You know the national grades. Now, read about the ones that really count.
Here is a position breakdown of how Tennessee's football team addressed its needs in its 2008 signing class:
Quarterback A
This has been the Vols' best-recruited position since 2005, when UT signed Jonathan Crompton. UT's coaches continue to sign solid prospects (like Nick Stephens and B.J. Coleman) despite what competition already resides on campus.
Casey Kelly is a prime example this year. He's one of the top 20 quarterback prospects in the nation yet decided UT was his best fit, regardless of the three quarterbacks ahead of him when he arrives.
Credit offensive coordinator Dave Clawson for keeping Kelly even after David Cutcliffe's departure.
If there's any drawback to the philosophy of signing a quarterback every year, it's that it might prevent a team from securing a truly elite passer.
Running Backs B+
Again credit UT's coaches with recruiting to a position with preexisting depth. The Vols have four scholarship tailbacks, yet managed to land one of the better backs in the southeast: Tauren Poole.
Early recruiting certainly helped this position as Poole and Ben Bartholomew announced early decisions. Bartholomew could prove to be the blocking fullback that UT has been missing for years.
Receivers A
UT's talented receivers from the 2007 class played a limited role last season, which must have helped the Vols land two prospects: E.J. Abrams-Ward and Rod Wilks. Had those 2007 receivers played more, it would have been tougher to recruit to that position.
We'll see if Abrams-Ward remains at receiver. Linebacker could soon be in his future.
Wilks, on the other hand, is a prototypical receiver who seems destined for greatness.
Aaron Douglas figures to be UT's next great receiving tight end.
Offensive Line C
This was UT's greatest need, but the Vols fell woefully short. They signed three offensive linemen - Carson Anderson, Preston Bailey and Dallas Thomas - but needed another big-name prospect. Antoine McClain could have made all the difference.
Defensive Line D
This group is soft in the middle.
The Vols signed two prospects slated to play defensive end: Willie Bohannon and Steven Fowlkes. There could be more, including Austin Johnson, Marlon Walls and Gerald Williams, who all seem a bit too big to stay at linebacker.
The gaping hole, however, is at defensive tackle. UT signed only one, Montori Hughes, and he was largely unknown until committing to UT in January. Hughes may go from unknown to project to star. If not, the Vols could be in trouble.
Expect this position to be the key for 2009.
Linebacker B
It'll take some time to determine where UT's 2008 linebacker efforts grade out. For now, the Vols seem to be in good shape, signing Herman Lathers and Walls.
UT has made a living off moving fast, versatile athletes to linebacker. And they've got plenty to mold in this class, such as Abrams-Ward.
Whether Walls plays linebacker or defensive end, signing him was big.
Secondary C
The Vols picked up two defensive backs: Prentiss Waggner and Stephaun Raines. Not bad considering UT has an abundance of young defensive backs already on the depth chart.
Coach Phillip Fulmer said Waggner could be the best athlete in the class.
Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He can be reached at hookerd@knews.com.
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Comments » 42
txsvol#372416 writes:
Before everybody starts in with the usual stuff about how bad this class is, remember that we had only 20-21 scholarships, compared with 32 last year. And, CPF saved one for Brandon Warren, and obviously, another for Demetrice Morley. So, aside from the obvious gaping holes right up our defensive middle, we should be OK. If we had signed five more prospects at the 2.94 average we have on scout, that would bring our raw score to 3790, and eke us in to the 11th spot, above Clemson. But, I'd rather have Warren, Morley, and Gerald Williams, with no stars in the ratings, than to have five more *** players. Honestly, now, have you 'nabobs of nattering negativism' thought of what the real story is behind the numbers? Go Vols! Can't wait until Spring Practice! SAVol
txvolsfan writes:
SAVOL as always a great post, couldn't have said it better!!! D. Mor and E. Berry will hurt some people, this is a wicked safety combo. I think Crompton is going to be a better QB than Ainge. The line will be solid, the whole offense should be solid!!!
It should be a good Spring!!!
TXVOLSFAN
txsvol#372416 writes:
For a good story on Gerald Williams, a ****LB prospect who originally signed with us in 2005, go to htp://jcfootball.scout.com/2/711400.html. I'll take all loyal *JUCO prospects like Gerald, who obviously wants to play for us, over a whole classfull of primadonnas like Alabama and Notre Dame signed. Somebody on the KNS sports staff please do some human interest stories on the guys we've signed this year! Go Vols! SAVol
eb502us#225637 writes:
Biggest disapointment was at DT. When was the last time we signed a decent prospect at this position? Haynesworth is the last one I can recall.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
txsvol - interesting post. Wish you hadn't mentioned "gaping holes right up our defensive middle". Not pleasant to think about, but a healthy dose of reality. Dbs should be great and LB will be improved.
