Herman Lathers has committed to play football for Tennessee.
The 6-foot, 190-pound linebacker from Scotlandville in Baton Rouge, La., told the News Sentinel on Wednesday night he committed to the Vols about two weeks ago.
Lathers has received scholarship offers from Tulane, Baylor, Ole Miss and Stanford.
Lathers visited UT on Nov. 3 for the Louisiana-Lafayette game. He is UT’s 12th commitment for the 2008 signing class.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Vanderbilt 65, Tennessee 47, Jan. 24…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 69
agentorange writes:
good
raynochonspeed#212632 writes:
We're getting killed in recruiting this year.
Two things to note in the above article:
1. "6-foot, 190-pound linebacker"
yikes.
2. "offers from Tulane, Baylor, Ole Miss and Stanford"
not exactly Florida, USC, and Notre Dame we're beating here.
Hunter writes:
I was really concerned about those two things two until I saw he played at Scotlandville in BR. They are TERRIBLE!!!!! That makes me less concerned and more confused, but the coaches make more money and have more rings than this armchair QB, so I'll trust them.....reluctantly.
osunut2#223683 writes:
Maybe he will be converted into a safety? Even if he bulks up, he will be an undersized linebacker at this level, even if he plays OLB.
volsoutwest writes:
AT LEAST MAYBE HIS GRADES ARE GOOD AND WE CAN HAVE HIM FOR FOUR YEARS AND NOT HAVE TO SEND HIM THE JUCO ROUTE.
andy112382#209793 writes:
" "offers from Tulane, Baylor, Ole Miss and Stanford - not exactly Florida, USC, and Notre Dame we're beating here."
Oh, boy...that time of year again, not this debate again...go back and look at the team rankings, lets say, 2004 for example: Missouri 36th, Auburn 31st, Boston College 42nd, WVU 53rd, Boise St. 72nd, Hawaii 82nd....... the top two teams in the nation didn't even crack the top 35.......just make sure we get guys who want to play football, know how to play, and will take advantage of being able to play, I would rather have a team full of real football players than ones just looking for an NFL launching pad because they know they are good.
Don't get me wrong, it works out with highly ranked guys as well, Eric Berry certainly deserved that #1 ranking last year and every one of those 5 stars, but once they hit campus, that all means nothing......bottom line, we'll be fine, plus don't forget some of the guys who we may get such as Demetrice Morley possibly, Brandon Warren, we sent a few guys to prep school from last years class, Gerald Williams (finally I hope!) Not to mention how young this team is, so we don't exactly lose a ton.
GO VOLS!!!
Einstein writes:
Tulane, Baylor, STANFORD!! At least he should be OK academically.
govols98 writes:
Maybe his 3.8 GPA has something to do with our recruiting him...
eb502us#225637 writes:
Again, where's the beef?
VOLinDAWGland writes:
"Where's the beef?"...well it seems to be all over this board.
Southland writes:
imangine he is really being recruited as an athlete not a linebacker don't yall maybe he is a return specialist or the coaches have lost their minds
callen825#321558 writes:
C'mon guys...give this young man a chance. He'll bulk up more, they'll change his position, and he'll contribute to the team down the road. Somebody sees something we don't...yet.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
c'mon guys, we need someone to replace Karl. Remember you must have 11 on the field. He'll work "like heck" to get better and have "heart". Congrats to the young man, take that TULANE!
DSaVol writes:
The beginning of the end. But hey give credit where it's due - this staff went into LSU's backyard and got a guy right under the Tigers nose! So what if LSU wasn't even recruiting him! Great job fellas! Extend those contracts to 2020 Mike Hamilton!!!
vol4good#206163 writes:
Mabye the guy is the next Bill Bates--I would hate to see what you guys would say if TN was recruiting Bill Today. I bet he didnt hit 190 his whole time at UT. Give me heart, desire and work ethic, anytime over a 5 star punk that thinks he deserves pampering. I know I will catch hell for this, but I hope his mindset is much like Robert Peace's. That guy gave his all for TN every time he got on the field.
powert#205805 writes:
I would rather have size and speed since I still have visions of Herschel Walker stepping on Bill Bates chest on the way to the endzone and a Georgia victory. Had to watch it replayed on Atlanta stations for years. I also watched Robert Peace grab the ground where a player used to be too many times. Heart and desire alone won't always get you there in the SEC.
wkjq#213863 writes:
Sometimes a great player slips by the big boys when recruitng. The NFL is full of players from smaller schools. I'll let the coaches do the coaching, and I'll do the cheering. I'll bet nobody here knows as much as the coaching staff about these players.
mtnvol writes:
Guys, relax. Since we don't get paid to evaluate talent and haven't talked to this young man, we really don't know what's up. Spped kills and I'll bet this kid can fly. Herman, welcome to the Vol Nation!
