'25 Portal Thread

[Vol8188]

Nvm the NCAA being up our butt.

I even overstated how long he had. Looks like CJH wasn’t even hired until late January.

 

[Weezer]

We bout to go on a run! Let’s go!

Are we done in the portal? No safety? No WR?

 

[LittleVol]

Are we done in the portal? No safety? No WR?

We have Dodson coming in this summer.
️ ️️️ FR WR from Baylor

 

[Jackcrevol]

We bout to go on a run! Let’s go!

Well...we're waiting....(Caddyshack gif)

 

[Weezer]

I really wish we would pursue Zaquan Patterson at safety, but I know we won't. I'm not as worried about the WR room, but as the coaches were pursuing someone at the position, I have no idea who is worth pursuing there. Listening to the radio today, they were concerned about OT. Not sure what to think on that, other than I'm always concerned with OL as long as Elarbee's the coach.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I really wish we would pursue Zaquan Patterson at safety, but I know we won't. I'm not as worried about the WR room, but as the coaches were pursuing someone at the position, I have no idea who is worth pursuing there. Listening to the radio today, they were concerned about OT. Not sure what to think on that, other than I'm always concerned with OL as long as Elarbee's the coach.

me too bud.

 

[Weezer]

If we really want a "depth" WR, why not just offer Leacock the opportunity to come back? Surely, he can't be too expensive after leaving Purdue. Odds are he never sees the field anyway, which is why I'm okay if we just go with a walk-on WR, but weren't the coaches raving about Leacock his first spring practice here? Seems like I recall them talking him up.

 

[jasonvol18]

If we really want a "depth" WR, why not just offer Leacock the opportunity to come back? Surely, he can't be too expensive after leaving Purdue. Odds are he never sees the field anyway, which is why I'm okay if we just go with a walk-on WR, but weren't the coaches raving about Leacock his first spring practice here? Seems like I recall them talking him up.

There's definitely conflicting reports. There's no secret we were back channeling trying to steal Tate from Ohio St in the Winter portal. Obviously we weren't Going to overpay in the Spring Portal for someone they see as depth. But, if we really were pursuing Tate, that tells us they aren't 100% confident in our top 3, right? And before someone says it, Tate was never officially in the portal, but too many dependable sources said we were definitely trying to pursuade him to jumping in it. I doubt he would have ever left, but we obviously swing big for him.

 

[Ericvol2096]

Are we done in the portal? No safety? No WR?

No S, thought Cal WR was happening at one point then he demanded to start & starter money and it fell apart.

 

[Weezer]

No S, thought Cal WR was happening at one point then he demanded to start & starter money and it fell apart.

Tell your bosses at Spyre to tell the coaches that they need to recruit Zaquan Patterson. That would solidify our secondary.

 

[jasonvol18]

No S, thought Cal WR was happening at one point then he demanded to start & starter money and it fell apart.

Are there any other WR's we're looking at or are we done?

 

[DaddyChad]

No…Ellarbee hasn’t shown any ability to find diamonds in the rough…his first 2 classes were just a bunch of warm bodies who didn’t have any business in the SEC.

1)Oline is one of the hardest places to stack elite talent in recruiting.
2)First 2 classes had a lot stacked against the entire staff.
3)To your point though I think Glen has to be better at recruiting. Idk why we don’t have another assistant there who is better at recruiting sort of like Chop.

 

[Brawlvol]

Is Cortez Braham Jr. of Nevada a no? He maybe wants to start? Seems like a good possession type receiver maybe like Bru McCoy
Go Vols

 

[Weezer]

According to Larry's projected roster, we're at 78 projected scholarship players for next season. Why didn't we hit the portal harder?

@Ericvol2096 - Is it a money problem? I agree in not overpaying guys, but it's odd to have as many open scholarships as we do when we can't really count them against probation anymore. And there's still a few good players out there. Like Zaquan Patterson.

Looks like Patterson committed to Oklahoma State tonight.

 

[Jackcrevol]

According to Larry's projected roster, we're at 78 projected scholarship players for next season. Why didn't we hit the portal harder?

@Ericvol2096 - Is it a money problem? I agree in not overpaying guys, but it's odd to have as many open scholarships as we do when we can't really count them against probation anymore. And there's still a few good players out there. Like Zaquan Patterson.

Looks like Patterson committed to Oklahoma State tonight.

Seems folks think that rev sharing will happen. Its driving prices up for players we may not be in love with. When schools can make their payments, we may have pick of the litter, and cash on hand.

Just a thought, in the Winter porthole.

 

[JCVol00]

According to Larry's projected roster, we're at 78 projected scholarship players for next season. Why didn't we hit the portal harder?

@Ericvol2096 - Is it a money problem? I agree in not overpaying guys, but it's odd to have as many open scholarships as we do when we can't really count them against probation anymore. And there's still a few good players out there. Like Zaquan Patterson.

Looks like Patterson committed to Oklahoma State tonight.

I just think the staff didn’t anticipate as many of our players to hit the portal that did, and then slow played the winter portal with the idea of picking up players in the spring window, which backfired at several positions of need. Total mismanagement of roster by our staff imo

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

According to Larry's projected roster, we're at 78 projected scholarship players for next season. Why didn't we hit the portal harder?

@Ericvol2096 - Is it a money problem? I agree in not overpaying guys, but it's odd to have as many open scholarships as we do when we can't really count them against probation anymore. And there's still a few good players out there. Like Zaquan Patterson.

Looks like Patterson committed to Oklahoma State tonight.

