The numbers really weren’t that surprising when Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer threw them out last week.
Eight to 11.
That’s how many newcomers figure to play this season, voiding a redshirt season.
The numbers are usually about the same. Around 10 newcomers — roughly half of a signing class — figure to get on the field annually.
It comes down to a simple numbers game. With only 85 scholarships, schools have to depend on immediate contributors.
But with UT’s 2008 signing class, it becomes more interesting.
With only 18 commitments (and 20 newcomers if you count returning safety Demetrice Morley and tight end transfer Brandon Warren), we’ll soon see just how talented this class really is.
Take all the recruiting rankings and throw them out the window; the true test for the 2008 class begins now.
With preseason camp complete, here are the newcomers vying for playing time and my prediction as to whether or not they’ll play this season.
E.J. Abrams-Ward: Plenty of talent, but the Vols also have plenty of more experienced wide receivers.
Prediction: Redshirt.
Carson Anderson: All of his practice time at center, where there are at least five more experienced players in line before him.
Prediction: Redshirt.
Preston Bailey: Has done enough to impress UT’s coaches, but a deep offensive line could prove to be tough to overcome for the young guard. Still …
Prediction: … he’ll play.
Ben Bartholomew: Started at linebacker before being moved to H-back/tight end. If something happens to Kevin Cooper, Bartholomew could be an immediate help at fullback.
Prediction: Play.
Willie Bohannon: Great camp as a defensive end and a long snapper. That versatility should get him on the field although he needs to gain about 25 pounds to reach his potential.
Prediction: Play.
Aaron Douglas: This could be one of UT’s toughest decisions. No one wants to rush the former Maryville star back from offseason shoulder surgery, but the Vols are thin at tight end.
Prediction: Play.
Steven Fowlkes: His frame made it an easy decision to move him from receiver to defensive end even before camp began. He’s still learning that position and UT has depth there. And Fowlkes needs to gain weight.
Prediction: Redshirt.
Montori Hughes: The defensive lineman is not on campus and likely to attend prep school or junior college to attain his academic eligibility.
Prediction: Play elsewhere for now.
Austin Johnson: Great long-term potential, but was sidelined for the last week of preseason camp with a sore foot/ankle. Still, he plays tough and has benefitted from enrolling in January and could be a good option at H-back/tight end/fullback.
Prediction: Play.
Casey Kelly: Never made it to UT after being selected in the major league baseball draft by the Boston Red Sox and leaving his quarterback days behind him.
Prediction: Play … for baseball’s new evil empire.
Herman Lathers: The linebacker is physically mature for his age and has had a good camp.
Prediction: Play.
Tauren Poole: Coaches are already developing ways to get him involved. The midterm enrollee may have even passed Lennon Creer on the depth chart at running back.
Prediction: Definitely play.
Stephaun Raines: The junior college transfer figures to play a prominent role in special teams and could be a factor at cornerback if UT wasn’t so deep there.
Prediction: Play.
Dallas Thomas: Very athletic and gives good effort. Still, he needs to get stronger and is a bit behind UT’s other young offensive linemen.
Prediction: Redshirt.
Prentiss Waggner: Lit it up under the lights in Neyland Stadium during the Aug. 16 scrimmage, with a forced fumble and an interception. The Vols have a deep secondary but they’d have to shuffle things if something happened to their starting safeties — or they could play Waggner.
Prediction: Play.
Marlon Walls: The linebacker is still waiting to be deemed academically eligible.
Prediction: Play at prep school or junior college.
Rod Wilks: He was quickly moved from receiver to strong safety in fall camp.
Prediction: Redshirt.
Gerald Williams: Assuming he clears up his summer school grade issue, there’s not much doubt that he’ll play and continue to improve throughout the season.
Prediction: Play, if he makes the grade.
Other Newcomers
Demetrice Morley: After a year off, the defensive back is proving to be a bona fide starter at the top of his game.
Prediction: Start.
Brandon Warren: Finally released to play by the NCAA, Warren is UT’s most athletic tight end and an incredible receiving threat.
