'25 Portal Thread

[Jimmy Football]

Nathan Leacock back in the portal from Purdue. Is he returning?

Sadly, I don’t think Nate has a future at the Power 4 level.

 

[Weezer]

Somebody needs to bring the latest news so we can fret over it. Surely, we've had another cancelled visit by now. My worry circle needs more to worry about.

 

[volinbama256]

This staffs biggest failure was not getting a WR in the December portal. No one wants to come here to catch passes from 3 unknown QB’s

THIS ALL DAY

 

[Jackcrevol]

THIS ALL DAY

As a reminder, as Id forgotten. We did get a WR in the Dec porthole.

 

[volinbama256]

Defense is fine. Better at virtually every position with either more depth or players another year older. We lost a first rounder and we still have a luxury at edge.

Offense is the worry for the third straight year. But we went with a youth movement and overhaul at defense last year (Lb & DB) and it worked out well. Hoping the same this year for the offense.

Not seeing this at the LB position group... we are razor thin with little experience...

 

[volinbama256]

As a reminder, as Id forgotten. We did get a WR in the Dec porthole.

Yes Amari, but I am talking about bringing in a WR with experience...

 

[RDU VOL#14]

And yet Ohio State who spent the money won it all.

The majority of the guys they spent money on were to retain guys already on their roster. It’s the same formula Michigan had the year before. They had a bunch of 2nd day draft guys who they paid to stay and their talent and experience was the difference. Yeah they paid Judkins some and Will Howard, but they won that title bc of guys like Jack Sawyer. Jeremiah Smith being a freak of Nature didn’t hurt either .

 

[Jackcrevol]

The majority of the guys they spent money on were to retain guys already on their roster. It’s the same formula Michigan had the year before. They had a bunch of 2nd day draft guys who they paid to stay and their talent and experience was the difference. Yeah they paid Judkins some and Will Howard, but they won that title bc of guys like Jack Sawyer. Jeremiah Smith being a freak of Nature didn’t hurt either .

did you read larry's comments?

 

[VOLumeS]

The majority of the guys they spent money on were to retain guys already on their roster. It’s the same formula Michigan had the year before. They had a bunch of 2nd day draft guys who they paid to stay and their talent and experience was the difference. Yeah they paid Judkins some and Will Howard, but they won that title bc of guys like Jack Sawyer. Jeremiah Smith being a freak of Nature didn’t hurt either .

Quality depth.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

did you read larry's comments?

I don’t i did . Who is Larry?

 

[Jackcrevol]

Not high school recruiting. I don't pay a lot of attention to that part anymore.

On the portal, they would like to get some depth pieces at WR, DT and Safety. BUT, agents are asking for starter money and Tennessee is in need of backup players. They are not going to pay that type money for someone to come in as a depth player. it would totally disrupt the financial roster.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I didn’t know Larry posted over here. I’ve seen him on the FF. Didn’t see his post

 

[smokeyz1]

We needed several wr’s then too, but everyone said “oh no worries we’ll add more in the spring window” but we see how great that’s going. Not to mention vq even said we don’t know what we’re getting with Jefferson yet because he was hurt most if camp

In the winter portal, apparently the plan was to only go after Tate from OSU after they picked up Jefferson. But Tate was just using UT to get a raise from OSU like many others have done.

So after that, the TN coaches have gotten to see the WR room in action during spring practice (except for Jefferson who was limited from his previous surgery) and Dodson (who does not enroll until Summer). I'm guessing they like the overall WR room from the projected starters + Boo + the two true freshmen already enrolled. They are obviously not in panic mode to bring in more receivers like a few posters on VolNation.

Does anyone on here really believe UT would NOT have signed 1 or 2 os the WRs from the spring portal if they really thought it was the right move. They would have overpaid for backup receiver(s) and risked ruining the WR room camaraderie. The UT staff obviously disagrees with some posters on this site.

IMO I would much rather any extra WR snaps go to Boo or Jefferson or the True freshman than and average backup receiver that would probably be gone after 2025 anyway. You can argue that "what if we have several WR injuries like OU did last year". I don't think 1 or 2 average spring portal receivers would make a difference if that happens.

