Recruiting Needs for 2015

[TNnative]

OK, guys, now that the recruiting class for 2014 has been signed, I felt it was time to address the needs by position of 2015. First, I looked at the roster. Below is a list by position of how many seniors are listed.

DB-2
DL-2
LB-2
OL-2
P/K-2
QB-1
RB-2
TE-2
WR-2 TOTAL-17

As we all know, attrition happens, and a few of the underclassmen probably will move on. However that plays out, a big key to recruiting is to bring in better players each year than you had before. I know it may be a little early to speculate, but what the heck, that is why we are here. So, the question I ask of you, my fellow speculators, is what is the ideal numbers by position that you believe the 2015 class should include.

 

[85SugarVol]

Ol - 5
dl - 6

 

[MoB_MoVols]

Hopefully the magic number is 25 once we lose a few bodies

 

[TNnative]

Hopefully the magic number is 25 once we lose a few bodies

Probably, but by position.

 

[PassedOutAwake]

Elite QB, 2+ CB and 5 OL are my 3 hopes

 

[85SugarVol]

Elite QB, 2+ CB and 5 OL are my 3 hopes

Zach Gentry

Drew Richmond
Jack Jones
Zach Stewart
Dylan Jackson
Austin Clark

Garrett Taylor
Ugo Amadi

Yes. Please.

 

[Bloodrunsorange27]

QB - 1-2
OL - 5
DL - 6 (1-2 Juco DT)
RB - 2
LB - 3
WR - 3
TE - 1
DB - 4

 

[ERvolsfan]

Elite QB, 2+ CB and 5 OL are my 3 hopes

I completely agree with you. We need a top QB and must have good depth at CB and we definitely need more OL.

QB - 1
RB - 2
WR - 3
TE - 2
OL - 4
DL - 4
LB - 3
CB - 3
S. - 1
P/K - 1

Total: 24

 

[RockVol]

QB - 2 (1 of Gibson, Stidham, and Gentry)
RB - 1 or 2 (Swinney and maybe Weber or Love)
TE - 0
OL - 5 (Stewart, Jones, Richmond, 2 of Edoga, Jenkins, Fruhmorgen, St Louis, and Clark)
WR - 3 (Williams, 2 of Jefferson, Sanders, Ridley, and Ofodile, maybe a surprise like Campbell)
DE - 4 (Buthcer, Jackson, Phillips, and Roseboro)
DT - 3 (McKenzie, Howard, and big fish like Thompson, Settle, and Tuttle)
LB - 3 (Cherry, DeBerry, and 1 other like Smith or McMillan)
CB - 2 (elite guys like Taylor and McFadden)
S - 1 (Jennings)
Ath (Jaason Lewis)

That comes to between 25 or 26

 

[TNnative]

Elite QB, 2+ CB and 5 OL are my 3 hopes

Agreed, POA. Even if one of our QBs can emerge and play big, another solid prospect is needed to push the group. The secondary as well. But the O-Line is almost as pressing of a need as that QB. It wouldn't bother me if we have 7 by February. If there is a defection, it wouldn't hurt as much.

The other 2 spots I make priority is at least one or two more solid RBs, and WRs. And of course, anytime you can bring in a strong DT, you jump on him.

 

[PassedOutAwake]

I completely agree with you. We need a top QB and must have good at CB and we definitely need more OL.

QB - 1
RB - 2
WR - 3
TE - 2
OL - 4
DL - 4
LB - 3
CB - 3
S. - 1
P/K - 1

Total: 24

I dont think we will need another kicker. Dont we already have like 2 punters on our roster? Plus we just got Medley and Waites.

 

[TNnative]

QB - 2 (1 of Gibson, Stidham, and Gentry)
RB - 1 or 2 (Swinney and maybe Weber or Love)
TE - 0
OL - 5 (Stewart, Jones, Richmond, 2 of Edoga, Jenkins, Fruhmorgen, St Louis, and Clark)
WR - 3 (Williams, 2 of Jefferson, Sanders, Ridley, and Ofodile, maybe a surprise like Campbell)
DE - 4 (Buthcer, Jackson, Phillips, and Roseboro)
DT - 3 (McKenzie, Howard, and big fish like Thompson, Settle, and Tuttle)
LB - 3 (Cherry, DeBerry, and 1 other like Smith or McMillan)
CB - 2 (elite guys like Taylor and McFadden)
S - 1 (Jennings)
Ath (Jaason Lewis)

That comes to between 25 or 26

WOW! You've been doing your homework, RockVol. Very nice. I might add Rosen to the QB target list.