Think Crompton will be better than Ainge overall by season's end. "Gaping holes", man.....
Off grading subject, Kaplan, thanks for my receiving all of my "I Beat Adams" shirts. What a caricature. Man. Also, was I supposed to receive the professionally done color slide -UT Center for Video of Reggie Cobb? Hand written on back "Reggie Cobb- Tennessee". Its very nice, but if you need it back, advise. Tks.
TommyJack writes:
McBrim: You should be familiar with both items.
Or were you just pushing that pig out of the mud?
zjcvols#543765 writes:
I wasn't too worried too about skill positions, but they needed a 4/5 star DT or OL that could play right away. Guess what, didn't happen. They should have focus more on those positions. BTW, how can you grade the QB an A when he might not ever come to UT. I also don't see Tauren Poole being a factor at RB, maybe Wr or DB, but not RB
raynochonspeed#212632 writes:
Hooker, this is easily the worst recruiting job by Fulmer ever. Did you factor into your grades the fact these players might never make it to the UT campus: Marlon Walls, Rod Wilks, Montori Hughes, Dallas Thomas (all b/c of grades), and Casey Kelly (baseball)?
BigVolinCarolina writes:
"Defensive Line: D. This group is soft in the middle."
Soft in the middle, eh? Regardless of all other positions, we needed DT's. Looks like we won't be stopping the run anytime soon.
ncvol17 writes:
Hey, I was told that I won 3 'I beat Adams' t shirts and never received even 1. POHUFF did you actually receive one?
What a gyp that promo was.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
ncvol - wonders abound. They got here only after a modicum of 100 days or so. Ms Amanda emailed me the good news and then ...nothing. I sent off a blurb or two and finally they're here.
I was serious about receiving a great Reggie Cobb color slide (actual professional game shot) hard-mounted in the bottom of the manila envelope with the shirt!! Strange. Guess I'll have to go to the barn and dig out the old slide projector so I can show the beagle ol' Regg in action. You'll have to caterwaul to get a shirt.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Anyone ever wonder why Vladimir Richard was changed from DT to OL when we picked him up in 2005?
Here is hoping one of those 'only 3 star guys' step up at DT and make a name for themselves, there are a handful to pick from:
William Brimfield - 6'6" 300lbs
Wes Brown - 6'4" 275lbs....I know he is a DE, but with all the possible guys at DE, couldn't he beef up and play DT possibly?
Donald Langley - 6'2" 290lbs
Chase Nelson - 6'4.5" 250lbs....seemed fine until he dislocated his wrist.
Jarrod Shaw - 6'4" 330lbs
Dan Williams - 6'3" 305lbs...I like how he plays
Victor Thomas - 6'3" 265lbs
Of course losing guys like Raymond Henderson, Rolando Melacon, and Blake Garretson due to various problems don't help the whole situtation.
Any word on guys like Rae Sykes and Cory Hall? What about Bradon Warren on that note?
txsvol#372416 writes:
Andy, thanks for the run-down on DT possibilities for 2008. If three of them + Demonte Bolden can hold off blocks, our LBs and DBs should be able to make the tackles. We still will need blitz packages to pressure QBs in passing situations, unless I have 'misunderestimated' our DTs. I wonder if Chief will use one of the new guys, (Chris Donald or Chris White, or Gerald Williams) or Ellix Wilson at MLB, or if he will move Rico McCoy there, and have one of the others at SLB. BTW, Vlad Richard obviously wasn't quick enough for D1 football at DT, so he was switched to OL, and he can play the guard position adequately. He may, with a good 2008 season, be an NFL prospect. His leadership in student government and other 'intangibles' will cause him to be rated higher than some equally talented pro OL prospects. Go Vols! SAVol
murrayvol writes:
"Hope springs eternal." Thanks Dave! I needed that(article). But hold the T-shirts. I've got a chest of drawers full of em.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
mcbrim,
I've never even met you! How can you claim I am putting lipstick on you??!!
Please, a little common sense.
