Vols Return Second-Most Productive Players in SEC

[weallvol]

According to data compiled by Bill Connelly of SB Nation, the Vols return the 9th-most production from their roster in all of college football for the upcoming 2016 season.

The Vols return 85 percent of their offensive production from 2015 and 79 percent of their defensive production from last year. That places them 9th in the NCAA in terms of returning players who had an impact last season and second in the SEC behind only LSU.

Part of that bevy of returning production is thanks to running back Alvin Kamara, cornerback Cam Sutton, and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin returning for this season instead of leaving early for the NFL after last season. The Vols also return 17 total starters from last year, which ties them for the 5th-most in the NCAA.

Here’s how the SEC ranks in Connelly’s returning production rankings:

3. LSU
9. Tennessee
23. Georgia
47. Vanderbilt
67. Texas A&M
68. Missouri
69. Arkansas
80. Ole Miss
93. Auburn
98. Kentucky
99. Alabama
106. Florida
110. Mississippi State
117. South Carolina

There are only two other SEC East schools in the top 50 in returning production from last season, and they are Georgia and Vanderbilt. Florida ranks all the way down at 106, and South Carolina comes in dead last in the SEC at No. 117.

Vols Return Second-Most Productive Players in SEC | Rocky Top Insider

 

[Sarms58]

Last year when we played Florida, many noted that our talent levels were finally about equal...BUT, the experience levels were way different...last year we had 35 blue chip recruits on our roster - 29 were true freshmen or sophomores and only 6 were juniors or seniors. The Gators had 36 blue chip recruits on their roster - 17 true freshmen or sophomores and 19 juniors or seniors…

I think the talent levels may be equal but we will actually have the experience advantage this year...and it will be be in Neyland...gators going down...

 

[SeahawkVOL94]

The return of Dobb Goblin for his senior year will prove to be the difference.

 

[RollerVol]

Bama at 99...continually getting number 1 recruiting classes make all the difference in the world...plug and play for Saban...

GO VOLS!

 

[Fred_Jones]

I wonder how his algorithm is setup. If, for example, he only classifies returning running production as a returning RB and not some percentage to returning OL then this calculation is majorly flawed. I'm not saying he did that, just saying.......

 

[ButchPlz]

I wonder how his algorithm is setup. If, for example, he only classifies returning running production as a returning RB and not some percentage to returning OL then this calculation is majorly flawed. I'm not saying he did that, just saying.......

He heavily weights things like yards (I believe), so a returning QB skews the numbers big time. I think it's fair in some cases, but I'm not sure it's indicative of much.