Roster Depletion

[Ericvol2096]

Why are the Vols in this spot? Failures in recruiting.

They haven't recruited well enough and the reason is not who they lost on signing day. It's who they have lost after they signed them.

In 2007, Tennessee signed a class of 32 players that ranked third nationally, according to Rivals.com. That class is heading into it's fourth year and of the 32, five players or either out of eligibility or left early for the NFL draft (Eric Berry, Dennis Rogan, DeAngelo Willingham, Nevin McKenzie, and Kenny O'Neal). Of the remaining 27 signees, 15 are no longer a part of the program. That's an attrition rate of nearly 56 percent. And of those 15 signees, only seven have a career start.

Move ahead to the class of 2008, who will be juniors and you find that of the 18 who signed , five are no longer a part of the program and only five have started games in the program.

In a two year stretch where Tennessee signed 50 players, five have completed their eligibility or have left for the NFL, and of the remaining 45 possible contributors for the 2010 season only 25 remain (55 percent) on the rosters as 20 have either been dismissed, quit or transferred.

Think about that in comparison to Fulmer's 1994-97 heyday cited above: those Vols lost just 28 players in a FOUR-YEAR stretch while these Vols are down 20 players in a TWO-YEAR stretch. And not only is Tennessee down in numbers, they are down in talent. Only 12 of these remaining players have one or more career start.

Ouch.

Excerpt from article on TOS, It is crazy to think that out of the 50 players we signed in the 07 and 08 classes only 25 are left!

We are going to be a very young/depleted team next year. But I really think with one more great recruiting haul we can go a long way to mend our wounds.:good!:

 

[AFL2008]

Excerpt from article on TOS, It is crazy to think that out of the 50 players we signed in the 07 and 08 classes only 25 are left!

We are going to be a very young/depleted team next year. But I really think with one more great recruiting haul we can go a long way to mend our wounds.:good!:

It's amazing how fast a couple solid recruiting classes can fix everything. That being said, since UT missed at DT in the 2010 class, UT will still have depth problems at that position for at least another 2 years.

But they'll be back.

 

[TruVoller]

It might be a young team, but thanks to the injuries from last year some of those young players, got good playing time. i agree with the depletion comment, but there is nothing we can do about the last 2 yrs. the program has been put into a tough spot, i believe our talent level is raising but not close to the talent levels of the two teams that ran the sec last year.

 

[Ericvol2096]

It's amazing how fast a couple solid recruiting classes can fix everything. That being said, since UT missed at DT in the 2010 class, UT will still have depth problems at that position for at least another 2 years.

But they'll be back.

Well we will have no senior DT's this year so if we can land a few Juco DT's this year and then a few talented freshman I think our depth issue could be fixed in one year!

 

[WhatinVolNATION?]

What was last year's class, chopped liver? Two Top 10 classes in a row should help us a ton. Yes, we need depth on the lines, but I don't view this coming year as a rebuilding year. A rebuilding year would have been if Dooley couldn't have pulled us back into the top 30 recruiting and a few transfers happened. I think we are going to either equal or better last seasons 7-6 record. Book it!

 

[armchair]

Team talent and team attrition are two different things. There is always a high amount of attrition in major-college football--no matter whether a team is signing good or mediocre glasses. Losing about half a class is a little high but not all that unusual: guys who aren't playing quit and/or transfer--often highly rated guys who aren't cutting it in the SEC; guys get career-ending injuries; guys get stupid and in trouble (!) and get kicked off the team; guys get stupid and don't go to class and become ineligible; guys sign but are stupid and don't get into school. There is serious attrition at a lot, if not most schools.