Prediction: Play, and play well.
Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He may be reached at hookerd@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 30
gavol2572 writes:
I know you want to redshirt a player sometimes for various reasons but I like the idea of letting as much of the team possible some pt. It might have some growing pains in the beginning but in the long run it could be very effective.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
GO VOLS DESTROY UCLA
BRING SEC SWAGER TO THE ROSE BOWL
gohawks1 writes:
Nice preview, Mr. Hooker.
bob.bigorange#605842 writes:
Get Gerald Williams cleared, please! and make him the MLB and move Ellix Wilson to strongside LB - these two and Rico McCoy - what a trio they would be!
SewaneeVolFAn writes:
Good article, useful info. Thanks.
UT4ME writes:
Thank-you Mr. Hooker. THIS is the type of article that makes me drop by the website each day...although they are few and far between, so most of the time I glance through the comments to find useful information from the likes of "savage". However, kudos are deserved for a good, player-by-player update on the newcomers for UT in 2008. Thanks again.
budrhon writes:
Great article DH
RJ_Vol writes:
Prediction: Abrams-Ward...Play
He's too good to leave on the bench.
RJ_Vol writes:
Also, agree w/ others. Nice article!
MrBamSeydu writes:
Abrams-Ward won't play, Hooker is right. Just because he's tall doesn't mean he can play now.
The only thing I care about in this entire column is the Gerald Williams thing. He and Brandon Warren are the only NEW prospects we've gained that actually excite me.
MrBamSeydu writes:
ps- here's a sign of the times.......
today we got a 2-star commit and are excited about it.
2 days ago Kentucky got a 5-star commit (note: in football, not basketball) at QB.
we have yet to get a 5-star commit.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
1st time kentucky has beaten us in football anything in 20 some odd years!!!!!!!!
jcherrie#219531 writes:
The '2 star' recruit was recruited by both Auburn and Michigan.
Perhaps the coaching staffs of Auburn, Michigan, and Tennessee might know a little more about their needs than likes of Max Emfinger or Tom Lemming that never coached a down of football in their life.
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
jcherrie...I'm glad somebody knows what they are talking about.People.. if you're gonna spend money do it on Rivals. Scout is behind the 8 ball. If Michigan would have gotten this kid, everybody would be saying "How come we didn't go after this kid harder. He had us as his leader?"
My point is there will be a lot of movement in the rankings before signing day. These kids haven't even played their senior years yet. Let the coaches do the evaluating. NEWTON IS A 3* ON RIVALS BY THE WAY.
RJ_Vol writes:
Something else to consider...It's basically five months until signing day. Anything can happen. We have lost one recruit. We will probably get someone else's. If Clawson's offense looks potent, even if we go 9-3, the talent will pour in. We are headed in the right direction and the talent pool knows it - This has been UT's best preseason recruiting ever IMO. Is it a top 10 class yet? Maybe not. We do need some 5* recruits, but the foundation for a top 5 class has been built. Also, some of the 4* guys could have a great senior season and go 5*. Nunes comes to mind.
Also, I think UT has to consider playing Abrams-Ward. I do see the benefits of a red-shirt. However, most good receivers want to play early. If UT sets the standard that you will sit your first year at receiver, then some good recruits may back away. Plus, he is a big guy and would give us advantages over undersized corners with speed. Also, I think the addition of Warren makes it more likely that Abrams-Ward does redshirt. I will contend that like Jamal Lewis early on, leaving him on the bench as a freshman is a mistake - even if it is for just a few games. Abrams-Ward can stretch the field deep. That was sorely lacking last year.
cleVOLand writes:
I've been saying it since the Spring Game- Tauren Poole is an impressive back! He and and Austin Johnson were great recruits- regardless of rating- for the following reasons 1. They are physically ready for the SEC 2. They fill an immediate need and 3. They had the smarts to get their schooling wrapped up early so they could enroll in the spring, thus practically affording them an 'extra' freshman year. I expect we'll hear a lot from these two this year.