HS's tend to put their best athletes at either QB or LB. For all we know, he's projected at DB for his college career. Besides, there has been plenty of discussion about schools that win the recruiting class but can't break an egg 3-4 years later.
Geaux Vawls!
webbofconfusion writes:
I am not concerned with size.. he is in highschool. He will get bigger. He is smart so he has the ability to learn and read offenses.
and who care if his highschool wins or loses, one player does not make a team.
wrvlvolfan writes:
Not many coaches were looking at Foster when Sanders found him. I would say he was a great recruit.
GreerVol22 writes:
Remember Ryan Karl?....he plays a little football you know. Same size when he got on campus. He's bulked up to around 220 now.
bigbluevol writes:
Ah, perpetual negativity from hiresanders. Why don't you go and lick your wounds from this past weekend.
Singaporehillbilly writes:
Sort of humorous, but when Tennessee does not recruit a local kid, and he signs with another school, according to some on this board the sky is falling. Now, we sign a kid in Baton Rouge, that LSwho was not recruiting, so he must not be any good.
Wake up. The coaching staff, the same one that has Tennessee playing for the SEC Championship, knows what they are doing. I do not demand all the faux vol fans on this board to drink the orange kool-aid, but quit drinking the hater-aid.
Welcome to the Vols Mr. Lathers.
TommyJack writes:
The fact that he had offers from tulane & stanford tells me he has brains...3 stars maybe, but how many 5 stars have we had that couldn't cut the academic mustard? Give the kid a break.
bigbluevol writes:
He runs a 4.3. That's pretty impressive. As someone pointed out earlier, just because he played linebacker in high school doesn't mean that's where he'll play at UT. He's got potential at several spots.
VOLinDAWGland writes:
I've mentioned it before, recruiting focused on ability over character contributed to this program's issues. I like the fact that there seems to be more balance between pure ability and character even if we pass on a few 'can't miss 5*'s'. Intelligence and character will win us some games along with speed and football ability. Please, no more mercenaries punching the clock at UT on the way to the NFL.
martinvolfan writes:
The Tennessee strength and conditioning staff have a way of growing players, so it's way too early to worry about the size of this recruit. He will grow! It's refreshing to see a possible signee that actually has some academic sense too!
alfrizzle097 writes:
You know that ratings aren't everything. Look at what Ron Zook has done at Illinois. This is the trick to recruiting: find the ones that no one else sees. Rogan wasn't expected to ever make the field by most. Look now.
bigbluevol writes:
Just because he plays linebacker in high school doesn't mean that he's an NFL caliber linebacker. As someone said earlier, a lot of times the best athletes play qb or lb in high school. I'm just going off of the numbers that are available and since everyone is willing to accept his rating as a 3 star why is there hesitancy to go with his 40 time? Unless he gains significant weight, he's not going to play linebacker. Sounds like a possible wr, db or even rb.
jlange#632002 writes:
Eddie Moore, Karl, Eric Westmoreland-- how many undersized LB's have contributed in UT's system? Even the whiners admit CPF can recruit. Getting players who can run and tackle in the open field is paramount in today's game.
jacksonvol writes:
Maybe this kid will be our secret to defending the spread offens!
BigOrangeVol29 writes:
I like this deal and I hope this kid turns out to be a good player. I've long criticized this coaching staff for falling in love with athleticism and not recruiting smart football players who are in the right place at the right time, which I think are imperative if Chief insists on playing a soft zone against a lot of these teams. I'll give the kid the benefit of the doubt and bet he ends up making an impact for this team in the future be it special teams or on defense.
mtnvol writes:
CR, trust me when I say I'm not trying to pick a fight. Do you know this kid or see him play? 4.3 is really quick, but not unheard of. Just wondering. Besides, there is "track fast" and "football fast." I think 40 time and bench press, while being indicators, are overrated as tools for judging talent in any sport.
jdcvols#230433 writes:
If this guy reads some of these posts, he will end up someplace else. How can we go after a high school kid from another state who wants to wear ORANGE<
bigbluevol writes:
How do you know he doesn't run a 4.3? Did you go to LA and clock him? He could gain weight, you're right. He could not. Until he gets up there, it's all speculation which is what I was doing.
slsmithsr#269458 writes:
6' 190 lbs....put 10 more lbs on him and he's Eric Westmoreland and Eddie Moore coming in.
