'25 Portal Thread

[PlanetVolunteer]

Im well aware lol, doesn’t change the fact that this roster is the biggest ? We’ve had under Heup besides 2021, we could be good but things could also hit the fan

I'd argue we had as many questions headed into 2022.

Our defense was so awful, people weren't sure if we would see much improvement since we hadn't proven we could stop anybody. Talent level was still low too.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I'd argue we had as many questions headed into 2022.

Our defense was so awful, people weren't sure if we would see much improvement since we hadn't proven we could stop anybody. Talent level was still low too.

nm

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

Really may not hurt to have some turnover. Keep a few key guys, bring in some older transfers. Curley may go to draft.

I was talkin fooosballl

We did hit two homeruns as soon as I turned on the game a minute ago

 

[VolGee4]

Im well aware lol, doesn’t change the fact that this roster is the biggest ? We’ve had under Heup besides 2021, we could be good but things could also hit the fan

I guess we can just guess if something will happen that never has. But I know- this site has to question something.

The talent between this year and the 2021 roster isn’t comparable. May be young, but there’s much more talent.

 

[JCVol00]

I'd argue we had as many questions headed into 2022.

Our defense was so awful, people weren't sure if we would see much improvement since we hadn't proven we could stop anybody. Talent level was still low too.

We knew our offense was set, we also returned all of our LB’s and best dl, only ? Was db imo

 

[JCVol00]

I guess we can just guess if something will happen that never has. But I know- this site has to question something.

The talent between this year and the 2021 roster isn’t comparable. May be young, but there’s much more talent.

Id argue it’s compareable. We didn’t know what we would have at qb in ‘21, same with this year. Rb both years was pretty much set. WR in 2021there wasnt that much turnover, this year we are replacing practically our entire wr unit. TE we were set both years. OL we pretty much knew what we had in ‘21, this year we are replacing 4/5 starters. Defense was a question in ‘21 because of the changeup in scheme and thats where the roster turnover was the worst. Our safeties this year will be a big question too

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

We knew our offense was set, we also returned all of our LB’s and best dl, only ? Was db imo

Worst pass defense in the ****-try

 

[Vol8188]

We knew our offense was set, we also returned all of our LB’s and best dl, only ? Was db imo

we all thought our pass rush was trash heading into 2022, LB was thin and untalented, db was a major question. Offensive line was a major question mark. We played left tackle by committee.

 

[volinexile17]

Id argue it’s compareable. We didn’t know what we would have at qb in ‘21, same with this year. Rb both years was pretty much set. WR in 2021there wasnt that much turnover, this year we are replacing practically our entire wr unit. TE we were set both years. OL we pretty much knew what we had in ‘21, this year we are replacing 4/5 starters. Defense was a question in ‘21 because of the changeup in scheme and thats where the roster turnover was the worst. Our safeties this year will be a big question too

This is an absurd take. I’m not even going to bother explaining why.

 

[Carp]

I'd argue we had as many questions headed into 2022.

Our defense was so awful, people weren't sure if we would see much improvement since we hadn't proven we could stop anybody. Talent level was still low too.

Yup. Not a single person on this board expected us to win 11 games before the 2022 season started.

 

[JacketVol]

Im well aware lol, doesn’t change the fact that this roster is the biggest ? We’ve had under Heup besides 2021, we could be good but things could also hit the fan

It’s his most talented roster he’s had. It’s just very young.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

Yup. Not a single person on this board expected us to win 11 games before the 2022 season started.

I did predict us to be 10-2

But not the way we did or being number 1 at one point.

 

[LittleVol]

I feel like nothing will change with our recruiting approach, for the better or for the worse. We’ll see how everything plays out, this season will be a huge tell tale sign tbh

I said the same thing 2 years ago.
It has changed somewhat but we’re never going to recruit like Ohio State or Georgia and Texas.

But the right pieces may fall into place every 5 years or so? Imagine 2022s offense with 2024 defense.

I just want to Tennessee to get to a place where they go into every game with a legitimate chance to win. We’re close! But we need a little better coaching and a few more difference makers.

 

[barrylee]

This is an absurd take. I’m not even going to bother explaining why.

Put him on ignore. He's the only person on this entire site I have on ignore and it has enhanced my reading pleasure greatly!

 

[NighthawkVol]

I said the same thing 2 years ago.
It has changed somewhat but we’re never going to recruit like Ohio State or Georgia and Texas.

