'25 Portal Thread

[MoCo_Vol]

Maybe we are misreading each other's posts bc I thought you were doing the same. Maybe we both are.

I shared an objective source as requested. Didn’t even challenge your opinion after that.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Does this year’s emphasis on adding HS guys to fill up our roster spots and limit the quantity of portal guys identify THE master plan?

Does the staff want to count on stacking up and developing the old way, using the portal for fixes to early departures and guys encouraged to look elsewhere? Can they meet the character elements easier by keeping those numbers down and being able to find talent but avoid the mercenaries?

Do they believe they can achieve this by having more $ for each acquired guy of a smaller group each period?

Does this leave them more money for strategic retention of contributors?

This is what I am leaning toward. You can’t sign 24 HS guys driving your count to 15 or so over the 83 after grad losses and plan on big portal pickups.

Are diminishing upper class sizes the new normal due to portal departures, desired and undesired. I think the pro model is going to embolden coaches to push needed guys out the door after year end discussions.

If done right it might be cheaper to add less and retain more.

 

[CAVPUT]

Surely Boo is gonna get a shot at WR this year

Think I read somewhere that he was promised some time on offense? Has to be receiver. Kid is a baller and a playmaker. Suspect he'd do well at wideout. Sure can't be any worse than what we had last year. One thing is certain. the staff can't afford not to follow thru with any promises made to keep him from the portal.

 

[RiseToTheTop]

I wouldn’t say zero chance. Hell, they only beat Vandy by 3.

Texas is better. But Tennessee would have a chance.

Their defense would shut down our disgusting offense pretty easily. Just like every top end team

 

[landscapingvol]

There's some reality.

There is also the reality of what just happened against Ohio State and our inability to consistently move the ball against a competent defense but you do you

 

[deatojl]

Haven't looked at the rest of their games, but Georgia's OL was solid against us.

They definitely played well against us. Overall, though, they weren't any better than our OL was. They averaged over 100 yards per game less than us and allowed 5 fewer sacks. Take your pick which you prefer.

 

[Orange_Crush]

I hope that made you feel better. It added a lot to the board.

I haven't said a cross or disrespectful word to you, but feel free to continue to act like an @$$hat if it works for you.

I'm not sure what else you want. For us to change our in favor of yours?

You asked for an expert source that would speak against your opinion. One was provided. The source provided was at least in part made up of more expertise than you've proven of yourself. You refused to change your opinion. That's OK.

But that's the thing about opinions. You have the right to post your opinions and we have the right to not value them. The world keeps turning.

If you think that pointing that out is acting like an ***hole, then so be it. The world will still keep turning.

 

[Orange_Crush]

There is also the reality of what just happened against Ohio State and our inability to consistently move the ball against a competent defense but you do you

OMG... We got beaten by the best team in the country IN THE PLAYOFFS, a mere four years out from believing the program was dead.

Again. It's a process.

And again, it sounds a lot like someone ragging on the surgeons that saved someone's life because the stitches itch during the healing process.

If you claimed that you expected four years ago to be in as good a position as we are in now, I would suspect you to be a liar.

It sounds entitled as hell to complain about this turnaround. But as you say, you do you.

ETA:

I'll give an example of my stance here. I had a fairly serious fall years ago and had a massive, compound break much worse than Bru's. I was rushed to the ER. The last thing I remember before being put under for surgery was the surgeons telling me that they'd do their best to save my foot.

They did. They bolted me back together, and it was a long, painful recovery.

Now, imagine that I started walking around trashing the staff because the recovery was slow and painful. If I started questioning their abilities and floating the idea that their medical licenses should be revolked because I wasn't running Olympic speeds.

You'd all call me a crazed, entitled dumbass. And well you should.