TommyJack writes:
put 10 el bees on him and he could be the Nose Tackle chief needs for the 3/4. lol
bigbluevol writes:
You're right, sjt. We are depending on inaccurate timers. However, so are the recruiting services who use that information to help them make their evaluations. Then, we as fans rely on these less than accurate ratings and decide we're having a bad recruiting class because Tenn isn't getting enough 4 and 5 star recruits. The point is that the coaching staff is evaluating talent and deciding how the player will best fit in. Obviously they believe this guy will work out well.
dfreeman writes:
I sure hope this kid isn't reading some of this phooey! We didn't recruit Chad Pennington either, but I believe he played more in the NFL than Clausen didn't he?? Give him a chance! With this kid we know we aren't getting a head full "Ima Star" attitude!! He'll be hungry coming in and just maybe they see a diamond in the rough!!
utchris writes:
Two recruiting websites have him running a 4.5 and also have LSU and Alabama being on his list of schools along with the others mentioned here!
One year in the Tennessee weight room will easily get this kid in the 210-215 range. Probably moves to safety.
Kid from harding Academy of Memphis for 2009 (next class) is ranked number 11 overall (#2 receiver) in the new Rivals ratings. Big time football and basketball player. I heard they told him he could play both at UT....that would be a big pick up!
mtnvol writes:
Laz, is it signing day? Why throw a wet blanket on recruiting when we still have two months to go? Frustrating, yes, but these coaches tend to deliver on signing day so give it time.
dfreeman writes:
Fulmer always makes a push for some of the higher players. Besides with Gerald Williams, Dustin Lindsey, Brandon Warren, and some of the others arriving a little late we'll be ok!!
Ironcity writes:
Players on bad teams and its my understanding he plays on a bad team never get high star ratings. I am ot worried about his size because what you read and what a player is once he gets to UT is never the same.
newtonrail writes:
We are going to be in a numbers problem really quick, especially if DMo and B.Warren are eligible for schol. Mr. Lather's GPA looks great, but I didn't notice anyone mention that 17 ACT. That doesn't come close to cutting it. Those looking for a top rated class are going to be disappointed. We can't take enough additional highly rated players to raise ranking. We need DTs. Period. If Williams finally gets here, he may play inside some. At the least he'll a DE, and not LB. Auburn and the "old" Nebraska are good examples of how rankings can be deceiving. Neither ranks or ranked in Nebraska's case in top of Recruiting Rankings, but they got players that would fit there system. I'm sure Carl Stewart is a nice young man, but I doubt he would have succeeded anywhere else. At Auburn, he has contributed because he's coached in their system. Anyway we need strong, fast DTs, and the problem is that everyone else in country wants them also.
utmdm writes:
It is not over til it is over on recruiting. We all know that there are several defections at the last minute once these young guys see how they fit in the recruiting classes at various schools and also how the coaching shuffles land. We may very well be seeing some effect of our own "CPFis staying/CPF is going" travail.
In spite of what one thinks of his game day coaching CPF IS a top recruiter and if he says it is so on this young man, that is good enough for me.
vol98 writes:
i think what we are seeing on the field this year is the payoff for recruiting guys who are a good mix of talent and integrity. I think after that summer of like 11 arrests, PF put an emphasis on getting good kids who will take initiative and direction. I think that pays off in playing a team game, and may not always reflect in the 'rankings' of players.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
sjt18- I love it! "I'm not sure what they're doing" should be on a plaque behind the Vols bench. Apparently there will be no Berrys in the on-coming class. Take a look at Rival, Scout, etc. Don't like them, well look at AJC top Southern 100. Man we're getting ready to clean up there. ONE PLAYER outside of the 2 or 3 from Tenn. We're not known for "coaching 'em up" other than QBs wth Cutcliff. Well, h#%l, what do I know, the Culhanes were a success on Hee-Haw. Jr Samples made more money than 99% of us. Vols, don't let the wheels come off this fairy-tale ride Saturday afternoon. I only have 23 Buds! Fear the Phil, Miles.
UTvols12342000 writes:
Does anyone know where to find a free online video feed of the championship game friday?? anyone know if ESPN360 or yahoo or someone is gonna carry it like other games this year? I am in Holland and would really appreciate any help
RTYAB
DooleyNoted writes:
I think andy from a previous post needs to be aware that we are not talking about recruiting stars on this kid. He is in LSU's backyard and not being recruited by them. And if your hope is that Fulmer and his staff are going to "coach him up", you should be even more worried.
west_tn_volfan writes:
At this point, the class doesn't rank very high but, as was mentioned, linemen O or D don't rank very highly. A team can get many of the best linemen in a given year and not break the top 10. A great line can make average backs look very good on offense and defense. I hope we bring in some very good D linemen. As far as this kid, he could bulk up and play linebacker or he could play safety but if he's smart and can run well he can be a good player.
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