 

[CardsNVols]

What was last year's class, chopped liver? Two Top 10 classes in a row should help us a ton. Yes, we need depth on the lines, but I don't view this coming year as a rebuilding year. A rebuilding year would have been if Dooley couldn't have pulled us back into the top 30 recruiting and a few transfers happened. I think we are going to either equal or better last seasons 7-6 record. Book it!

yes, 2009 was a pretty good class, but considering two of our more marquee signees are no longer with the team, i doubt it would even still be in the top 10. probably 11th or 12th. Which is still a pretty good class, with that being said, i think we're going to have a quite a few guys who either redshirted last year, or didn't get to play much step up this year. I really don't think 2010 will be quite as bleak as some say. "talent wise" i mean.

 

[triadvolfan]

What was last year's class, chopped liver? Two Top 10 classes in a row should help us a ton. Yes, we need depth on the lines, but I don't view this coming year as a rebuilding year. A rebuilding year would have been if Dooley couldn't have pulled us back into the top 30 recruiting and a few transfers happened. I think we are going to either equal or better last seasons 7-6 record. Book it!

Those kids will still be awfully young. What has been done in the 2009 and 2010 recruiting classes will pay off a lot more in a couple of years then it will next year.

 

[PennVol]

We've had 2 good (not great) recruiting classes, but have really missed both years on a key need. Last year we got no OL (Douglas was a suprise) and some ok DT (nothing eye opening), and this year we got some good OL-but not enough to compensate for last year, and we got no DT. Until we begin to load up on those two positions, we are not gonna make a real push for the sec.
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[triadvolfan]

We've had 2 good (not great) recruiting classes, but have really missed both years on a key need. Last year we got no OL (Douglas was a suprise) and some ok DT (nothing eye opening), and this year we got some good OL-but not enough to compensate for last year, and we got no DT. Until we begin to load up on those two positions, we are not gonna make a real push for the sec.
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Douglas was a RS so he was part of the 2008 class. Schofield might start sooner rather than later but I think the only other OL recruit in the 2009 class was Revis. Honestly though, if you look at the classes from 2006-2008 and who is left, two good but not great classes in '09-'10 still means UT should improve (eventually) even if those classes do have deficiencies. Of course, improvement isn't the same as beating Alabama and Florida for the SEC title.

 

[Volfan8282]

What was last year's class, chopped liver? Two Top 10 classes in a row should help us a ton. Yes, we need depth on the lines, but I don't view this coming year as a rebuilding year. A rebuilding year would have been if Dooley couldn't have pulled us back into the top 30 recruiting and a few transfers happened. I think we are going to either equal or better last seasons 7-6 record. Book it!

I politely disagree.

 

[tayrorree]

yeah you can't win in the sec without upperclassmen leading the way.

 

[General Jack]

We won't compete until we have very good lines. We won't have that next year.
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[Volunteeer]

What was last year's class, chopped liver? Two Top 10 classes in a row should help us a ton. Yes, we need depth on the lines, but I don't view this coming year as a rebuilding year. A rebuilding year would have been if Dooley couldn't have pulled us back into the top 30 recruiting and a few transfers happened. I think we are going to either equal or better last seasons 7-6 record. Book it!

And you call 7-5 not rebuilding? What are you, a Detroit lions fan also....

two good classes means most of our players are frosh or sophomores. A lack of age on the lines is bad. As in rebuilding year bad.
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[GAVol]

Yes, we need depth on the lines, but I don't view this coming year as a rebuilding year.

Then you're nuts.

 

[DismantleVol]

Then you're nuts.

We have no where near the talent at the moment to compete with the big boys. It will take some time to get there

 

[Volfan8282]

We have no where near the talent at the moment to compete with the big boys. It will take some time to get there

I think he was referencing the "it's not a rebuilding year" comment ... I don't see how we can't view the next 2 years as rebuilding years to be honest.

 

[volstexans]

I think he was referencing the "it's not a rebuilding year" comment ... I don't see how we can't view the next 2 years as rebuilding years to be honest.

If we get one non-qualifier this class, then we should have 28 available in 2011.

If we take a normal allotment of positions and use the extra 4-5 spots for JUCO DTs and OLs, the 2011 season could be very strong.

