Sam Leavitt, ASU Transfer?

[LWSVOL]

I feel like Leavitt is going to go to Indiana. They seem to have good QB success.

rumors have been Texas Tech or Miami.. both schools have lots of NIL money

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I think a "Big Name" QB will cost you 4 million or more. I don't know what the other two QBs get but I'm betting its at least a million each. That would be 6 million or more for the QB room. Reports I've seen have our roster this year at around 25 million, not counting revenue share. So that would be around 25% of the NIL budget depending on what that budget is.

Not that I've heard, but based on that I have a hard time seeing them making that move for a 4 million a year QB. They have too many other spots on roster that need addressing in the portal that is going to be costly, assuming they play hard in the portal.

Plus, and this is a big deal to me, they are going to spend more money retaining our WRs, OL, DL, LBs and some DBs. Staley and Matthews are going to need a big bump. I would bet anything they are hearing from other schools now.

Just my thoughts..

About the $4M for a "Big Name QB," does Faizon Brandon as the #3 QB recruit in the 2026 class qualify as a "Big Name QB?"

Heupel has to get a portal QB but the early indicator of how much he believes in G-Mac (or very unlikely, Faizon) starting in 2026 is the quality of QB we pull.

Pull a 2 year starter QB and G-Mac might look at the portal.

Pay someone more than Faizon, the flippers start to get in his ear about his worth.

Get a QB that is purely backup material, the G-Mac development had better be complete or we're weak at QB.

Heupel will earn his money with this portal QB pick.

 

[LWSVOL]

About the $4M for a "Big Name QB," does Faizon Brandon as the #3 QB recruit in the 2026 class qualify as a "Big Name QB?"

Heupel has to get a portal QB but the early indicator of how much he believes in G-Mac (or very unlikely, Faizon) starting in 2026 is the quality of QB we pull.

Pull a 2 year starter QB and G-Mac might look at the portal.

Pay someone more than Faizon, the flippers start to get in his ear about his worth.

Get a QB that is purely backup material, the G-Mac development had better be complete or we're weak at QB.

Heupel will earn his money with this portal QB pick.

the market dictates the cost of these players and coming out of high school that is really true. IMO, no high school player is worth a million bucks before they even play a down of college ball but that is what is happening... I'm not certain what they are giving Brandon and would not be surprised at any number. Sooner or later, the numbers start creating unrest on rosters or position rooms.

Its going to be an interesting next couple of months...

 

[Enigmatic_Vol]

Does TN pursue? Would make sense on a lot of levels….

Joey is done. Merk is going transfer. That leaves wire-thin JMac and a true freshman in Faizon.

Let the season play out first.

 

[GolfGuy1]

rumors have been Texas Tech or Miami.. both schools have lots of NIL money

Fair. Could definitely see Miami.

 

[VolRage]

Does TN pursue? Would make sense on a lot of levels….

Joey is done. Merk is going transfer. That leaves wire-thin JMac and a true freshman in Faizon.

At some point the Vols have to play the high school QB’s they recruited vs recruiting over them every year using the portal. Why even bother taking high school QB’s if that the plan. I’d rather let GMac and Brandon compete and go with the winner. Recruiting a one and done QB in the portal every year doesn’t build consistency within the program and eventually, that sort of reputation will result in all top high school QB’s ignoring TN’s recruiting calls.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

the market dictates the cost of these players and coming out of high school that is really true. IMO, no high school player is worth a million bucks before they even play a down of college ball but that is what is happening... I'm not certain what they are giving Brandon and would not be surprised at any number. Sooner or later, the numbers start creating unrest on rosters or position rooms.

Its going to be an interesting next couple of months...

We learned with Nico, even if you ignore the family crap, that paying a premium for a HS QB doesn't mean they'll develop according to their ranking.

Let's recall Harrison Bailey was extremely highly rated and sought after from HS but nothing happened anywhere for him.

The coaching dance is getting someone from the portal who is developed and can run your offense but isn't a threat to the guy already developing in the room and waiting for next year.

If G-Mac thinks he's guy for 2026 and Heupel recruits a starter over him, what would you tell G-Mac to do if he were your kid and wanted to play?

 

[LWSVOL]

We learned with Nico, even if you ignore the family crap, that paying a premium for a HS QB doesn't mean they'll develop according to their ranking.

Let's recall Harrison Bailey was extremely highly rated and sought after from HS but nothing happened anywhere for him.

The coaching dance is getting someone from the portal who is developed and can run your offense but isn't a threat to the guy already developing in the room and waiting for next year.

If G-Mac thinks he's guy for 2026 and Heupel recruits a starter over him, what would you tell G-Mac to do if he were your kid and wanted to play?

to me, that is what makes the portal so interesting. If say they took a guy 3 days into the cycle that projects to start will Mac hit the portal??? or Frazier? or both..

its really tricky management...