 

[TNnative]

I dont think we will need another kicker. Dont we already have like 2 punters on our roster? Plus we just got Medley and Waites.

Non-senior Punters listed:

Trevor Daniel
Ryan Ault, also listed as a PK
Waites is not yet listed

Non-senior kickers:

George Bullock
Patrick Toole
Medley not yet listed

With needs so many other places, I would think we should be covered.

 

[RockVol]

WOW! You've been doing your homework, RockVol. Very nice. I might add Rosen to the QB target list.

While I'd love to get Rosen, it appears that we are not a big contender there, he seems set on staying out west.

 

[TNnative]

While I'd love to get Rosen, it appears that we are not a big contender there, he seems set on staying out west.

This looks like a job for Tommy Thigpen. As long as he is on staff, everyone is a possibility.

 

[jimallvol]

I think we need to sign a QB & as many OL guys we can get

 

[eskimovol]

Locking down the state again is a major necessity. But after this year that seems like something we won't have to worry about.

 

[terrypedigo]

The OL and DL and a good QB.

 

[MoB_MoVols]

Here you go TNNative:

QB - 1 maybe 2
RB - 1
TE - 1
OL - 5
WR - 2
DE - 3
DT - 3
LB - 3
CB - 2
S - 1
Ath- 1 (specifically Jaason Lewis) RB maybe TE who knows atp

I initially said 25 but I'm at 24 with one spot for a big fish potentially

 

[Volnukem]

Here you go TNNative:

QB - 1 maybe 2
RB - 1
TE - 1
OL - 5
WR - 2
DE - 3
DT - 3
LB - 3
CB - 2
S - 1
Ath- 1 (specifically Jaason Lewis) RB maybe TE who knows atp

I initially said 25 but I'm at 24 with one spot for a big fish potentially

You aren't the only one, but I see you have 6 DL on there. We have 19 on scholarship and no one seems to see that. With only Williams and one other graduating next year, you and several others are suggesting we will have 22-23 defensive linemen on the team. That's more than a quarter of the team.

 

[Tennessee Golfer]

Offense (12)
QB: Gentry
RB: Lewis-Swinney
WR: Williams-Jefferson-Johnson
TE: Clark
OT: Jones-Richmond-Jackson
OG: Stewart-Edoga

Defense (13)
DE: Butcher-Phillips-Roseboro
DT: McKenzie-Johnson-Howard
LB: Cherry-Dews-Deberry
CB: Amadi-Taylor
S: Fields-Jennings

 

[LebanonVolunteer]

QB-Gentry
RB-Swinney
WR-Williams
WR-Woods
TE-Harris
OL-Stewart
OL-Jones
OL-Richmond
DT-McKenzie
DT-Howard
DE-Butcher
DE-Jackson
DE/LB-Dews
LB-Cherry
LB-DeBerry
LB-Mitchell
DB-Amadi
DB-Johnson

The 2015 class spots available stand at 12 currently. My class prediction of 18 means we lose 6 kids currently on the roster.

 

[Mike4Vols]

A top flight QB is the biggest need by far. There's not even a close second. We could skirt by with reasonable classes for the other positions. QB is crucial and (judging from the urgency of their search) the coaches know it.

 

[LebanonVolunteer]

A top flight QB is the biggest need by far. There's not even a close second. We could skirt by with reasonable classes for the other positions. QB is crucial and (judging from the urgency of their search) the coaches know it.

After looking at it, I'm not sure a top 10 type QB is a must have. Getting a QB is a must for depth of course. As I mentioned earlier, it may be tough to pull a top guy with both Dobbs and Fergs having 3 years to play. If they don't land Gentry, I think it will be Matt Williams and possibly Jennings IF he is willing to slide to S if QB does not play out.

 

[OddFuture]

QB: 1
RB: 2
WR: 3
OL: 5
TE: 1
DL: 5
LB: 2
CB: 3
S: 1
K/P: 1 walk-on
ATH: 2

Total: 25 (not counting walk-ons)