Linebacker prospects

#1
S

sammyjoey

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#1
This is definitely not one of those "sky is falling" threads, but the one position where we don't seem to be in on it with as many of the guys we are pursuing is linebacker.

Jones - strong lean to FSU
Mosely - likely Bama
Owens - doubt he decommits from Auburn
Shirley - doubt he leaves CA
Nelson - we need to blow him away on 1/15

Not worried, but I'm curious what everyone thinks about linebacker. Are we going to continue to push for these guys and which of these do we have the best chance at turning? Are there others we're after that I haven't listed here?

Thanks
 
#2
#2
Jones is all but a Nole, Mosley is all Bama, Shirley to UCLA, Owens flips to LSU, Nelson is ALL VOL and if not Texas.
 
#5
#5
After we lost the Irvin commitment (WVU), there were some mentions of another JUCO linebacker that Tennessee might get in on - Tenerio something or another. So, that might be a name to watch out for. Not a top 50 JUCO prospect on Rivals, but he could provide some depth.
 
#6
#6
who all returns and who did we have red shirted from 09......it seems like everyone is over exaggerating our need for LBs for this class

Reveiz
Frazier
King
Thompson
Lathers
Mitchel-Thorton
Reviez
Nelson RS
Askew RS


Ralph Williams '10 Freshman
Mike Taylor '10 Freshman

Anyone else?????
 
#8
#8
goooooovols said:
who all returns and who did we have red shirted from 09......it seems like everyone is over exaggerating our need for LBs for this class

Reveiz
Frazier
King
Thompson
Lathers
Mitchel-Thorton
Reviez
Nelson RS
Askew RS


Ralph Williams '10 Freshman
Mike Taylor '10 Freshman

Anyone else?????
Click to expand...

I posted a thread about this yesterday, although I don't like ND talking to Taylor, I still however think we need 1-2 more solid LB's not for next year necessarily, but for depth in the 2011 season!
 
#9
#9
we are 50-50 for nelson IMO. We have a 20% at C Jones with the other 75 being FSU IMO. Owens will be hard to pull from Auburn but if he goes anywhere but there, it is here. He will not go to LSU. I still think Shirley has no idea where he wants to go. his recruitment has been slow and it will be hard to get him out of Cali. I think all schools are still even for him and he will be a post signing day annoucement IMO.
 
#10
#10
We have the best shot at Nelson than anyone on that list, but it will still be tough to get him. We will probably have to take a fallback guy or 2...
 
#11
#11
It's so odd to me that LB, and MLB in particular, has become an area of critical need for the Vols. The last 2-3 years of the prior regime, I was constantly worried about DL and WR being the achilles heels of the program. With all of the highly rated tweener athletes that Fulmer seemed to pick up I never thought that LB would be an area where the Vols were lacking.
 
#12
#12
goooooovols said:
who all returns and who did we have red shirted from 09......it seems like everyone is over exaggerating our need for LBs for this class

Reveiz
Frazier
King
Thompson
Lathers
Mitchel-Thorton
Reviez
Nelson RS
Askew RS


Ralph Williams '10 Freshman
Mike Taylor '10 Freshman

Anyone else?????
Click to expand...

Reveiz and Frazier had serious knee injuries. Will they get back to 100% by next year? We have no idea. Obviously that is a big concern.

The other Reveiz is never going to be a contributor like his brother. He should not really be on the list.

Nelson (RS), Mitchel-Thorton, and Lathers are all capable of being solid SEC level talent at LB. But I dont think any of those 3 will ever be all-SEC type LBs.

That leaves King, Thompson, and Askew as our only healthy LBs returning that have potential to be elite LBs. Askew could be great but he still has to show that he can grasp the mental aspect of the position.

To be elite on defense we need elite LB's. That is where our need is at in the LB position. Sure we have depth. But we need game changers.
 
#13
#13
There is always a possibility of flipping one of our DE to LB.

Jacques Smith?
 
#14
#14
MDBJJC said:
There is always a possibility of flipping one of our DE to LB.

Jacques Smith?
Click to expand...

Was about to say the same thing. Makes sense IMO, especially with all the other def. linemen we're looking at. Adding a Christian Jones or Nelson to Taylor and Smith sounds like an excellent LB class to me.
 
#15
#15
Sammy you are laying out a worst case scenario. The positive is that Frazier, King and Askew are still around. The other positive is that Monte turned Rudy into a pretty freaking awesome LB. I think M. Taylor has the brain of Reveiz with a lot more God given athletic ability.

I also agree with you Sammy that if the worst case scenario happens, UT will be left with a sleeper at LB who they found and others did not press for, and that is all. There is not an Al Wilson from TN in the state this year. Next year there is more in state talent but not tons. TN will continue to need to poach stud LBs if we want to succeed. Our defense should look better next year than this one, and Michael Taylor should be a new star under Monte. With J Jackson and M Taylor and some stud DEs, Monte should be able to build quite a unit.
 
#16
#16
our lack of Linebackers is also a reason why our special teams are less than special.
 
#17
#17
I think talent fitting positions are key things our staff considers. RBs as LBs is not a far stretch (DEs have been common conversions mentioned all year too). Like Monte said all along, we need to be quick quick quick. Speed wins.
 
#18
#18
I am really worried about this position. Lack of SEC caliber linebackers hurt us greatly this year. If Reveiz stays healthy we would have been okay, but do not have any kind of star or superstar linebacker that we desperately need....like the Raynoch, Westmoreland and Wilson era.....man those guys were studs.
 
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