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

to me, that is what makes the portal so interesting. If say they took a guy 3 days into the cycle that projects to start will Mac hit the portal??? or Frazier? or both..

its really tricky management...

Very. Keeping any room stable in the portal era is hard.

That Tennessee (the state, but surely after checking with UT) joined the lawsuit against the NCAA which created multiple transfers without penalty remains puzzling. I'm not sure what they were thinking.

 

[McDad]

At some point the Vols have to play the high school QB’s they recruited vs recruiting over them every year using the portal. Why even bother taking high school QB’s if that the plan. I’d rather let GMac and Brandon compete and go with the winner. Recruiting a one and done QB in the portal every year doesn’t build consistency within the program and eventually, that sort of reputation will result in all top high school QB’s ignoring TN’s recruiting calls.

We have literally only recruited a "one and done" portal QB once in 5 years. And we were forced to do that because our HS recruited QB (who the Vols played) left for reasons.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

We have literally only recruited a "one and done" portal QB once in 5 years. And we were forced to do that because our HS recruited QB (who the Vols played) left for reasons.

Bailey and Maurer were in the room when Heupel recruited Milton and Pruitt got Hooker.

 

[McDad]

Bailey and Maurer were in the room when Heupel recruited Milton and Pruitt got Hooker.

Neither Milton nor Hooker were one and done.

 

[VOLtaism]

Does TN pursue? Would make sense on a lot of levels….

Joey is done. Merk is going transfer. That leaves wire-thin JMac and a true freshman in Faizon.

In this new NIL system recruiting freshmen QB's is a waste of money. Always look for the best junior 5th year QB and purchase him. How much would it cost to keep and train a freshman for 1 or 2 years and actually get him on the field. If he is good he will have offers from everywhere every year. Spend that NIL money on big linemen, tall fast receivers and your QB needs will be reduced. Thats my theory.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Neither Milton nor Hooker were one and done.

No. But both bumped guys we'd recruited from HS right out of Knoxville.

The point is: we need to develop in house. Granted, Pruitt sucked.

Heupel, historically, doesn't. But we all questioned Nico's "in house" development (though nature vs nurture can be argued with him.) We've questioned Merk's development and perhaps even G-Mac's development (remains really to be seen.)

Faizon Brandon is very talented. If he's "Nico 2.0" in development, it becomes things that make you say Hmmmmmmm.

 

[S.C. OrangeMan]

He's going to cost a ton. Currently it seems like he and Sellers are gonna be competing for who gets the highest contract in this year's portal. Both probably get 4+ million wherever they go. Kenny Dillingham could also be on the move potentially if LSU, Auburn, or UF come offering a mega contract. And in that scenario, I imagine those schools might do whatever it takes to bring Leavitt with him.


This could be a really interesting portal with lots of QBs changing places. Obviously Leavitt and Sellers are the biggest names that are being talked about right now as potential portal QBs. But you also have Lagway that seems somewhat likely to leave Florida, depending on who they hire as HC. Sawyer Robertson might come back for 2026 and he would probably be the biggest name on the market if he portals away from a mediocre Baylor team. Josh Hoover is another guy that could choose to stay if he doesn't get high draft grades and Sonny Dykes is already on the hot seat. If Sark leaves Texas for the NFL, Arch could be on the move. I think going forward you are going to see a lot of Sam Leavitt types of QBs who aren't good enough to be drafted early, enter the portal and go get 4-5 million (or more) instead of taking an NFL rookie contract as a mid to late round QB.

Edit: Forgot about Drew Allar. He for sure seems likely to get a medical redshirt and return for 1 more year. Does he stay in Penn State with Franklin gone?

Sellers is planning in going in the NFL draft.

 

[McDad]

No. But both bumped guys we'd recruited from HS right out of Knoxville.

The point is: we need to develop in house. Granted, Pruitt sucked.

Heupel, historically, doesn't. But we all questioned Nico's "in house" development (though nature vs nurture can be argued with him.) We've questioned Merk's development and perhaps even G-Mac's development (remains really to be seen.)

Faizon Brandon is very talented. If he's "Nico 2.0" in development, it becomes things that make you say Hmmmmmmm.

We have developed in house.
Neither Hooker nor Milton sniff the draft without Heup. Nico was much better here than UCLA. Swaguilar has been at his best here compared to other teams.

 

[Carp]

Sellers is planning in going in the NFL draft.

That's not the most recent rumor.

 

[D-Vols]

That's a sad way to watch college football. I'm sorry for what ESPN has done to y'all. I watch the games for the stories and rivalries and to see if any young players start blossoming. I watch to see where the team has improved over the course of the season and to see what we have adjusted. I watch because these guys work on their craft 24/7 and it brings me a tremendous amount of pride knowing that young people still think my old college is cool and want to represent it.

