It hope it improves.On the contrary, I expect our QB production to improve this year over what Nico gave us last year, which wasn't much.
He wasn't a true freshman.It hope it improves.
But Nico gave us 3,000 total yards and 22 TDs as a freshman. The best freshman year ever by a Tennessee QB.
Was it All-SEC? Nope. But take away every TD he scored in each game, and we absolutely do not make the playoffs.
22 TDs is respectable for a veteran much less a true freshman.
Now take out the schools of the deaf and blind that Nico put a lot of those stats up against and let's look at his production against actual competition, meaning in the SEC and Ohio State. Far from the best ever from a 'redshirt' freshman which includes sophomores that didn't redshirt if we are talking best ever in Tennessee history.It hope it improves.
But Nico gave us 3,000 total yards and 22 TDs as a freshman. The best freshman year ever by a Tennessee QB.
Was it All-SEC? Nope. But take away every TD he scored in each game, and we absolutely do not make the playoffs.
22 TDs is respectable for a veteran much less a true freshman.
You recruit OL 2-3 years in advance bar an top, top end guy like David Sanders Jr. David will be the first OL recruited by Heupel's staff out of high school that will start a game. It's going to be year 5 and you have had to get transfers to remake the line again. The high school recruiting of the position has been ineffective to this point. One would hope these classes change that and at least their hand is being forced with Satterwhite and SandersThis isn’t true. No way we signed all those guys. I was told our recruiting is RIDICULOUSLY ineffective and borderline incompetent.
Welp that'll do it. View attachment 750115
True freshman? Try redshirt freshman. Nico was in his second year on the team, and he actually enrolled a semester early (which wasn't even a possibility back in the day). They also play more games in a season now than they used to play. In Peyton's second year on the team, he threw for 338 more yards and 3 more TD's in 2 fewer games playing in an offense that was FAR less QB friendly.It hope it improves.
But Nico gave us 3,000 total yards and 22 TDs as a freshman. The best freshman year ever by a Tennessee QB.
Was it All-SEC? Nope. But take away every TD he scored in each game, and we absolutely do not make the playoffs.
22 TDs is respectable for a veteran much less a true freshman.
Recruiting that position has also changed the last few years. You can now let guys develop somewhere else and then take them as transfers. Even guys at lower level P4 or midmajors with experience can contribute as upperclassmen.You recruit OL 2-3 years in advance bar an top, top end guy like David Sanders Jr. David will be the first OL recruited by Heupel's staff out of high school that will start a game. It's going to be year 5 and you have had to get transfers to remake the line again. The high school recruiting of the position has been ineffective to this point. One would hope these classes change that and at least their hand is being forced with Satterwhite and Sanders
I would say RS somphomorr or true Jr year would be a good expectation for a good quality OL to start in the SEC. Guys that are truly ready before then are rare.You recruit OL 2-3 years in advance bar a top, top end guy like David Sanders Jr. David will be the first OL recruited by Heupel's staff out of high school that will start a game. It's going to be year 5 and you have had to get transfers to remake the line again. The high school recruiting of the position has been ineffective to this point. One would hope these classes change that and at least their hand is being forced with Satterwhite and Sanders
If you're counting on rebuilding your offensive line in the portal every offseason, you're in big troubleRecruiting that position has also changed the last few years. You can now let guys develop somewhere else and then take them as transfers. Even guys at lower level P4 or midmajors with experience can contribute as upperclassmen.
Wouldn't call it elite but I agree with the sentiment. Josh Heupel and NIL have been the driving force for OL recruiting recently. I think people's frustrations are with ElarbeeI would say RS somphomorr or true Jr year would be a good expectation for a good quality OL to start in the SEC. Guys that are truly ready before then are rare.
I think everyone has acknowledged that OL recruiting the first 2 years was putrid (1st year shouldn’t really count against Heup and crew) and year 3 was somewhat better. There was good reason for the recruiting to be poor first few years of the rebuild.
The last 2 years and so far this year, OL recruiting has been lights out. You said yourself it’s a 2-3 year position, so wouldn’t it stand to reason we should wait til the last 2 classes have been here at least 2 years before passing judgement?
Bottom line oline recruiting is MUCH better than it was. Elite on paper. If y’all can’t acknowledge that you’re just looking for a reason to complain.
If, in the next couple years we still don’t have HS recruits starting then development and/or evaluation is a big problem
It’s funny cause if our o-line struggles this year everyone will be like “oh it was a rebuilding year for the line, we needed an extra year of developing” because 5 years obviously isn’t enough to develop olIf you're counting on rebuilding your offensive line in the portal every offseason, you're in big trouble