'26 TN ATH Joel Wyatt

[OptimusPrimerib]

Isn't he a little light for an edge?

Curt Maggit was 195 as a senior in HS

 

[benholt06]

Isn't he a little light for an edge?

Yes. I'm a little skeptical of the EDGE thing. Tough to know how an athlete will respond to 50-60 extra lbs. Or if they'll stick around to bulk up for a couple years while not seeing too much burn.

I saw him more as an off-ball LB. Maybe if he's really athletic a big, roving safety like Chancellor or Kyle Hamilton. But if EDGE is his best position, so be it.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

I just changed the title back to athlete. In his post Ov interview they asked what position the staff was recruiting him for and Wyatt said it’s too be determined. Mentioned LB though.

 

[bicenTENNial]

Wonder what happened to bellbuckles post?? Looks like he removed it.. He seems to know allot about this kid

 

[jvols1999]

I just changed the title back to athlete. In his post Ov interview they asked what position the staff was recruiting him for and Wyatt said it’s too be determined. Mentioned LB though.

Very similar to Christian Gass, IMO. My preference (for both) would be Sam LB since we're already pretty deep at Edge on the roster and even with this class's Edge board.

 

[CobbVol]

From Rivals:

The word in Wyatt’s recruitment is that Tennessee definitely leads especially after his visit to Knoxville this weekend as he and his family love the Vols.

But the four-star athlete from Bell Buckle (Tenn.) Webb isn’t fully comfortable with his future position as Tennessee wants him as an outside linebacker/edge rusher but Wyatt would prefer to play a more hybrid safety role like Derwin James. Georgia and Vanderbilt are the biggest threats to Tennessee especially if the position stuff becomes more of an issue.

 

[jvols1999]

From Rivals:

The word in Wyatt’s recruitment is that Tennessee definitely leads especially after his visit to Knoxville this weekend as he and his family love the Vols.

But the four-star athlete from Bell Buckle (Tenn.) Webb isn’t fully comfortable with his future position as Tennessee wants him as an outside linebacker/edge rusher but Wyatt would prefer to play a more hybrid safety role like Derwin James. Georgia and Vanderbilt are the biggest threats to Tennessee especially if the position stuff becomes more of an issue.

Just dumb recruiting IMO, especially when it’s all projection anyway. Kid is 195 lbs, who knows if he can get big enough to play Edge. Tell him he’s a defensive chess piece and get him on campus. JFC

 

[MarcoVol]

Just dumb recruiting IMO, especially when it’s all projection anyway. Kid is 195 lbs, who knows if he can get big enough to play Edge. Tell him he’s a defensive chess piece and get him on campus. JFC

How do you know that UT isn’t telling him that? In his very own interview when asked what position UT wants him as he said TBD but mentioned LB. He didn’t say for sure LB.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Just dumb recruiting IMO, especially when it’s all projection anyway. Kid is 195 lbs, who knows if he can get big enough to play Edge. Tell him he’s a defensive chess piece and get him on campus. JFC

This staff and program has to be dealing with enough negative recruiting. While their recruiting is slightly above average, lying to kids is a great way to fracture culture, and give credence to that negativity. We can ill afford it.

I think the staff should always be honest with kids, straight away.

Now, I think its fair to raise questions about their evals, esp at big three, WR, DB, OL.

Letting Cam Seldon get away, with that talent. Because YOU think he's only a RB Can same be said for in state DB's? And taking all those OL early on that never had a snowballs chance...

 

[therickbol]

From Rivals:

The word in Wyatt’s recruitment is that Tennessee definitely leads especially after his visit to Knoxville this weekend as he and his family love the Vols.

But the four-star athlete from Bell Buckle (Tenn.) Webb isn’t fully comfortable with his future position as Tennessee wants him as an outside linebacker/edge rusher but Wyatt would prefer to play a more hybrid safety role like Derwin James. Georgia and Vanderbilt are the biggest threats to Tennessee especially if the position stuff becomes more of an issue.

Well, well, well. That sounds exactly like what I said a few weeks ago when posters were arguing about the reports that Vandy might be the leader. I said they were most likely recruiting him at his preferred position while UT was locked in at recruiting him as a pass rusher. He prefers UT but has a decision to make about his position. Of course some typical posters disagreed and said Vandy was just out recruiting us.

 

[miket4god]

This staff and program has to be dealing with enough negative recruiting. While their recruiting is slightly above average, lying to kids is a great way to fracture culture, and give credence to that negativity. We can ill afford it.

I think the staff should always be honest with kids, straight away.

Now, I think its fair to raise questions about their evals, esp at big three, WR, DB, OL.

Letting Cam Seldon get away, with that talent. Because YOU think he's only a RB Can same be said for in state DB's? And taking all those OL early on that never had a snowballs chance...

Not sure if the OL are missed evals or just taking the best you can get at the time.
We all know Elarbee is not a great recruiter and prior to Darnell Wright going top 10, he could not get any traction with anyone talented.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Not sure if the OL are missed evals or just taking the best you can get at the time.
We all know Elarbee is not a great recruiter and prior to Darnell Wright going top 10, he could not get any traction with anyone talented.

he is not. however, we have more 5 star linemen's attention at this very moment than I can recall.

