What could have been

[tennesseeduke]

2 players I'm not sure how we let get away or why we let get away!

Jalen Hurd is closing out his college career with Baylor. I think about what could have been with him here. He finished UT as 6th all time in rushing and 341 yds from 1st all time or basically 3 more games. He only played 2 1/2 seasons and is 6th all time! WTH? He just had an outstanding season at Baylor: 48 carries for 209 yds and 69 receptions for 947 yds with a total of 1156 yds from scrimmage and 10 total TDS this year.
WTH really happened here? I know the speculation but was there something else I missed that was swept under the rug so to speak? Really wish it would have not ended the way it did. Another CBJ casualty.

Preston Williams just finished 2018 season at Colorado St. with 96 catches for 1345 yds and 14 TDs. Did anyone notice this? He's 1st team all American at UT with those numbers. Again WTH? The same question on PW. What really happened with him and caused him to leave and again another CBJ casualty!

Basically between the 2 players we missed out on over 2500 yds of offense in 2018! Let that sink in for a moment.

When we get 5* players we must find a way to keep them. Let's hope Michigan has the same "what could have been" thoughts after their former 5* DL that just transferred here. Can we have the same results here with Soloman as Baylor and Colorado St. just got from our former 5*s?

Thoughts VN and Merry Christmas!

 

[TVA]

I suspect your impulse for thinking about what could have been came from Charles Dickens. Appropriate for Christmas.

Everyone have a great Christmas.

 

[rickyyrs]

We will not have that problem with Pruitt. Butch Jones was a lot of the problem. We had Kamara and Butch didn't even know how to use him.

 

[RollerVol]

just consider the source...could be why such a bad taste is in other Tennessee players mouths who went somewhere else...those bad tastes can linger...hopefully Coach Pruitt is not that stupid...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND GO VOLS...RECRUIT LIKE HECK!

 

[njvols]

Kamara just became the second player in NFL history to have 1500 yards rushing and receiving in first two seasons. Alot of commonality with above questions. That being said, I think Williams had some self inflicted stuff off the field, and Hurd...well wasn't all on CBJ. I like that most of our highly rated players are in the trenches or front 7 on D...where we need them. Don't think development is going to be an issue with Pruitt.

 

[99gator]

As I stated in a related thread....

It doesn’t matter if you own a Ferrari or a rusted out Ford Pinto if you don’t know how to drive.

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

We will not have that problem with Pruitt. Butch Jones was a lot of the problem. We had Kamara and Butch didn't even know how to use him.

which sort of devalues the OPs point. Hurd was the reason Kamara wasn't being used more.

Could both of them been better utilized? Probably so but had Kamara been playing more Hurd likely would have left sooner.

 

[njvols]

As I stated in a related thread....

It doesn’t matter if you own a Ferrari or a rusted out Ford Pinto if you don’t know how to drive.

Yeah, but there's alot more rubber-necking when a Ferrari crashes vs a Ford Pinto. It appears Pruitt finally clearing out some of the CBJ debris off Cumberland Ave.

 

[Volfan76]

The administration at UT is not committed to winning and we've had a lot of people that didnt deserve to be working here.....and I'm not just talking about coaches.

 

[Zues1]

No kidding. Kamara probably could have won the Heisman if he had started from day one. The kid is a phenom.
Hurd at TE/WR , Williams on the fly route.

Of course the downside to that is Butch would have won three/four more games and probably still be building brick walls in Knoxville.

 

[MAUSERWERKE]

Can you imagine a power I backfield with Hurd and Kamara? Butch could have ridden that tandem to an SEC championship game.

 

[Memphisvol87]

Maybe I’m feeling Christmas spirit, but honestly I’m happy for those guys to finish their college careers on a high note. I’m not going to pretend to know the details but butch just didn’t work out and there are a lot of head scratchers out there ( kamara, Hurd, Williams, strength and conditioning, offense line, etc)

Kamara is healthy and we are all
Happy for him and he appreciates his chance at Tennessee. I wish Hurd and Williams could
Be ambassadors for us but they moved on and I totally get it.

 

[GDV]

Similarly, what would the O-line have been like with Boulware and Jack Jones? I know Jack Jones got hurt, but that was another issue with players with CBJ.

 

[tennesseeduke]

just consider the source...could be why such a bad taste is in other Tennessee players mouths who went somewhere else...those bad tastes can linger...hopefully Coach Pruitt is not that stupid...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND GO VOLS...RECRUIT LIKE HECK!

Before I climb you arse, what exactly do you mean by consider the source?

 

[Orange_Vol1321]

 

[FLVOL_79]

Both those dudes knew that if they wanted to be WR's and catch touchdowns, Tennessee wasn't the place to do that.

 

[a vol n tears]

And if Hurd and Williams never attended TENN, fans would say, they wouldn’d do that against SEC defenses.

 

[Sara Clark]

Question...Do recruits read fan forums?

 

[bag12day]

Yeah, but there's alot more rubber-necking when a Ferrari crashes vs a Ford Pinto. It appears Pruitt finally clearing out some of the CBJ debris off Cumberland Ave.
View attachment 185236

HOLY SHAT! I am guessing Some exotic rental car company had a really bad day... Or could be a car club. Unfortunately what we had was a mustangs or taurus that CBJ turned into a pintos. In Jalens case it might have been on off road F250 he turned into two wheel drive ranger. Baylor installed a lift kit and turbo to get Jalen back where he felt good going down the field.

 

[savannahfan]

We will not have that problem with Pruitt. Butch Jones was a lot of the problem. We had Kamara and Butch didn't even know how to use him.

Speaking of Kamara...
Just watched him last night and it nearly made me sick thinking how he was misused or not used while he was here. While I watched, though if he had been used properly he could have been in line for the Heisman, or at least all American. Which would have meant better money going pro and likely better/some success for UT. So sad. Didn't follow Williams as closely as I should have. But we could never have got'in the ball to him with the o-line problems and what I suspect was less than capable QB play. His move was for him the right move.

 

[savannahfan]

just consider the source...could be why such a bad taste is in other Tennessee players mouths who went somewhere else...those bad tastes can linger...hopefully Coach Pruitt is not that stupid...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND GO VOLS...RECRUIT LIKE HECK!

HEL_!! No one can be that stupid AND conceited.

 

[CA_Vol]

I think Butch realized Hurd would not stay quiet if he was unhappy in the gameplan. Thus, Kamara, who is the jolliest man alive, stood on the sideline.

 

[savannahfan]

which sort of devalues the OPs point. Hurd was the reason Kamara wasn't being used more.

Could both of them been better utilized? Probably so but had Kamara been playing more Hurd likely would have left sooner.

Or maybe been moved to TE where it looks to me he should have been.

 

[savannahfan]

Can you imagine a power I backfield with Hurd and Kamara? Butch could have ridden that tandem to an SEC championship game.

Not with the lineman types Butch had bought in. Just too small.

 

[FLVOL_79]

Question...Do recruits read fan forums?

If its not Twitter or Instagram, no.