But the right pieces may fall into place every 5 years or so? Imagine 2022s offense with 2024 defense.

I just want to Tennessee to get to a place where they go into every game with a legitimate chance to win. We’re close! But we need a little better coaching and a few more difference makers.

Folks wanting to recruit like Ohio State and Georgia might want to consider that Heupel came from the Bob Stoops tree. Stoops’s Oklahoma teams were rarely if ever top 5 in recruiting. They evaluated well (better than the website “analysts”), found the right pieces, developed extremely well, and put together a great culture. The result was a great program over 17 years, tons of NFL Draft picks, a national championship, and a few other NC game appearances. This was before the portal allowed teams to supplement class weaknesses, as well, which would have benefitted him.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Folks wanting to recruit like Ohio State and Georgia might want to consider that Heupel came from the Bob Stoops tree. Stoops’s Oklahoma teams were rarely if ever top 5 in recruiting. They evaluated well (better than the website “analysts”), found the right pieces, developed extremely well, and put together a great culture. The result was a great program over 17 years, tons of NFL Draft picks, a national championship, and a few other NC game appearances. This was before the portal allowed teams to supplement class weaknesses, as well, which would have benefitted him.

When does the evaluating start?

 

[NighthawkVol]

When does the evaluating start?

Who evaluated Miles Kitselman better…Tennessee or the recruiting sites? How about Dylan Sampson?

We can’t complain about poor recruiting rankings and also complain about poor eval/deveopment. This program just went to the CFP in Year 4. Something is being done right.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Who evaluated Miles Kitselman better…Tennessee or the recruiting sites? How about Dylan Sampson?

We can’t complain about poor recruiting rankings and also complain about poor eval/deveopment. This program just went to the CFP in Year 4. Something is being done right.

Did they find Sampson or was that a Cornbread find

 

[NighthawkVol]

Did they find Sampson or was that a Cornbread find

Heupel. Sampson has talked about it many times.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Heupel. Sampson has talked about it many times.

I love huepel, and think hes the guy. what they did last year with that roster is impressive. but if we're hanging our recruiting hats on two dudes, yes Sampson was a beast in college - we may have some issues. Feels like we miss waay more than we hit.

Feel like to get where we need to be, esp need to get these dudes drafted.

 

[Weezer]

Who evaluated Miles Kitselman better…Tennessee or the recruiting sites? How about Dylan Sampson?

We can’t complain about poor recruiting rankings and also complain about poor eval/deveopment. This program just went to the CFP in Year 4. Something is being done right.

That's two hits. Do we want to name the misses as well? Not trying to be a smartass, but there are two sides to every coin. We can sit here and list all the positives and pat this staff on the back, but we shouldn't ignore the negatives.

JMO, but there are a couple of position coaches that should be on the hot seat if we don't see improvements from their units this season.

 

[Jackcrevol]

That's two hits. Do we want to name the misses as well? Not trying to be a smartass, but there are two sides to every coin. We can sit here and list all the positives and pat this staff on the back, but we shouldn't ignore the negatives.

JMO, but there are a couple of position coaches that should be on the hot seat if we don't see improvements from their units this season.

 

[Jackcrevol]

That's two hits. Do we want to name the misses as well? Not trying to be a smartass, but there are two sides to every coin. We can sit here and list all the positives and pat this staff on the back, but we shouldn't ignore the negatives.

JMO, but there are a couple of position coaches that should be on the hot seat if we don't see improvements from their units this season.

Development.

Dont'e Thornton shares how difficult it is for Tennessee receivers to get drafted

Dont'e Thornton was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Through meetings, pro day, and the draft combine, Thornton seeme

allfortennessee.com

 

[MrVolton]

I said the same thing 2 years ago.
It has changed somewhat but we’re never going to recruit like Ohio State or Georgia and Texas.

But the right pieces may fall into place every 5 years or so? Imagine 2022s offense with 2024 defense.

I just want to Tennessee to get to a place where they go into every game with a legitimate chance to win. We’re close! But we need a little better coaching and a few more difference makers.

I thinking the coaching is there, especially between Huepel and the defense. Some better recruiters, on offense specifically, would bring in a few more difference makers.

 

[deatojl]

We knew our offense was set, we also returned all of our LB’s and best dl, only ? Was db imo

At WR, we had Cedric Tillman and a bunch of unknowns heading into 2022. Jalin Hyatt had 21 catches and a ton of drops the prior year. We were replacing Velus Jones and Javonta Payton with a transfer and young guys.