The Unheralded 9 from 2011

#1
WesternKyVol

WesternKyVol

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#1
This is not a "Why did we recruit these guys!" post. It is a "Why did we recruit these guys?" post.

I am new to recruiting and did not follow the recruitment of the current class in the beginning. Like most of the little people, I showed up in January. In the past, I always looked to stars for indications of a player's potential. Recently, several of you have turned me onto Offer lists as the best way to measure talent. This is absolutely logical. The evaluators at Rivals are probably not as good as the evaluators in Gainesville, Baton Rouge, and Tuscaloosa.

So I looked back on our commits and saw nine who had less than impressive offer lists.

I realize that this is for the following reasons:

1. The coaches believe he is a diamond in the rough.
2. We have to fill out our class. We are not getting the pick of the litter these days.
3. He committed so early that other schools never offered.
4. Dooley is looking for high character guys, and that may not be fashionable at every school.

So here's the list that I would like info on. I realize that some of them may never have big time careers at UT. But, to the best of the board's knowledge, why are these guys here, and why do they have unimpressive offer lists.

Feel free to address this anyway you like. I would love for people who have been on top of this since day 1 to go one-by-one through the recruits and give their analysis of their potential and whether they deserve to be here, what they expect, etc.

So here they are:

1. Alan Carson
2. Tino Thomas
3. Devrin Young
4. T. Saulsberry
5. Tom Smith
6. Christian Harris
7. Mack Crowder
8. Brendan Downs
9. G. Orta

Please understand I am not saying that some of these guys won't be eventual starters or even all league caliber players. I am just seeing relatively weak offers and want to know their stories.
 
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#2
#2
Tom Smith is very underrated. Played the best competition in Florida and ran over them. He could end up being very good.
 
#4
#4
1. Alan Carson - Need more big bodies at DT
2. Tino Thomas - Depth in DB
3. Devin Young - Needed help in Special Teams
4. T. Saulsberry - Diamond in rival's backyard
5. Tom Smith - North South RB
6. Christian Harris - Needed size at LB
7. Mack Crowder - Needed more depth at C
8. Brendan Downs - Needed TE's for dual TE sets
9. G. Orta - Needed help at DB
 
#7
#7
Devrin Young is also the most controversial recruit in our class. He's a talented instate guy who could fill a position of need (KR/PR). However, people aren't sure whether his talents will translate to the college level.

Crowder and Downs were solid instate players, too. Don't see them contributing much next year, but they have the potential to be solid players in a few years.

Carson is a BIG DL. Hopefully he will be able to contribute after getting coached up. I see him as more of a project. Could end up being a great player for us, though.
 
#10
#10
WesternKyVol said:
This is not a "Why did we recruit these guys!" post. It is a "Why did we recruit these guys?" post.

I am new to recruiting and did not follow the recruitment of the current class in the beginning. Like most of the little people, I showed up in January. In the past, I always looked to stars for indications of a player's potential. Recently, several of you have turned me onto Offer lists as the best way to measure talent. This is absolutely logical. The evaluators at Rivals are probably not as good as the evaluators in Gainesville, Baton Rouge, and Tuscaloosa.

So I looked back on our commits and saw nine who had less than impressive offer lists.

I realize that this is for the following reasons:

1. The coaches believe he is a diamond in the rough.
2. We have to fill out our class. We are not getting the pick of the litter these days.
3. He committed so early that other schools never offered.
4. Dooley is looking for high character guys, and that may not be fashionable at every school.

So here's the list that I would like info on. I realize that some of them may never have big time careers at UT. But, to the best of the board's knowledge, why are these guys here, and why do they have unimpressive offer lists.

Feel free to address this anyway you like. I would love for people who have been on top of this since day 1 to go one-by-one through the recruits and give their analysis of their potential and whether they deserve to be here, what they expect, etc.

So here they are:

1. Alan Carson
2. Tino Thomas
3. Devin Young
4. T. Saulsberry
5. Tom Smith
6. Christian Harris
7. Mack Crowder
8. Brendan Downs
9. G. Orta

Please understand I am not saying that some of these guys won't be eventual starters or even all league caliber players. I am just seeing relatively weak offers and want to know their stories.
Click to expand...

1. We need more bodies for DT. Should develop with proper coaching after a few years.
2. Athlete, most likely DB, and after Jackson's withdrawal from school we need more of em.
3. Local kid who should immediately help with punt and kick returns
4. Wanted by FL and a few other prominent schools in the southeast. Refer to number 1.
5. Big back who runs great downhill. We should've taken an addition back to complement him and Lane, IMO.
6. Harris gives us another good sized LB and with Askew's recent departure that's a good thing.
7. Local kid who gives us another big body on the OL.
8. Local kid who gives us another body at TE. Like RB we should have signed an addition player to him and Clear.
9. Orta had an offer and was previously committed to Clemson. Refer to number 2.
 
#11
#11
thomaseusin said:
1. Alan Carson - Need more big bodies at DT
2. Tino Thomas - Depth in DB
3. Devin Young - Needed help in Special Teams
4. T. Saulsberry - Diamond in rival's backyard
5. Tom Smith - North South RB
6. Christian Harris - Needed size at LB
7. Mack Crowder - Needed more depth at C
8. Brendan Downs - Needed TE's for dual TE sets
9. G. Orta - Needed help at DB
Click to expand...


