Posted by jcherrie on January 15, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Arian did the right thing. So did Mayo.

Posted by Pullingguard on January 15, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sure he did the right thing, just look at the backs available in the draft... But I thought this was a closed issue last week, with everyone assuming, because of comments made by him or family that he would be back.. Anyway may his senior year be a successful one that enhances his draft status to round 1...He's a good guy from a good family.. good luck Arian.

Posted by jclowers on January 15, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No brainer for Arian Foster to come back. He recieved a 2nd round grade before a lot of other juniors announced they were coming back. With Darren McFagden coming out with Felix Jones, Foster was starting to fall because other backs were grading ahead of him as juniors. If he comes back he will compete with Knowshaun Moreno to be the number 1 back in the SEC and the nation.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 15, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good stuff..have a capable/dependable back to start with and grow up our speedy playmakers and qb in Right Situations.

Posted by bustervols on January 15, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's get together with Jones and Paige and throw a party.

Posted by jobrando on January 15, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Going to be real interesting to see how much the new coach can improve him. I dont think the last coach could get the best out of him.

Posted by TommyJack on January 15, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good choice. Good, durable back.

Posted by cltvol on January 15, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is good news for Vol fans. Hate it for him in that he probably wanted to start getting paid good money next year. I think he will work very hard and continue to improve his skills to help his team, and his future. He's matured nicely. He's a good pro situational back - good blocker, catcher, physical w/ the stiff arm at the edge. Good runner. Can make people miss. If he can get his speed up a tick or two and be stronger at slashing into the hole, he can cash nice checks after college. I'm really proud of his comeback from the honkytonk incident last year, fumbles, etc. Wish him well in all things.

Posted by sjt18 on January 15, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Disagree on Mayo. Another year probably would have put him in the 1st round.

If Foster could actually get 2nd round then he should have gone. His stock had to have fallen with the other Jrs that declared. Smith out of UCF was somewhat of a surprise but would probably be taken ahead of AF. Rice, McFadden, Jones, etc make this a pretty deep RB draft.

jobrando, I'm not sure AF has alot more to give. You can knock him a number of ways... but not on effort. He's probably worked as hard as any RB UT has ever had to improve himself. He does almost everything well... he just wasn't blessed with a great burst/first step.

Posted by Greyback_Vol on January 15, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Great! I think Foster went largely unnoticed in UT's offense this season. The guy rushed for around 1,100 yards and 12 TDs, and caught 39 passes. Not bad. Just think what he could do if he would run downhill and not bounce it outside every other play. He will start next season as UT's best weapon.

Posted by TrueVolFan on January 15, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No brainer for Arian! Look at the decision he had to make. 1. Come back to UT and become the All Time Leading Rusher in school history. Come learn and continue to develope under a coach that has brought out the best in folks like Brian Westbrook. He will definately be the number one back at UT and improve his draft stock for next year. Or 2. Declare now, sit patiently at home on draft day and watch Darren McFadden, Central Fla's Kevin Smith, Rutgers Ray Rice, Ark. Felix Jones, WVU Steve Slayton, Mich. Mike Hart, Oregon's Jonathon Stewart, and Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall all go in front of him. That puts him at best probably 9th or 10th RB taken. He knows he'll do much better than that next year. Go job Arian, we're proud to have you as a Vol for one more year.
Go Vols!!

Posted by JTackett6 on January 15, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Now we can all look forward to seeing a UT back run out of bounds 10-11 times a game. That's some exciting stuff right there.

Posted by agentorange on January 15, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

don't know why jayraymond continues to "gay" up this site.

Posted by GreerVol22 on January 15, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

touchdown, agreed...Crompton is a big if...probably more than most will admit.

I mean if Ainge was truly hurt againt Cal and never really recovered and then has his pinky got dinged up and on top of that was still better than Crompton then.....

Posted by tigervol9802 on January 15, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Needs to get a step faster. Other than that, I think he's a teriffic back who will probably own the all-time rushing record when he leaves next year. Hopefully Coach Drayton can help him add that last little piece to his game. If he can, hes will be a beast.

Posted by tigervol9802 on January 15, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Greer -

I think a lot of that has to do with the entire offense being built around Ainge last year, and I think given our playmaking abilties, or lack thereof, Ainge was a better option even hurt because he was more of a precision passer on the short routes. I think Crompton has a better arm and will be able to fling it down the field more, once again assuming some playmakers come along.

