Please help! I'm worried about our recruiting

#1
E

exotic_vols

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
1,263
Likes
45
#1
I am not an expert of recruiting, like most of you guys are. But after witnessing we got beaten up by 3 obvious better teams, and seeing someone talking about the inferior performance of Morley, I really want to say something.

the attachment is our recruiting class comparing with Florida, Georgia and LSU since 2003: (based on Rival.com ranking)


Our recruiting quality is considerably lower than all three opponents in any single year since 2003, except 2005. (Scout.com said even in 2005, we were no better than those three.) I thin we will land a couple of big names this year, but which one above will not? So I guess, this year, the quality of our recruiting class would be lower than LSU, UF and UGA again.

From those stats, I think it is pretty obvious that we do lack of talent comparing with other SEC powerhouses, and it is just getting worse because of our 2005 season. I understand lack of talent does not necessarily mean underperformance. But after I saw those 3 games this year, and people talking about Morley’s performance, I realize that our player development is not enough to fill the gap. By the way, Morley is just sophomore, and I hope he will be much better next year and prove I was wrong.

I just wonder whether or not I am wrong, I hope I am wrong. But if I am right, what can we do to help our recruiting out, and build a better team?
 

Attachments

  • rank.txt
    933 bytes · Views: 18
#3
#3
excellent post, the talent gap in growing every year, some people just refuse to face the hard truth
 
#4
#4
We had a Top 3 recruiting class recently, but since then recruiting has been down for UTK. I am not saying it is satisfactory, but the better question is how did UTK outrecruit and put more talent on the field in the late 90's than talent rich states like Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana? I think it was great when we were able to do that but I think that is the exception more than the norm. UTK should outrecruit everyone else in the SEC though and more importantly we have to do a better job at developing the talent we do have. The gap in talent between us and Florida, LSU, etc is not enough that player development cannot overcome the gap. With surprises and busts the 'actual talent' each class puts on the field changes from Signing Day to Graduation. We just have to make sure we keep the gap close enough that if we find some surprise sleepers in our class and DEVELOP the talent we can end up with just as much talent as those other schools. UTK will not consistently beat programs like Florida, LSU, and Georgia on the perceived talent being brought in on Signing Day no matter who the coach is.
 
#5
#5
So do you change the slant of recruiting as it is now?To play for a usual top 10 team that historically goes to bowl games and regularly is in the chance for a national title? Or do you change it to appealing for and to those athletes that want to be a part of the foundation of the making of a re-newed dynasty, acknowledging the downtrend? How do you sell an athlete who could go to any of the top ten schools? I don't envy CPF in recruiting...he has a huge problem ahead that is only getting worse everytime the Vols get outcoached and/or outplayed on the national stage.
 
#6
#6
Volunteer_Kirby said:
Don't take stars to heart. Stars don't show talent, players do.
Click to expand...

yes, but the star system from those recruiting companies is the most plausible criterion to measure the talent. Most of arguments on this forum are based on this system, because most of us have never seen those players play.
 
#7
#7
I just feel like we need some serious change to our program, to boost our player develpoment and help the recruiting even though I don't know how. Coaches? Probably. But if we still keep doing what we have done in the last few years, in the next 3 or 4 years, we were not going to be at the same level with other SEC powerhouses. It would be too late to start talking about player develpment and recruiting.
 
#9
#9
I dont pretend that Fulmer is Bear Bryant, but I think he recruits as well as possible in his situation. Will the new coach magically bring a plethora of top 150 high school football talent to Tennessee? Or change the fact that not only is that talent not in Tennessee but that talent also resides in states that contain big time programs with everything the kid can ask for (Florida, Georgia, LSU, Texas, California)? Do I think we can develop talent better, yes. But do you think that the head coach is the primary talent developer? I am not sold on the new assistant coaches yet. But, Fulmer does what he needs to do very well. He recruits as well as possible and establishes a great family environment.
 
#10
#10
It's funny how alot of ya'll act like we are going down the toilet because we aren't in the top 3 recruiting every year, but here is the thing. This is typical Fulmer. We never have great recruiting years back to back. We have one great year, then a couple decent years, then a great year, and so forth. We aren't USC.
 
#11
#11
the thing is that it wouldnt matter if the state produced talent, what little is homegrown always seems to head elswhere, ie Brandon Warren, patrick Turner, Vince Redd, Leroy Thompson, etc
 
#12
#12
You have to look at that 1 or 2 misses compared to the entire crop. Yeah we have missed recently on the top players in the state. But so does Georgia and Florida sometimes. The difference is that when Georgia or Florida misses on the #1 or #2 player in the state they still have a great class because the talent behind the #1 or #2 player is still stacked. Florida loses talent to Miami and Florida State but the other in-state players they get are top of the line. When we miss a B. Warren and sign the next best player he is nowhere near as good as the "next best player" in Georgia or Florida. I dont care who the coach is it is impossible for UT to consistently outrecruit talent rich states such as Florida, Georgia, Texas, etc.
 
#13
#13
Warren-living his lifelong dream(why be selfish and wish against that for your own wants?)
Turner-wanted the exposure and big city, the hot school won out
Redd-never that good(I played against him), too weak and had personal issues

As far as instate, UGA has lost out on plenty of instate talent in the past few years, just not to us. UF is in a state where they can take any of the top 50 players and have a stud.
 