This year will be a borderline rebuilding year. It definitely could be explained away that way if we have a rough season. The young guys could surprise, however, and if we end up 7-5 and you wanna call that rebuilding, then I guess you're right.

2011 can be made very strong. We should have no excuse and cannot call that one a sure fire rebuilding year.

 

[Volunteeer]

i think we have 16 seniors graduating next year. We have 81 on scholarship right now. If everyone stays, we max out next year at a class of twenty - 16 grads plus four open slots. Even with some defections the class won't be more than 22-23

If we get one non-qualifier this class, then we should have 28 available in 2011.

If we take a normal allotment of positions and use the extra 4-5 spots for JUCO DTs and OLs, the 2011 season could be very strong.

This year will be a borderline rebuilding year. It definitely could be explained away that way if we have a rough season. The young guys could surprise, however, and if we end up 7-5 and you wanna call that rebuilding, then I guess you're right.

2011 can be made very strong. We should have no excuse and cannot call that one a sure fire rebuilding year.

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[AllfriggnVOL]

If we can develop the guys that we have, I believe that we can do just enough on both lines to not COST us a game...not saying either will be a strength of our team, but we have been in worse shape this time of year and managed.

 

[Volunteeer]

If we can develop the guys that we have, I believe that we can do just enough on both lines to not COST us a game...not saying either will be a strength of our team, but we have been in worse shape this time of year and managed.

No. Not in the last 25 years we haven't been worse on both lines, especially relative to our competition. The sec has three teams that have won the last four national championships. Lsu and uga have had bad/medeocre coaching, but have out recruited us by light years.

The reality is you can't just be good enough to not kill yourself on the line. We aren't going to be able to run the ball and we won't be able to stop teams running up the gut on our defense. We font have a proven qb, heck, we don't have a qb that has shown in game situations the ability to even be a caretaker qb.

How do our five star backs run with inadequate blocking and how do our five star receivers get the ball without an adequate qb? A weak line means defenses don't have to blitz to get pressure so they can drop seven incoverage. If we can't throw, they put eight in the box against a weak line.
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[LWSVOL]

Excerpt from article on TOS, It is crazy to think that out of the 50 players we signed in the 07 and 08 classes only 25 are left!

We are going to be a very young/depleted team next year. But I really think with one more great recruiting haul we can go a long way to mend our wounds.:good!:

Following information covers 2002-2009 signing classes for SEC schools. Research of those signing classes found, the number of players that failed to complete their eligibility at that school. Failures were counted for: players getting dismissed, failing school, transfers, just quit playing football or unknown reasons. If players left school early for NFL, I do not count them as failing to complete eligibility. Last updated in Spring 2010

SEC Teams

Alabama

2009 Rivals # 01 – Signed 28 – 2 (7%) Gone
2008 Rivals # 01 – Signed 32 – 8 (25%) Gone
2007 Rivals # 10 - Signed 25 - 9 (36%) Gone
2006 Rivals # 11 - Signed 23 - 8 (35%) Gone
2005 Rivals # 18 - Signed 33 - 19 (58%) Gone
2004 Rivals # 15 - Signed 27 - 12 (44%) Gone
2003 Rivals # 49 - Signed 19 - 9 (47%) Didn't Complete
2002 Rivals # 30 - Signed 18 - 6 (33%) Didn't Complete

Totals Signed 205 – 73 (36%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

Arkansas

2009 Rivals # 31 – Signed 31 – 6 (19%) Gone
2008 Rivals # 36 – Signed 25 – 7 (28%) Gone
2007 Rivals # 31 - Signed 27 - 9 (33%) Gone
2006 Rivals # 26 - Signed 26 - 11 (38%) Gone
2005 Rivals # 24 - Signed 24 - 11 (46%) Gone
2004 Rivals # 22 - Signed 33 - 17 (52%) Gone
2003 Rivals # 22 - Signed 26 - 12 (46%) Didn't Complete
2002 Rivals # 26 - Signed 21 - 6 (29%) Didn't Complete