I wonder with what has happened with Nico, if the coaches maybe suspect a little downturn this year, so we are going to go ahead and eat the extra scholarships to finish what we owe the NCAA for the sanctions? Remember, Heup really won 8 games year 1 with 68 or 69 scholarship players. He prob thinks he can win 8-9 with who we have.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I wonder with what has happened with Nico, if the coaches maybe suspect a little downturn this year, so we are going to go ahead and eat the extra scholarships to finish what we owe the NCAA for the sanctions? Remember, Heup really won 8 games year 1 with 68 or 69 scholarship players. He prob thinks he can win 8-9 with who we have.

In that sense the lack of results this year are pretty frustrating. Gotta trust in Huep to find some recruiting help.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

In that sense the lack of results this year are pretty frustrating. Gotta trust in Huep to find some recruiting help.

He’s earned our trust. It was just four years ago that we all said if we could get back to winning eight or nine games a year, then we would not complain. Here we are complaining and he is averaging what 10 wins a year? With what he inherited and all this NCAA crap he’s dealt with, he’s earned all of our trust to just sit back and enjoy it, even as frustrating as it can be.

 

[VolGee4]

I don’t think they slowed played the winter portal because they brought in 23 early enrollees. Someone posted we were at 82 in the spring. They couldn’t add.

Now they can. I would presume they add at least 1 or 2 more.

 

[Weezer]

I wonder with what has happened with Nico, if the coaches maybe suspect a little downturn this year, so we are going to go ahead and eat the extra scholarships to finish what we owe the NCAA for the sanctions? Remember, Heup really won 8 games year 1 with 68 or 69 scholarship players. He prob thinks he can win 8-9 with who we have.

We've already fed the probation monster; with the exception we must operate at a two-scholarship deficit as long as we're on probation. We can't get out of that by taking extra scholarship losses. We're allowed up to 83 (103 if the settlement passes) until probation is up.

 

[Weezer]

He’s earned our trust. It was just four years ago that we all said if we could get back to winning eight or nine games a year, then we would not complain. Here we are complaining and he is averaging what 10 wins a year? With what he inherited and all this NCAA crap he’s dealt with, he’s earned all of our trust to just sit back and enjoy it, even as frustrating as it can be.

Trust is something continuously earned. It isn't just earned one time then it's there for life. Right now, I have faith in Josh Heupel, but a losing season would shake that faith. Not saying one losing season and he should be gone, but if one turns into multiple, we have a problem.

 

[LaagerVol]

I wonder with what has happened with Nico, if the coaches maybe suspect a little downturn this year, so we are going to go ahead and eat the extra scholarships to finish what we owe the NCAA for the sanctions? Remember, Heup really won 8 games year 1 with 68 or 69 scholarship players. He prob thinks he can win 8-9 with who we have.

I don’t think they expect a downturn, coach is too competitive to have that mindset. Also, I’m pretty sure they are required to have min 2 scholarship reductions in any given year until the end of probation so they can’t just eat the remaining reductions this year.

I think they are happy with the roster and targeted specific positions and players they thought could help the team and weren’t willing to overpay.

OL was a big need and they signed who they wanted imo

WR they like who they have but targeted one big name guy, swung and missed, didnt see anyone else worth paying for sure starter money, tried to get some depth l, but again weren’t gonna pay crazy money for depth.

I don’t think they were unprepared like many on here like to believe. Maybe a little surprised the depth type guys wanted so much money, but our staff doesn’t feel the desperation that Vol nation feels. Which should be comforting

Imo

It’s kinda baffling to me that people on a website think they can see the flaws in our roster, are more aware of how recruiting and the porthole works, and are more prepared to construct the roster than the coach who has averaged 10 wins the last 3 seasons while bringing the program back from complete dumpster fire irrelevance.

 

[SmyrnaATLVolisback]

I wonder with what has happened with Nico, if the coaches maybe suspect a little downturn this year, so we are going to go ahead and eat the extra scholarships to finish what we owe the NCAA for the sanctions? Remember, Heup really won 8 games year 1 with 68 or 69 scholarship players. He prob thinks he can win 8-9 with who we have.

If our coach who makes close to 10 million a year and is the driving force behind our biggest money maker program is ok with mediocre results and bad years then I am terrified for our program.

With that said, I don’t think Heupel is that guy. I believe he wants a Natty every year and expects to be making the playoff every year.

I think Heupel is too trusting and let’s the players trick him somewhat to believing they would never leave or they are good to go when they are not. And so he doesn’t always have a backup plan such as with Nico.

He needs better recruiters on the offensive side and more cut throat type coaching. He has mostly hired friends and promoted from within who mostly do and listen to what he says. I think two new hires on offense would do wonders if they are great recruiters and can bring new ideas to the offense. We need more closers.

Money is not the issue. We can always find more money if it is needed. DW will not let football take a dive. All IMO

 

[De La Cloobs]

There's definitely conflicting reports. There's no secret we were back channeling trying to steal Tate from Ohio St in the Winter portal. Obviously we weren't Going to overpay in the Spring Portal for someone they see as depth. But, if we really were pursuing Tate, that tells us they aren't 100% confident in our top 3, right? And before someone says it, Tate was never officially in the portal, but too many dependable sources said we were definitely trying to pursuade him to jumping in it. I doubt he would have ever left, but we obviously swing big for him.

Heard AP or Hubbs (can't remember which) say they wanted a WR in the winter portal but couldn't land one. All the guys in the spring portal are more for depth but are asking for starter money, which Tennessee is not going to do. He also said winter portal is when they should have made a move for a WR but couldn't land one.

We definitely needed another WR but it's too little too late now.