 

[deatojl]

Their defense would shut down our disgusting offense pretty easily. Just like every top end team

Our offense was pretty similar to Texas' offense this season in terms of production:
PPG
UT-35.7
Texas-33
YPG
UT-447
Texas-437.5
Points scored against common opponents:
Miss St-UT(33), Texas(35) both at home
Oklahoma-UT(25)@OU, Texas(34) neutral site
Georgia-UT(17)@UGA, Texas(15)home(19) neutral
Vandy-UT(36), Texas(27) both @Vandy
Arkansas-UT(14), Texas(20) both @Arky
Kentucky-UT(28), Texas(31) both at home
Florida-UT(23), Texas(49) both at home--->this is the only outlier. Of note, UF played Texas with a 3rd string walk on QB.
Ohio State-UT(17)@Ohio St, Texas(14) neutral(in Texas)

 

[landscapingvol]

OMG... We got beaten by the best team in the country IN THE PLAYOFFS, a mere four years out from believing the program was dead.

Again. It's a process.

And again, it sounds a lot like someone ragging on the surgeons that saved someone's life because the stitches itch during the healing process.

If you claimed that you expected four years ago to be in as good a position as we are in now, I would suspect you to be a liar.

It sounds entitled as hell to complain about this turnaround. But as you say, you do you.

ETA:

I'll give an example of my stance here. I had a fairly serious fall years ago and had a massive, compound break much worse than Bru's. I was rushed to the ER. The last thing I remember before being put under for surgery was the surgeons telling me that they'd do their best to save my foot.

They did. They bolted me back together, and it was a long, painful recovery.

Now, imagine that I started walking around trashing the staff because the recovery was slow and painful. If I started questioning their abilities and floating the idea that their medical licenses should be revolked because I wasn't running Olympic speeds.

You'd all call me a crazed, entitled dumbass. And well you should.

Did you just compare surgery to a football coach? Every human is infallible and open to criticism especially a career at a high profile SEC school, if that upsets you I don’t know what to tell you. Josh Heupel isn’t reading this board and yes you would be crazy if you used your example as comparable situations lol our oline needs help and so does the offense. We struggled to move the ball against several teams not just Ohio State and the defense struggled to stop a competent qb for much of the season not just Ohio State. We had a great year, no one is disputing that especially me

 

[Orange_Crush]

Did you just compare surgery to a football coach? Every human is infallible and open to criticism especially a career at a high profile SEC school, if that upsets you I don’t know what to tell you. Josh Heupel isn’t reading this board and yes you would be crazy if you used your example as comparable situations lol our oline needs help and so does the offense. We struggled to move the ball against several teams not just Ohio State and the defense struggled to stop a competent qb for much of the season not just Ohio State. We had a great year, no one is disputing that especially me

To quote a stranger on the internet, you do you.

 

[deatojl]

OMG... We got beaten by the best team in the country IN THE PLAYOFFS, a mere four years out from believing the program was dead.

Again. It's a process.

And again, it sounds a lot like someone ragging on the surgeons that saved someone's life because the stitches itch during the healing process.

If you claimed that you expected four years ago to be in as good a position as we are in now, I would suspect you to be a liar.

It sounds entitled as hell to complain about this turnaround. But as you say, you do you.

We also had 408 yards of offense against Bama, 313 against Georgia, and 256 against Ohio State. The Ohio State output wasn't great but we did play without two starting WRs and our starting RB. We still had 156 yards rushing, which included -35 in sack yardage. Point being, we didn't struggle as much as people pretend we did moving the ball against the top teams. Our issues were more in finishing drives with scores.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I wonder if Coach Prime bolts for the Raiders if Jordan Seaton would like to hop in the portal and come home to Knoxville. He only went to Colorado to play for Prime.

 

[MarcoVol]

I wonder if Coach Prime bolts for the Raiders if Jordan Seaton would like to hop in the portal and come home to Knoxville. He only went to Colorado to play for Prime.