Totals Signed 213 – 79 (37%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

Auburn

2009 Rivals # 19 – Signed 28 – 7 (25%) Gone
2008 Rivals # 29 – Signed 29 – 15 (52%) Gone
2007 Rivals # 07 - Signed 30 - 14 (47%) Gone
2006 Rivals # 10 - Signed 25 – 9 (36%) Gone
2005 Rivals # 13 - Signed 22 – 11 (50%) Gone
2004 Rivals # 21 - Signed 29 - 16 (55%) Gone
2003 Rivals # 11 - Signed 27 - 11 (41%) Didn't Complete
2002 Rivals # 06 - Signed 29 - 15 (52%) Didn't Complete

Totals Signed 219 – 98 (45%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

Florida

2009 Rivals # 11 – Signed 16 – 0 (0%) Gone
2008 Rivals # 03 – Signed 22 – 1 (5%) Gone
2007 Rivals # 01 - Signed 27 - 8 (30%) Gone
2006 Rivals # 02 - Signed 27 - 9 (33%) Gone
2005 Rivals # 15 - Signed 18 - 11 (61%) Gone
2004 Rivals # 07 - Signed 23 - 9 (39%) Gone
2003 Rivals # 02 - Signed 26 - 7 (27%) Didn't Complete
2002 Rivals # 20 - Signed 22 - 8 (36%) Didn't Complete

Totals Signed 181 – 53 (29%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

Georgia

2009 Rivals # 06 – Signed 20 – 1 (5%) Gone
2008 Rivals # 07 – Signed 24 – 3 (13%) Gone
2007 Rivals # 09 - Signed 23 – 5 (22) Gone
2006 Rivals # 04 - Signed 28 - 7 (25%) Gone
2005 Rivals # 10 - Signed 19 - 8 (42%) Gone
2004 Rivals # 06 - Signed 20 - 7 (35%) Gone
2003 Rivals # 06 - Signed 25 - 9 (36%) Didn't Complete
2002 Rivals # 03 - Signed 31 - 13 (42%) Didn't Complete

Totals Signed 190 – 53 (28%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

Kentucky

2009 Rivals # 41 – Signed 29 – 5 (17%) Gone
2008 Rivals # 57 – Signed 20 – 2 (10%) Gone
2007 Rivals # 54 - Signed 29 - 9 (31%) Gone
2006 Rivals # 36 - Signed 30 - 14 (47%) Gone
2005 Rivals # 67 - Signed 28 -14 (50%) Gone
2004 Rivals # 45 - Signed 28 - 11 (39%) Gone
2003 Rivals # 63 - Signed 22 - 12 (55%) Didn't Complete
2002 Rivals # 94 - Signed 14 - 8 (57%) Didn't Complete

Totals Signed 200 – 75 (38%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

LSU

2009 Rivals # 02 – Signed 24 – 1 (4%) Gone
2008 Rivals # 11 – Signed 26 – 2 (8%) Gone
2007 Rivals # 04 - Signed 26 - 10 (38%) Gone
2006 Rivals # 07 - Signed 26 - 13 (50%) Gone
2005 Rivals # 22 - Signed 14 - 5 (36%) Gone
2004 Rivals # 02 - Signed 26 - 6 (23%) Gone
2003 Rivals # 01 - Signed 28 - 11 (39%) Didn't Complete
2002 Rivals # 15 - Signed 26 - 13 (50%) Didn't Complete