I have very very little faith we will get it across the line. But, to even be in the conversation considering how abysmal its been at times.

Ive said this many times. I would walk straight to Pope's room, and give him a Performance Plan, one month or clear out.

 

[Leeleesteeth]

Just dumb recruiting IMO, especially when it’s all projection anyway. Kid is 195 lbs, who knows if he can get big enough to play Edge. Tell him he’s a defensive chess piece and get him on campus. JFC

Dumb opinion in my opinion.

 

[jakez4ut]

Just dumb recruiting IMO, especially when it’s all projection anyway. Kid is 195 lbs, who knows if he can get big enough to play Edge. Tell him he’s a defensive chess piece and get him on campus. JFC

So just tell them what they want to hear....

 

[LittleVol]

From Rivals:

The word in Wyatt’s recruitment is that Tennessee definitely leads especially after his visit to Knoxville this weekend as he and his family love the Vols.

But the four-star athlete from Bell Buckle (Tenn.) Webb isn’t fully comfortable with his future position as Tennessee wants him as an outside linebacker/edge rusher but Wyatt would prefer to play a more hybrid safety role like Derwin James. Georgia and Vanderbilt are the biggest threats to Tennessee especially if the position stuff becomes more of an issue.

If Cam Chancellor were being recruited nowadays he would absolutely be recruited as an EDGE
Yet we all know that dude was a monster safety that played mostly in the box at 6’4” 235.

If I’m Coach Banks I would break down what the differences are between DB that mostly plays in the box vs a pass rusher that drops into coverage occasionally.

Eric Berry back in 2009 was basically a LB.

Kids often have opinions about their own ability without really understanding what they’re asking for.

This kid could play either but I don’t believe he has the skillset to shine at ROV/STAR/DB.
But at EDGE he’s very good IMO

 

[jvols1999]

So just tell them what they want to hear....
View attachment 747834

I think there’s a vast difference between “telling someone what they want to hear” and locking yourself into something that’s a) clearly a projection and b) what they seem to NOT want to hear.

But yeah let’s make it black and white like always…

 

[headhunter15]

On 104.5 this morning, AP said the staff sees Wyatt as a LEO at the college level.

 

[NighthawkVol]

If Cam Chancellor were being recruited nowadays he would absolutely be recruited as an EDGE
Yet we all know that dude was a monster safety that played mostly in the box at 6’4” 235.

If I’m Coach Banks I would break down what the differences are between DB that mostly plays in the box vs a pass rusher that drops into coverage occasionally.

Eric Berry back in 2009 was basically a LB.

Kids often have opinions about their own ability without really understanding what they’re asking for.

This kid could play either but I don’t believe he has the skillset to shine at ROV/STAR/DB.
But at EDGE he’s very good IMO

I'd also point out that, after QB and OT, Edge is the most sought after position in the NFL.

 

[INDEFENSE]

Tell him his first shot is DB and if that doesn't work out and he can't get on the field then we would have another discussion. He could be helpful to the team at either position but to be honest it's in the teams best interest if he worked out as a safety, it's far more of a need when we look at our recruiting. We have mostly one Leo on the field at a time on a few downs two, how deep are we there? How deep are we at Safety and are we set with that depth or is it just the best of what we have? Not in favor of lying but give them an opportunity if they are athletic enough I don't see that angle as a problem.

 

[lfvol]

How do you know that UT isn’t telling him that? In his very own interview when asked what position UT wants him as he said TBD but mentioned LB. He didn’t say for sure LB.

Mods on another site are saying TN is recruiting him as an edge. So, I agree with the poster that said you get him on campus as a defender and let it work out based on his size. At this point, he is likely too fast for a Banks safety

 

[therickbol]

I don't think you guys completely understand the crux of the decision. It's not that UT coaches would refuse to allow him to try to play S first. It's more about him knowing that our coaches see him as an EDGE. Which is not a bad thing for a staff to be honest. I could be wrong (because numbers and who we bring in at positions matters) but I don't think our coaches have said if you come here you can't start out as a S.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

AP made it sound like if he wants to play EDGE then we probably get him. If he doesn’t want to play EDGE then we likely won’t.

 

[Bellbuckle vol]

I guess I said to much in my last post - I mentioned what I mentioned because he posted a picture with the family that went with him on his socials - but again, he wants to go to UT - everyone around him wants him to go there. So if he doesn’t end up a vol then it’s a royal screw up by our staff (I’m not anticipating that Bty)

I’ve known Joel and his family since he was 5 - he played on many basketball teams with my nephew.

 

[T2P_Priceless]

From Rivals:

The word in Wyatt’s recruitment is that Tennessee definitely leads especially after his visit to Knoxville this weekend as he and his family love the Vols.

But the four-star athlete from Bell Buckle (Tenn.) Webb isn’t fully comfortable with his future position as Tennessee wants him as an outside linebacker/edge rusher but Wyatt would prefer to play a more hybrid safety role like Derwin James. Georgia and Vanderbilt are the biggest threats to Tennessee especially if the position stuff becomes more of an issue.

With rosters expanding to 105 they should just let him play wherever he wants but steer him through camp and as his body grows

 

[LittleVol]

I'd also point out that, after QB and OT, Edge is the most sought after position in the NFL.

And you would hope someone would communicate that to the kid as well.