The need for a portal qb

[Iravolfan]

I know we’ve got 3 games left , big games! But just looking at next year a little . If Merk leaves , gonna need a QB from portal. Not saying a starter necessarily , but can’t go into season with only 2 scholarship QB’s

 

[UT97Vol]

Ideally, if we are looking for a QB that can "compete" for a starting job, then we are looking for someone older with a some experience but never really hit it off at his old school. Or someone that was a back-up at his last school. Steve Angeli in the last portal (who we were also linked to in the spring) would have fit that profile. Or Beau Pribula. That is the types of QB I think we are hoping to find in the portal.

I don't necessarily think it will be someone who hasn't already had some success. We made a run at Sawyer Robinson and Avery Johnson. Both had similar seasons to what Joey is doing this year. As I mentioned in the Leavitt thread, not only will we absolutely have to find a portal QB, I believe CJH will target Darian Mensah, CJ Bailey, and/or Brendan Sorsby - all guys who have put up pretty good numbers this year and match the skill set the staff is looking for.

 

[Carp]

I don't necessarily think it will be someone who hasn't already had some success. We made a run at Sawyer Robinson and Avery Johnson. Both had similar seasons to what Joey is doing this year. As I mentioned in the Leavitt thread, not only will we absolutely have to find a portal QB, I believe CJH will target Darian Mensah, CJ Bailey, and/or Brendan Sorsby - all guys who have put up pretty good numbers this year and match the skill set the staff is looking for.

I just don't think we're gonna spend that much on the QB position. We're probably already paying GMac a good bit and he'll likely want a bump this off-season as the only returning QB and "presumed starter." Faizon is probably getting a cool million (or potentially more). Are we really gonna go out and pay 4 million or more when we are already paying potentially 2 million at the position already? Seems unlikely.

When we made a run at Sawyer Robertson and Avery Johnson, we had just freed up around 2.5 million with Nico exiting.

 

[UT97Vol]

I just don't think we're gonna spend that much on the QB position. We're probably already paying GMac a good bit and he'll likely want a bump this off-season as the only returning QB and "presumed starter." Faizon is probably getting a cool million (or potentially more). Are we really gonna go out and pay 4 million or more when we are already paying potentially 2 million at the position already? Seems unlikely.

When we made a run at Sawyer Robertson and Avery Johnson, we had just freed up around 2.5 million with Nico exiting.

I don't claim to know what the NIL market is, but it's become more restrictive and if we saved money then maybe we have more to go around. Also, in the portal era no one is ever the presumed starter anymore. It's a new era in that regard. I just know one thing for sure. We are not going into next year with a RS freshman who hasn't taken any meaningful snaps and a true freshman as our only options. And I don't think signing another backup who hasn't played much is going to move CJH's needle. We will definitely be in the market for an experienced QB in January.

 

[LWSVOL]

I just don't think we're gonna spend that much on the QB position. We're probably already paying GMac a good bit and he'll likely want a bump this off-season as the only returning QB and "presumed starter." Faizon is probably getting a cool million (or potentially more). Are we really gonna go out and pay 4 million or more when we are already paying potentially 2 million at the position already? Seems unlikely.

When we made a run at Sawyer Robertson and Avery Johnson, we had just freed up around 2.5 million with Nico exiting.

roster management... going to be interesting this cycle. Heupel managing the budget and the roster these next 8 weeks is as important as any task he has..

83 is the roster number for 2026

67 players on the current roster scheduled to return.. How many of those leave?? NFL? Portal??

23 players currently committed. Take more? How many do they decline to accept??

Portal. What is the number??? What are the needs?? what positions are the priorities?? Are players expeectations on numbers going to continue to increase?

What is the budget?? Can Tennessee compete with the big spenders? Do they want to?? At some point you have real roster issues with the amounts some players will demand, does that matter???

Its only a couple of months from now that all these questions must be answered.. have to answer sooner but by January 20, most need final answer...

 

[EastTNVol6240]

A RS freshmen helped lead Tennessee to the playoffs. It’s about complimentary football.

Maybe a few less big slash plays but longer sustained drives.

The defense will be better if the coaches attack the portal the right way. Help that defense by keeping our offense on the field longer.
Make your kick try’s Gilbert.

No pootbutt none effort toxic attitude on defense draining the life of the defense away. Won’t mention his name but he’s no longer a problem.

Don’t need a portal QB.
We have the NUMEBR ONE RANKED QB in HS coming to Rocky Top.

I agree, but in the era of Heup/Banks that defense was a fluke. We just so happened to be packed full of elite defensive talent. That year was the outlier in this coaching admins stay. Given heupels offensuve scheme, you can expect more defenses that resemble this year. The way we play offense just doesn’t play into the thought of complimentary football unfortunately. In that aspect, it very much is a gimmick.

This is the main reason I feel it will be an uphill battle to compete for any sort of title under this staff. The whole “defense wins championships” ain’t a lie. Just look at last year. Offensively, we had no business in the playoffs, but defensive play put us there.

 

[OrangeInKy]

we don't know but coaches should know what they have.

Julian Sayin is in the heisman dicsussion and has the second best QBR rating.

His first year stats playing were

12 attempts 5 completions for 84 yards and 1 TD in 5 games. Not any meaningful reps...

We can assume it will be bad or good or let's see what we have...

Just backing up your statement...

Exactly. It could go either way( and I’d prefer him to be ready as opposed to having a portal starter), but none of us know. I think they’ve got to check out portal either way, as one way you see where GMac is , is have him side by side next spring with an experienced starter. If GMac wins that job , then thats awesome.

 

[OrangeInKy]

roster management... going to be interesting this cycle. Heupel managing the budget and the roster these next 8 weeks is as important as any task he has..

83 is the roster number for 2026

67 players on the current roster scheduled to return.. How many of those leave?? NFL? Portal??

23 players currently committed. Take more? How many do they decline to accept??

Portal. What is the number??? What are the needs?? what positions are the priorities?? Are players expeectations on numbers going to continue to increase?

What is the budget?? Can Tennessee compete with the big spenders? Do they want to?? At some point you have real roster issues with the amounts some players will demand, does that matter???

Its only a couple of months from now that all these questions must be answered.. have to answer sooner but by January 20, most need final answer...

Nothing to add here, but I think Heupel has shown what he can do with quarterbacks, so I personally don’t want them spending big in the portal on that position. I think they definitely get someone, but I hope it’s not a big name thats gonna make it tough to get what is needed to elsewhere. I’d hate to make those decisions, and I’d be horrible at it.