Totals Signed 196 – 61 (31%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

Ole Miss

2009 Rivals # 18 – Signed 37 – 11 (30%) Gone
2008 Rivals # 29 – Signed 31 – 4 (13%) Gone
2007 Rivals # 27 - Signed 22 - 10 (45%) Gone
2006 Rivals # 16 - Signed 30 - 9 (30%) Gone
2005 Rivals # 30 - Signed 28 - 16 (57%) Gone
2004 Rivals # 30 - Signed 25 - 14 (56%) Gone
2003 Rivals # 38 - Signed 21 - 10 (48%) Didn't Complete
2002 Rivals # 33 - Signed 18 - 10 (56%) Didn't Complete

Totals Signed 212 – 84 (40%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

Mississippi St

2009 Rivals # 23 – Signed 27 – 3 (11%) Gone
2008 Rivals # 44 – Signed 27 – 8 (30%) Gone
2007 Rivals # 39 - Signed 34 - 11 (32%) Gone
2006 Rivals # 44 - Signed 24 - 10 (42%) Gone
2005 Rivals # 33 - Signed 27 - 15 (56%) Gone
2004 Rivals # 62 - Signed 23 - 17 (74%) Gone
2003 Rivals # 09 - Signed 28 - 13 (46%) Didn't Complete
2002 Rivals # 17 - Signed 30 - 19 (63%) Didn't Complete

Totals Signed 220 – 96 (44%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

South Carolina

2009 Rivals # 12 – Signed 29 – 5 (17%) Gone
2008 Rivals # 22 – Signed 22 – 3 (14%) Gone
2007 Rivals # 06 - Signed 31 - 8 (26%) Gone
2006 Rivals # 24 - Signed 24 - 8 (33%) Gone
2005 Rivals # 23 - Signed 28 - 14 (50%) Gone
2004 Rivals # 35 - Signed 29 - 18 (62%) Gone
2003 Rivals # 08 - Signed 28 - 10 (36%) Didn't Complete
2002 Rivals # 11 - Signed 26 - 13 (50%) Didn't Complete

Totals Signed 217 – 79 (36%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

Tennessee

2009 Rivals # 10 – Signed 24 – 3 (13%) Gone
2008 Rivals # 35 – Signed 18 – 3 (17%) Gone
2007 Rivals # 03 - Signed 32 - 14 (44%) Gone
2006 Rivals # 23 - Signed 22 - 8 (36%) Gone
2005 Rivals # 04 - Signed 27 - 11 (41%) Gone
2004 Rivals # 11 - Signed 24 - 7 (29%) Gone
2003 Rivals # 18 - Signed 22 - 8 (36%) Gone
2002 Rivals # 02 - Signed 25 - 9 (36%) Didn't Complete

Totals Signed 194 – 63 (32%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

Vanderbilt

2009 Rivals # 73 – Signed 18 -1 (6%) Gone
2008 Rivals # 90 – Signed 21 – 1 (5%) Gone
2007 Rivals # 67 - Signed 14 - 1 (7%) Gone
2006 Rivals # 60 - Signed 25 - 9 (360%) Gone
2005 Rivals # 87 - Signed 24 - 8 (33%) Gone
2004 Rivals # 66 - Signed 20 - 10 (50%) Gone
2003 Rivals # 78 - Signed 22 - 11 (50%) Gone
2002 Rivals # 76 - Signed 22 - 10 (45%) Didn't Complete

Totals Signed 166 – 51 (31%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

SEC Totals Signed 2413 - 865 (36%) Gone/Didn’t Complete

 

[Ericvol2096]

Good post, so LWS would you say that the situation isn't as dire as we think?

 

[sjt18]

Sounds like a shotgun approach is what works? What Larry's numbers don't say is how many left the school after it became obvious they'd never play there... that would be a positive thing for the program. I have to say that 50% of UF's 08 class is pretty amazing though. That could suggest a bigger hole in their talent pool than I thought they had.

 

[LWSVOL]

Good post, so LWS would you say that the situation isn't as dire as we think?

if we don't get about a dozen quality lineman in the next class (7-8 offense, 4-5 defensive tackles) things could trun 70 - 80ish for years. this year will be vey rough.

we can't afford any injuries which is not possible