IMAVOL2 writes:
this class will be good if not great , and we already have very good athletes in the program . signing a "good" class this year is not a problem .......unless we follow this class next year with another "good" class . a "great" class next year is what this new staff will have to achieve !
jdcdjc#246285 writes:
Let's wait until they get on the field before we start second guessing. This might be the best group in the SEC. Go Vols
volunteer_cowboy writes:
this was in the chatt free press 1-4-08 about Hall: Since arriving at Northwest, the 6-foot-5 Hall has bulked up to 275 pounds, while maintaining a 4.65 time in the 40-yard dash. He has had contact with coaches from Florida, LSU, Georgia, Ole Miss and Mississippi State but said if he were able to sign this year, he would still honor his commitment to UT.
“A lot of people are going to know Cory’s name once he gets to Tennessee,” said Frazier, who has had 20 Division I signees and two other players go straight to the NFL in the last four years. “He’s got a nonstop motor and with his ability to rush off the edge, Tennessee fans and opponents will know when he’s on the field. This is a kid with a possible NFL future if he continues to work.”
After setting program records in the weight room — he bench pressed 225 pounds 24 times and from a standing position pressed 135 pounds 60 times — Hall earned the team’s “Sledgehammer” award for the hardest hit twice last season. With his team trailing late against East Mississippi CC, Hall stripped the quarterback on a sack and recovered the fumble to set up the winning touchdown.
“I was to blame for being here instead of Tennessee,” said Hall, who has a 2.8 grade point average now and intends to enroll at UT next January. “I’ve seen the effect of not doing your work first-hand, but I wasn’t going to dwell on it and let it keep me from reaching my goal. In fact, I’ve decided to major in education administration so I can work as a guidance counselor and make sure the same thing that happened to me doesn’t happen to somebody else.
“This could have affected my future in a negative way, but instead of a wall, I’m making it a stepping stone to get where I want to be.”
volunteer_cowboy writes:
this is whats SAD:
Barrett Jones (OL) 4 Star – Memphis , TN ( Alabama )
Chris Jordaon (ATH) 4 Star – Brentwood , TN ( Alabama )
David Spurlock (OL) 3 Star – Murfreesboro , TN ( Florida State )
Don’ta Hightower (LB) 4 Star – Lewisburg , TN ( Alabama )
Curt Phillips (QB) 4 Star – Kingsport , TN ( Wisconsin )
Tenarius Wright (LB) 3 Star – Memphis , TN ( Arkansas )
LOOK AT ALL OF THE TENNESSEE KIDS GOING TO OTHER SCHOOLS
dford9#209809 writes:
If our '08 signing class can keep their butts
out of trouble, and their hands too themselves
we ought to be in good shape. I'm worried a bit
more 'bout losing Coach Cut (David Cutcliffe)
and Trooper, than I am about our prospects. If
Daniel Lincoln continues too improve, and kick
like he did against Miss. State we should win
a few close ball games. Jon Crompton needs to
adjust to new OC Dave Clawson's scheme very
quickly; or else it could be a very long and
disappointing year.
mikes70gto writes:
Hey cowboy, if you notice most of those kids are no better than those we picked up. I would venture to say that some of ours are better.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
mikes70gto, they might not be better but they sure made alabama's class better and would of done the same for ours. You trying to tell me fulmer wouldnt of like to have had 4* barrett jones or 4* LB don'ta hightower, also they probably wont have trouble getting into alabama where as ours are already looking for a juco
pdhuff#552644 writes:
vol cowboy 8:48 - that's what happens when you get blown out on Natl TV and depend on missed or blocked FGs to win games. Real.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
i agree pdhuff but look at dford9 post, he wants lincoln to continue to improve and kick like he did against miss st.....WHAT A JOKE!!!! so we're at the point where we want our kicker to improve so UT can beat the likes of lowly MISS. ST HA WHAT A JOKE
volunteer_cowboy writes:
maybe dford9 also hopes lincoln saves our butts again this year against also the likes of vandy, kentucky and south carolina seeing that we had a 20 or 21 point lead against 2 of them at half
volunteer_cowboy writes:
listen we got beat at cal and fla, georgia didnt show up because brown got hurt the first play of the game, jones gets hurt on the kick-off when we played ark, thus no wild hog, vandy had us beat outright, the infamous #22 put it in our face at alabama, field goals to beat miss st, up by 20 at kentucky had to go to OT and block a kick and kick 1 of our own to win, up by 21 at half against south carolina and had a prayer answered when thier kicker missed and lincoln won it. our record should of been 4-8 with no sec championship game or bowl game
volunteer_cowboy writes:
wonder why we had a bad recruiting year?????
volunteer_cowboy writes:
i didnt figure i had to mention DJ HALL'S name i thought #22 would be good enough. Every UT fan should know who 22 was
vol1994 writes:
Someone help me here, seriously.