He's definitely not a proven, but neither was Tee in 98. However, he's showed me enough potential in the games he played in in 06 and the mop-up duties we saw him in this year.

Posted by vol98 on January 15, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the weed must be better...jk

Posted by thesavageorange on January 15, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just posted this on the other headline , but it applies more here. Getting Foster back is a good thing.Some don't like him , but he was 3rd in sec in Yards 1'162, yards per carry 5.1 , tied 3rd in td's w/ 12 ,and believe it or not had the 3rd longest run by a RB at 59 yds.If Drayton can get him a step quicker he should be an all SEC performer.

Posted by sjt18 on January 15, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I like JC. He's still a huge question mark. Probably the only question mark on O. If Warren gets in, UT should even be stronger at TE though Brown was really good.

Posted by hmhawk on January 15, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ESPN hates Tennessee so I'll wait 'til 2PM to see what Arian says.Can only hope he stays personally.

Posted by khelton657 on January 15, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This may not be all good...you know his heart was actually in the NFL, so was his head..perfect candidate to go into a protect mode towards the end of next season...

Posted by GreerVol22 on January 15, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tiger,
I hope your right. Tee had a lot more around him that Crompton will. I guess time will tell if this bunch from Richmond can coach up some recievers.

Posted by LazhilUT on January 15, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Foster on the hand off, he finds a hole, runs into the DB and fumbles, Foster fumbles, the D recovers and a returns all the way...on another Foster fumble"

Posted by GerryOP on January 15, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good decision Mr. Foster. Perhaps we have reaped the first dividend in hiring Mr. Clawson & Co.

Posted by Phowell23 on January 15, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe Clawson and Drayton can help Foster come more of a well rounded back like having 1,000 receiving and 1,000 rushing like a Westbrook.

Posted by TommyJack on January 15, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

LazzieFrat: You're STILL an idiot. How many times did the man fumble?

Posted by VOLnATL on January 15, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good decision!

Posted by BigOrangeVol on January 15, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I really like Arian but his stats were:
1,193 total yards rushing
12 rushing TD's
245 attempts
85.2 ypg
4.9 ypc
Those are middle of the pack SEC stats.

340 in receiving yards
39 receptions
8.7 ypc
2 TD’s
24.3 ypg
117 in KO return yards

So he had 117.86 all-purpose ypg.

If we will just emphasize the run and get an OL that can run block he should be fine but I doubt that he will be a First-rounder in the NFL. Provided he doesn’t get injured, he should get the 685 needed to pass Cheese for all-time career rushing leader at UT by the Bama or USC game. If we get to a bowl game, especially back to the SEC Championship game, then he may even break Stanley Morgan’s all-purpose career yardage mark of 4,642!

Posted by jevolball7 on January 15, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

lazziefrat; little early to bust out "gaggermeister" and the bong.What a dumb ass comment.

Posted by justin35us on January 15, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TouchdownTN,
are you going to apologize for calling me classless Saturday?

Posted by GoVol on January 15, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Glad he is staying because we need to be 3 deep with 'starter' talent at the RB position in the SEC. I just hope Hardesty is healthy and gets more carries because he has a huge upside potential fully tapped yet.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 15, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

BigOrangeVol , I went of the stats provided on secsports.com.(prior to the bowl game)The fact is his highest carry count for the season was 23.(Pretty sure)He had several games w/ less than 15.If we were not behind big in several games those numbers put him right behind DMC.Plus w/o a deep threat ther was alwys 11 guys within 15 yds of the line of scrimage on running downs.He will benefit from Clawsons offensive running style.Arian is better than average.

Posted by vol4jesus on January 15, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tjack I think his beef was not with quantity of fumbles , but when they occurred. Just a thot sir. I think good to have in backfield with Hardesty and Creer. Will Hawkins eee light of day? Will Poole redshirt or push for pt?

Posted by TommyJack on January 15, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

vol4jesus: Perhaps, but he's beating a dead horse. One of the "big" fumbles wasn't even his fault. Look at the tape.

Posted by LazhilUT on January 15, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks vol4jesus...He's not a fumble machine but tends to fumble when it counts the most...

Posted by dwyvols on January 16, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)

wake up! Quit living in stat world. The young man is not ready for all eyes on him. He is still a college player.