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
cleVOLand... Wait a minute. Poole and Johnson were lowly 3*. They can't be that good.
miamiVOL writes:
i lol @ your statement, yemmusdarb, Christ you are ignorant
vol4gzus writes:
No, Kosmopolitan is evidently a legend in his own mind. Kozzy slightly resembles nafslov in that he doesn't like white players....even if they play hard at 100+%. My problem with Kozmonious is that these young men play for UT not Vandy, so why can't you be supportive?
On topic, Gerald Williams where are you? C'mon west coast folks send his transcript.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
LATEST ON G. WILLIAMS: On 104.5 radio in Nashville Doug Matthews has a show called Big Orange Sunday. He intervied Phil Fulmer this morning and asked him about this situation and after the break, Doug came back and said he wanted to explain the situation because Fulmer was very limited in what he could say. Williams has to graduate from the 2 year college in order to be accepted at UT. He took a correspondence course at UT and representatives came to be with him while he was tested offsite. The test results have to be sent back to the 2 year college to be scored. The results are put on the transcript and it is then sent to UT. As Doug explained it, 2 year colleges are not always fully staffed and move at their own pace depending on the instructor's and registrar's schedules. He said he graduated from a 2 year school and often recruited from 2 year colleges. He thinks it is the process not poor test results. Once Williams transcript is accepted by UT, he will be eligible to play.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
matthews and CPF on radio concerning gerald williams: http://podcasting.fia.net/5885/298822...
MrBamSeydu writes:
volunteer_cowboy: good info.... if you're right.
MrBamSeydu writes:
sjt18: good points, I can accept that. I don't put ALL of my chips into the whole "star rating" thing.... but at the same time, production does give them value. Look at how USC has recruited over the last 6 years and look at their results. Same with UF and LSU.
We had a GREAT class 2 years ago with Berry and the likes, but last year was dreadfull and this year isn't impressing me. It is average. I don't see why everyone is so excited about it... I just don't.... sorry.
I just want to be the best. I want our program to be like USC and Florida. I want everyone to be scared of us, like they were in the late 90's.
To me, 2 and 3 star recruits (even if they pan out to be solid players like Arian Foster who was a 3 star) just make it HARDER to win a national championship because it's more about "heart and hard work". Whereas, if you just have superior talent... it comes alot easier. Just ask Vince Young or Pete Carrol.
Oh, and don't give me Poole and Wilks because they have yet to prove ANYTHING.
Arian Foster or Anthony Parker are far better examples to prove me wrong.
cobbwebb writes:
yemmusdarb- I for one say its about time TENN. stops recruiting from the magazines,(rivals, scout,prepstar) and starts evaluating kids personally! we have had too many busts lately ,that the so called experts have tabbed as cant miss prospects.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
How many hours, whomever took Ashley's place?
jmatt62 writes:
Selfishly, I wish we could RS Douglas. He's not ready for prime time and the injury will hold him back.
BradleyCountyVOL writes:
Two Stars at one website, top 10 status at another...none of this means anything. Stay the course folks. Let them prove it on the field. These are young men with their whole life ahead of them, what makes any of us experts at deciding their fullest potential?
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
Fowlkes has a long way to go for putting on weight... at 6'5, he probably needs to add about 50-60 lbs. of muscle... I doubt he'll even get a second look until his junior season.
Wilks to safety was probably a good move... his 40 times weren't exactly breathtaking. Maybe he's the next Rashad Baker for the secondary.
As many RB options as we have, we ought to incorporate some Wing-T into our offense for a change of pace.
gnm53108 writes:
mbible1utk..How about a option out of G-Gun?
chad_t31 writes:
Away from some of the recruiting nonsense and back to the article at hand....It hasn't been until recently that we would even put a freshman on the field. It's about time in my opinion. The uscs, floridas, georgias, etc have been doing it for years. I've heard all the excuses for not playing them...not ready physically, haven't learned the system, etc. If other schools can get them ready to play as freshman, then so can we.
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