#14
#14
Georgia Top 50 2007(1/10)
1. Caleb King-UGA, AU, VT
2. Eric Berry-UGA, UT, USC, AU, OSU
3. Allen Bailey-UGA, UF
4. Cameron Heyward-UGA, UF, LSU
5. Nick Claytor-Committed to GT
6. Jonathan Dwyer-Committed to GT
7. Morgan Burnett-Everyone
8. Israel Troupe-Committed to UGA
9. T-Bob Hebert-Committed to LSU
10. Ted Laurent-Committed to OM
UGA also has commitments from 12, 15, 18, 19, 22,
26, 34, 37, and 40.

Georgia Top 50 2006(5/10, top)
1. Reshad Jones-UGA
2. Carlos Brown-Mich
3. Marcus Ball-FSU
4. Justin Anderson-UGA
5. Brandon Wood-UGA
6. Asher Allen-UGA
7. Chris Slaughter-AU
8. Jermaine Cunningham-UF
9. Kiante Tripp-UGA
10. D'Vontrey Richardson-FSU
UGA also got commitments from 13, 14, 20, 22, 29,
31, 35, 37, and 49.

Georgia Top 40 2005(3/10)
1. Tray Blackmon-AU
2. Kyle Moore-USC
3. Chris Scott-UT
4. James Davis-Clem
5. Justin Mincey-FSU
6. Carlos Thomas-South Car
7. Darius Dewberry-UGA
8. Dan Foster-FSU
9. Marcus Washington-UGA
10. Brandon Sesay-UGA
UGA also got commitments from 13, 16, 27, 32, and 36.

Georgia Top 50 2004(6/10, top)
1. Brandon Miller-UGA
2. Thomas Brown-UGA
3. Calvin Johnson-GT
4. Charles Johnson-UGA
5. Alonzo Bryant-UGA
6. Josh Johnson-UGA
7. Eric McLendon-JUCO
8. Jae Thaxton-FSU
9. Michael Brown-UF
10. Seth Watts-UGA
UGA also got commitments from 13, 14, 15, and 22.

Georgia Top 50 2003(6/10, top)
1. Paul Oliver-UGA
2. Kregg Lumpkin-UGA
3. Cedric Boone-???
4. Desmond Williams-UGA
5. Richard Cook-UGA
6. Sean Bailey-UGA
7. Blake Mitchell-South Car
8. Jason Evans-Stan
9. Trey Chandler-UGA
10. Skyler Thornton-UF
UGA also got commitments from 11, 13, 14, 20,
23, 25, 33, 34, and 41.
 
#15
#15
hvwarrior58 said:
It's funny how alot of ya'll act like we are going down the toilet because we aren't in the top 3 recruiting every year, but here is the thing. This is typical Fulmer. We never have great recruiting years back to back. We have one great year, then a couple decent years, then a great year, and so forth. We aren't USC.
Click to expand...

While others stay great every single year.
 
#16
#16
And yet, during the 90s(with Cut at OC), we were in the top 10(and usually top 5), every year. It has as much to do with the coaching(see Cutcliffe), as it does with recruiting. In fact, we were ranked the #2 team in the 90s behind FSU, at least for win %.
 
#17
#17
Thank you for putting the evidence up to support my point from earlier. They can afford to miss out and still have studs, we cant.
 
#18
#18
Yup, we are trying to lock up the state this year, but because it is Tennessee, it won't be full of highly ranked players. The players may have just as much potential and talent, but because of the politics of the ranking system, the state only will get, at most, 2 5* players(not this year) and 4-5 4* players.
 
#20
#20
therickbol said:
Thank you for putting the evidence up to support my point from earlier. They can afford to miss out and still have studs, we cant.
Click to expand...

exactly the reason for the current situation on the Hill, ours is a program trending downward because of lack of talent and subpar coaching. We all agree on the reasons, you guys just choose to accept it and gloss it over, I dont.
 
#21
#21
"The gap in talent between us and Florida, LSU, etc is not enough that player development cannot overcome the gap".

In my opinion the talent gap between Tenn and LSU is significant. The only thing that kept the Vols in that game was 4 turnovers. They were stronger faster and bigger. The talent gap between FLA and Tenn is also significant but not as much as LSU. If the Vols played Fla 10 times this year they would lose 9 games and be beateb handily. Tennessee was manhandled in that game.
 
#22
#22
The big problem is that UT has not developed talent worth a flip lately, which makes any dip in recruiting a much more serious problem for the Vols.
 
#23
#23
patrick said:
"The gap in talent between us and Florida, LSU, etc is not enough that player development cannot overcome the gap".

In my opinion the talent gap between Tenn and LSU is significant. The only thing that kept the Vols in that game was 4 turnovers. They were stronger faster and bigger. The talent gap between FLA and Tenn is also significant but not as much as LSU. If the Vols played Fla 10 times this year they would lose 9 games and be beateb handily. Tennessee was manhandled in that game.
Click to expand...

I could not agree more...the LSU and the UF games were not as close as the score.
 
#24
#24
rexvol said:
I could not agree more...the LSU and the UF games were not as close as the score.
Click to expand...
Funny thing is that the score is the only thing that matters. If we would have kept LSU from making that last TD drive and/or gotten into FG range against UF and won the game people wouldn't be saying,"They won, but they got manhandled so it doesn't count."
 
#25
#25
yes the score is what matters and LSU won AND they whipped the Vols up and down the field
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top