Are we out of the playoff picture? Yes. Are the rest of the games meaningless? Absolutely not.

Well said! It’s not just about the playoffs, it’s about OUR TEAM week to week. Making the playoffs is a great thing, but I hated getting in and getting blown out by that northern team. I just want to see our team, preferably win, but I’ll watch as I have for 60 years win or lose.

The thing that upsets me the most, we only have three games remaining and then we have to wait eight months before we see them again.

Damn the college football season goes by fast!

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

In this new NIL system recruiting freshmen QB's is a waste of money. Always look for the best junior 5th year QB and purchase him. How much would it cost to keep and train a freshman for 1 or 2 years and actually get him on the field. If he is good he will have offers from everywhere every year. Spend that NIL money on big linemen, tall fast receivers and your QB needs will be reduced. Thats my theory.

The question is: can the newly bought experienced QB pick up the system and get the timing down with receivers quickly.

These aren't quarter panels where you just bolt one on that fits. They have to learn the system, grasp it in game situations, and execute some throws that require timing and chemistry with receivers.

Brady threw incredibly to Gronk and would've thrown well to Kelce but he and Gronk knew each other for years, knew each other's patterns, etc.

It's not just talent. It's time.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

We have developed in house.
Neither Hooker nor Milton sniff the draft without Heup. Nico was much better here than UCLA. Swaguilar has been at his best here compared to other teams.

In fairness to Nico, UCLA sucks. I'm not saying Nico hasn't slumped but UCLA isn't UT by any stretch.

Hooker and Milton DID benefit from Heupel's instruction. A lot. But those guys were full grown men with a lot of football under their belt when they got to Knoxville.

We're going to need to see what Heupel can do "from scratch" at some point. Historically, he can get it done but Merk seems to be headed down a level (not all on Heupel, but his recruitment to UT was on Heupel) and G-Mac may or may not ever be an SEC starter. If Faizon doesn't mature, what would you think?

Where Heupel goes in the portal this round tells us what HE thinks about G-Mac's potential to start in 2026.

 

[McDad]

Faizon doesn't mature, what would you think?

I would think what about every person who follows football thinks. That is, predicting the future success of a talented QB is extremely challenging. It's challenging at the college and the pro level.

 

[90 Vol]

the market dictates the cost of these players and coming out of high school that is really true. IMO, no high school player is worth a million bucks before they even play a down of college ball but that is what is happening... I'm not certain what they are giving Brandon and would not be surprised at any number. Sooner or later, the numbers start creating unrest on rosters or position rooms.

Its going to be an interesting next couple of months...

I would be surprised if this isn't already happening.

 

[VolRage]

We have literally only recruited a "one and done" portal QB once in 5 years. And we were forced to do that because our HS recruited QB (who the Vols played) left for reasons.

Right, Joey. This Sam Leavitt guy some folks are drooling over was the 381st ranked player in the country coming out of HS and the 24th ranked QB. He may very well be looking to come to TN, put up crazy numbers if he has that type of moxie and then leave after one year.
Meanwhile, our very own George McIntyre was the 193 best player in the country and the 15th best QB.
Jake Merklinger was the 201st best player in the country and the 12th best QB.
Brandon is the 7th best player in the country and the 4th best QB, all according to On3.
I suspect Merk is gone (I hope not) and if we go after Leavitt, GMac may leave and we’re not getting Leavitt and some other transfer QB anywhere close to GMac or Merk in terms of potential talent.
If I’m Heupel I tell Merk and GMac that their only competition will be Faizon and I’d let them fight it out during the spring practices.

 

[Heupel's Offseason Beard]

Bravo brother. My guess is you have some years on you. If not I apologize and congratulate your wisdom.

33 years old, but watched all of the games with both of my grandfathers. One of them went to Tennessee, the other one played high school ball with Philip Fulmer. They taught me a lot about what this team means to this state.

They also taught me about the beauty of college football compared to the NFL. These are young inexperienced football players who chose to grow as players and men at the University of Tennessee. The sport is sloppy, it's messy, and it's incredibly hard to get a bunch of teenagers to align on a common goal. So when the team/ coach is fine with doing away with talented guys who disturb the locker room like Nico and Boo, I know we're going to be just fine.

 

[UT97Vol]

There is no doubt we will target some people. We're not going to go into the season with a true freshman and a RS Freshman with almost no experience as our only options. In addition to Leavitt, I expect UT will also proactively target Darian Mensah, CJ Bailey, and/or Brendan Sorsby.

Maybe even the kid at North Texas who has lit it up this year as a RS freshman.