is by no means "bad" especially given our situation, I don't see how this class helps us catch Bama, UF, LSU, Aub. At best we got closer talent wise to USCe & UGA. :dunno:
 
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