What position is he gonna play

 

[TheMookieMonster]

What position is he gonna play

All of them

 

[Orange_Crush]

We also had 408 yards of offense against Bama, 313 against Georgia, and 256 against Ohio State. The Ohio State output wasn't great but we did play without two starting WRs and our starting RB. We still had 156 yards rushing, which included -35 in sack yardage. Point being, we didn't struggle as much as people pretend we did moving the ball against the top teams. Our issues were more in finishing drives with scores.

Combine that with the fact that we're working with a roster that is one year removed from recruiting under the cloud of (and negative recruiting that comes with) threatened pay-for-play sanctions, and is still recruiting with reduced scholarships and recruiting restrictions.

We have a bunch of folks who must consider themselves ace-talent-evaluators-by-proxy. The staff is behind the eight ball trying to recruit, but by God they should be littering the field with the best teams in the country or else they need to be fired.

The time to judge them will be some time after they are on equal footing trying to get talent.

 

[volKano]

How do you know he will get those next year? They lose Howard and don’t have anyone that caliber next year. Whoever they put in will focus on Smith.

We focused on our strengths this year….running. Next year our game plan will be a lot different because we don’t have a Sampson. I think Nico and this offense will look like the 22 offense throwing the ball.

23 offense

 

[vol9799]

I'm not sure what else you want. For us to change our in favor of yours?

You asked for an expert source that would speak against your opinion. One was provided. The source provided was at least in part made up of more expertise than you've proven of yourself. You refused to change your opinion. That's OK.

But that's the thing about opinions. You have the right to post your opinions and we have the right to not value them. The world keeps turning.

If you think that pointing that out is acting like an ***hole, then so be it. The world will still keep turning.

I never said anyone should agree with me. Said several posts ago people could believe whatever they wanted about the OL. I only said those who question Elarbee aren't irrational.

But judging the rationality of thought on a message board is futile anyway.

 

[volKano]

Does this year’s emphasis on adding HS guys to fill up our roster spots and limit the quantity of portal guys identify THE master plan?

Does the staff want to count on stacking up and developing the old way, using the portal for fixes to early departures and guys encouraged to look elsewhere? Can they meet the character elements easier by keeping those numbers down and being able to find talent but avoid the mercenaries?

Do they believe they can achieve this by having more $ for each acquired guy of a smaller group each period?

Does this leave them more money for strategic retention of contributors?

This is what I am leaning toward. You can’t sign 24 HS guys driving your count to 15 or so over the 83 after grad losses and plan on big portal pickups.

Are diminishing upper class sizes the new normal due to portal departures, desired and undesired. I think the pro model is going to embolden coaches to push needed guys out the door after year end discussions.

If done right it might be cheaper to add less and retain more.

Nice post

 

[Orange_Crush]

I never said anyone should agree with me. Said several posts ago people could believe whatever they wanted about the OL. I only said those who question Elarbee aren't irrational.

But judging the rationality of thought on a message board is futile anyway.

OK.

So, we both agree with my statement? That you have the right to keep and share your opinion, and we have the right to not value it. I don't see the issue, but whatever.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

So I have seen people mention Carnell Tates name. Why? Is he entering the portal?

 

[GVol1966]

What position is he gonna play

Wide receiver!
He’s the splash player we been waiting for

 

[625 Gibbs Hall]

Looking at OSU WRs, Bryson Rodgers actually entered the portal last year before withdrawing. Then they have two freshmen other than Smith. Someone will get Egbuka's snaps. Depending on who that is, that could push someone to the portal. And based on practice, they probably already have an idea of the pecking order.

They also just signed four 4-star WRs in the 2025 class.

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

So I have seen people mention Carnell Tates name. Why? Is he entering the portal?

An insider mentioned “splash receiver” and several assume Tate because they claim he’s underused in OSU’s offense and thus is gonna leave once their season ends. There’s no other evidence than that, just speculation.

 

[JCVol00]

An insider mentioned “splash receiver” and several assume Tate because they claim he’s underused in OSU’s offense and thus is gonna leave once their season ends. There’s no other evidence than that, just speculation.

Also, one of the insiders liked a post referencing Tate