Ward at linebacker?
From what I heard this kid is a stud at wide receiver and is the deep threat we are missing.
Why would we move him to linebacker?
Unless I am thinking of someone else this kid is 6 foot 3 or so and a beast with blazing speed.
va_vol16 writes:
my problem with this class is they will never get better as long as they are at ut we are awful when it comes to developing talent it is ok to take 3* prospects if you can make them better but we wont most players at ut are as good when they come in as they are when they leave that is why we always need to recruit top talant because our coaches will not make a 3* player any better than he was when he got here
thesavageorange writes:
Not going to argue *'s anymore b/c not one of these kids have taken a college snap.I did have a interesting thought after reading 2 very good stories on Montori Hughes, and Cory Hall.The Smyrna coach(who turned UT onto Hughes)said that during the east/west all-star week, and in the game,Hughes was totally unblockable and dominated o-lineman that were also d-1 signees.In seven games last season (due to an injury),Hall,had 63tkls,11.5 sacks and 17tfl.His coach said some of his best games were against other SEC signees.A-lot of people have said they would like more Tennessee kids that cared about UT.Well,in a couple of yrs 5 of our front seven on D may be Sykes and Warren at DE,Hall and Hughes at DT and Donald at MLB.I'm not saying we shouldn't have signed some DT's(maybe this is wishfull thinking),but this group may end up a tight nit group and anchor a surprisingly strong front.Everyone knows however, that depth wins championships, so CPF has to sign some solid DT's and O-lineman in 09.
jimr07 writes:
Yes, va_vol16, we are so bad at developing players that tennssee has the 3rd most players in the NFL.
UT_Fan writes:
I thought this was an interesting article:
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?sl...
4 of the top 10 teams last year have not had a recruiting class in the top 20 in the past 5 years.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
murrayvol 12:02 a.m. - you may have a drawer full of t-shirts, but you don't have any uglier? My old Key West tie-died sunburst looks presentable next to these. These must have been picked up roadside.
hueypilot writes:
Oh UT-Fan. So you mean recruiting ratings might not be an exact science? Gee, I thought it was positive proof. Like Notre Dame always has a great recruiting class and they , well, never mind, like Texas always has a top five class and they, well never mind. Gosh, what can you count on if you can't depend on Mel Kiper?
va_vol16 writes:
yea jimr07 wait until all of those guys from the 90's move on and that number will drop because we are not putting players in the nfl like we used to and thats a fact
txsvol#372416 writes:
marc_ash: Just remember Spiro Agnew by those words and that he got in trouble as Nixon's veep. Can't really remember what, and I don't care enough to research it. Go Vols! SAVol
txsvol#372416 writes:
Actually, I remember the Smothers Brothers Comedy Show of that era, where Dick and Tom hurled phrases originally spoken by Agnew at each other. Those words would be good for our bickering posters to use against other posters whose opinions they disagree with: You 'pusillanamious pussyfooter!' You (member of) an effete corps of impudent snobs who characterize themselves as intellectuals.' etc. Go Vols! SAVol
va_vol16 writes:
whatever you have got to keep telling your selfs i love TENNESSEE more than anything but something is wrong and i think it starts at the top
posivol writes:
this rag is nothing more than a piece of phooey---hope you knoxville fellows can get a grip on this and boycot or just run out of buisness,,,this paper has an agenda to destroy our vols.
dgarland1#214014 writes:
Seems to be a very widely read piece phooey though doesn't it? That is all a newspaper can hope for from it writers, not agreement but controversy is what get papers read.
kantanuuv writes:
General Fruity, I want some of what you're smoking.
Some quick research at Rivals.com shows that in the 5 years between 2002-2006 UT had a top 5 recruiting class. Last year, 18th. This year, 35th. Alabama, Florida and Georgia all have top 5 classes this year. It illustrates 2 things: 1) Fulmer is losing his touch at the one thing that was his greatest strength - recruiting; and 2) UT's recruiting class cannot be evaluated in a vacuum. It must be compared to the competition, and the competition will have substantially greater talent for several years to come.
If you don't think that translates into losses on the field, put down the orange kool aid.
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