 

[deatojl]

The majority of the guys they spent money on were to retain guys already on their roster. It’s the same formula Michigan had the year before. They had a bunch of 2nd day draft guys who they paid to stay and their talent and experience was the difference. Yeah they paid Judkins some and Will Howard, but they won that title bc of guys like Jack Sawyer. Jeremiah Smith being a freak of Nature didn’t hurt either .

Don't forget, they only had one experienced WR coming into the season, as well.

 

[JacketVol]

Another 3 years at 83? What? Who did we kill? Ridiculous.

The NCAA

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Don't forget, they only had one experienced WR coming into the season, as well.

They did and he played himself into a pretty good draft pick. They also had a freshman who might’ve been the top pick in the draft this past weekend if he were eligible. Ohio State is the best place in the country for wide receivers at the moment and recruit and develop at that position better than anyone .

 

[Jackcrevol]

I do like our current WRs. Just wish we had that spark plug running back type who can squirt for 10 yards in a pinch. Or even a 6'5" guy who can go over the middle. We desperately miss those types.

 

[knoxvol52]

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I do like our current WRs. Just wish we had that spark plug running back type who can squirt for 10 yards in a pinch. Or even a 6'5" guy who can go over the middle. We desperately miss those types.

Very much hoping that this group of receivers will have the same sort of success the secondary did after the mass exodus from that group last season.

 

[PowerT.]

I think this kid from Grand Valley State is hearing from more and more schools each day. He is going to take more visits and with more schools calling his can drive up his price if he wants. Will be interesting to see how he plays things the next couple of weeks as well as how Tennessee plays things.

Tennessee clearly feels like they need another inside guy in their room.

- Hubbs

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Marion is more than likely starting at Miami and Hurry at Louisville with all the turnover at both schools in their WR rooms. We also had turnover but we do like our top 3 WRs. I think that is playing a role.

Plus Boo!

 

[Carp]

I wouldn't sell Boo short. He's an athlete.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

Tough time to hit the portal for backups. Guys in the Spring portal are usually backups leaving for more playing time or starters leaving for more money as a starter.

 

[SmyrnaATLVolisback]

Not seeing this at the LB position group... we are razor thin with little experience...

How? It’s the easiest position to say we got better. Pili was hurt like usual early and we played Carter and Telander primarily. They are both back. The young linebackers are a year more experienced (Burns and Spillman). And we recruited some freaks who are freshmen and can get a few snaps. We easily got better. Carter and Spillman will be hell.

 

[De La Cloobs]

In the winter portal, apparently the plan was to only go after Tate from OSU after they picked up Jefferson. But Tate was just using UT to get a raise from OSU like many others have done.

So after that, the TN coaches have gotten to see the WR room in action during spring practice (except for Jefferson who was limited from his previous surgery) and Dodson (who does not enroll until Summer). I'm guessing they like the overall WR room from the projected starters + Boo + the two true freshmen already enrolled. They are obviously not in panic mode to bring in more receivers like a few posters on VolNation.

Does anyone on here really believe UT would NOT have signed 1 or 2 os the WRs from the spring portal if they really thought it was the right move. They would have overpaid for backup receiver(s) and risked ruining the WR room camaraderie. The UT staff obviously disagrees with some posters on this site.

IMO I would much rather any extra WR snaps go to Boo or Jefferson or the True freshman than and average backup receiver that would probably be gone after 2025 anyway. You can argue that "what if we have several WR injuries like OU did last year". I don't think 1 or 2 average spring portal receivers would make a difference if that happens.

I believe I heard AP say something along these lines. He said guys in the spring portal are asking for more money than our current starters, and it isn't even certain that those WRs would beat our current starters. You can't pay a guy that much unless you know they will perform. It could cause locker room issues and it isn't worth it for someone who may not even start. And then you have the current guys on the roster who will want a pay increase to match the unknown dude that was brought in.

Most players and teams that are scrambling in the spring portal are scrambling because they are desperate. We aren't scrambling anymore (minus the Nico situation), this is likely a very good thing.