Would it be fair to say that Orta, Thomas, Carson, and Crowder might not have been offered if we hadn't been thin at those positions? That is, it is just a matter of numbers and they --barring the unforeseen--will likely be backups their whole careers.
 
#12
#12
trevols81 said:
1. We need more bodies for DT. Should develop with proper coaching after a few years.
2. Athlete, most likely DB, and after Jackson's withdrawal from school we need more of em.
3. Local kid who should immediately help with punt and kick returns
4. Wanted by FL and a few other prominent schools in the southeast. Refer to number 1.
5. Big back who runs great downhill. We should've taken an addition back to complement him and Lane, IMO.
6. Harris gives us another good sized LB and with Askew's recent departure that's a good thing.
7. Local kid who gives us another big body on the OL.
8. Local kid who gives us another body at TE. Like RB we should have signed an addition player to him and Clear.
9. Orta had an offer and was previously committed to Clemson. Refer to number 2.
Click to expand...

Thank you. That was the kind of thing I was going for.
 
#16
#16
1. Alan Carson - Need depth + plays in tough competition in Bama. Had 73 tackles (18 for loss and 6 sacks). From what I heard his negatives were his height and that he doesn't play a lot maybe due to conditioning.
2. Tino Thomas - Dooley is puting a fence around the state and Memphis is a place to focus. Tino has what UT needs...friends in Memphis, size, and speed (10.68 100m)
3. Devrin Young - UT currently has nothing like him. Has been clocked at 4.32/40 and a 4.03 shuttle. Will make an immediate impact on Special teams.
4. T. Saulsberry - Big body for the inside from Florida's back yard. Also teammates of Williams.
5. Tom Smith - Plays in Floridas toughest competition. Rushed for 1253 yards and 17 TDs this season with injuries. Always nice to start a pipeline from Apopka. Ranked #4 down hill runner by Rivals
6. Christian Harris - Size, speed, and smart. The total package that of current LB's dont have.
7. Mack Crowder - This is the first true center UT has had in a while. Also he was a EE.
8. Brendan Downs - Teammatess of Crowder, also an EE. Has a tremendous upside.
9. G. Orta - Another big DB with speed. Clocked at 4.43 before his Jr season. Also another "in" to a great high school program.
 
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#17
#17
WesternKyVol said:
Would it be fair to say that Orta, Thomas, Carson, and Crowder might not have been offered if we hadn't been thin at those positions? That is, it is just a matter of numbers and they --barring the unforeseen--will likely be backups their whole careers.
Click to expand...

People underestimate Thomas. He has very good speed and can deliver a hit. Coaches really like the way he plays.

Carson is a big body who just started playing football late in high school. After coaching and getting stronger, he could be a solid contributor on the line. It also didn't hurt his chances that two juniors on his team are big time players that we are interested in.
 
#18
#18
WesternKyVol said:
Would it be fair to say that Orta, Thomas, Carson, and Crowder might not have been offered if we hadn't been thin at those positions? That is, it is just a matter of numbers and they --barring the unforeseen--will likely be backups their whole careers.
Click to expand...

There's no way of knowing that until they get on the field and play. All the guys you listed could end up being 2-3 year starters at UT and all-americans. Or they could end up being busts, just like the other 19 guys you didn't list from the 2011 class could be.
 
#19
#19
volunteerlane said:
1. Alan Carson - Need depth + plays in tough competition in Bama. Had 73 tackles (18 for loss and 6 sacks). From what I heard his negatives were his height and that he doesn't play a lot maybe due to conditioning.
2. Tino Thomas - Dooley is puting a fence around the state and Memphis is a place to focus. Tino has what UT needs...friends in Memphis, size, and speed (10.68 100m)
3. Devin Young - UT currently has nothing like him. Has been clocked at 4.32/40 and a 4.03 shuttle. Will make an immediate impact on Special teams.
4. T. Saulsberry - Big body for the inside from Florida's back yard. Also teammates of Williams.
5. Tom Smith - Plays in Floridas toughest competition. Rushed for 1253 yards and 17 TDs this season with injuries. Always nice to start a pipeline from Apopka. Ranked #4 down hill runner by Rivals
6. Christian Harris - Size, speed, and smart. The total package that of current LB's dont have.
7. Mack Crowder - This is the first true center UT has had in a while. Also he was a EE.
8. Brendan Downs - Teammatess of Crowder, also an EE. Has a tremendous upside.
9. G. Orta - Another big DB with speed. Clocked at 4.43 before his Jr season. Also another "in" to a great high school program.
Click to expand...

Nice! Recruiting inroads and teammates were not in my list of reasons. Interesting. Thomas, Saulsberry, and Downs were the three I was questioning most. They make more sense in this light. Thank you for the info.
 
#20
#20
I read somewhere that Downs set his school record in the power clean. Kid might have some pop.
 
#21
#21
Probably because they aren't 5stars. Some will actually be very productive for us. I'm amazed they would offer anyone below a 5star. Wow!
 
#25
#25
Downs is physically similar coming out of HS to the last several "great" TE's UT had- Stocker, Cottam, Witten. He will probably play earlier than he should out of necessity.

Crowder was pursued by Meyer. As was Smith.

Some of these guys are just players DD and staff believe in. If those guys along with Martaze Jackson, Crump, Propst, et al become good players then both opposing coaches and the recruiting svcs will take a longer look at who UT recruits.

You have to realize that much of what raises a player's image is that someone who has an established eye for talent has offered. If DD shows that then he'll become the Pied Piper.
 
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