Gordon
Eric Gordon faces a daunting task this summer.
There are at least 15 colleges that have offered the defensive back from Hillsboro High School in Nashville a scholarship. Gordon is considering them all.
“It’s a big list,” the 5-foot-10, 185-pounder said.
Along with Alabama, Colorado, Louisville, Oklahoma and others, Tennessee is on that list. That’s why Gordon traveled to Knoxville this week to check out the Vols.
“I got to meet all the coaches, a couple of the players and see the stadium,” Gordon said.
Being an in-state school gives UT some advantage. The Vols certainly won’t be forgotten.
“I didn’t want to overlook it,” Gordon said of UT. “I wanted to give them some attention.”
There was cause for concern when Gordon didn’t attend UT’s football camp last weekend. As one of the top prospects in the state, he was expected to attend.
“I had a lot going on,” Gordon said when asked why he didn’t attend UT’s camp.
Gordon said he intends to take another trip – probably an official visit this fall - to UT. That, however, doesn’t lock up UT as Gordon’s leader, especially with Alabama in the mix. Gordon said he’ll take other official visits as well and make his decision sometime late in his senior season or after it altogether.
Perhaps Gordon should take in a Lady Vols basketball game upon his return. Gordon is the second UT prospect (along with Florida tailback Jarvis Giles) who commented on meeting with coach Pat Summit during his visit.
“It was great,” Gordon said.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 118
DooleyNoted writes:
There are too many middle Tennessee kids going out of state. Fulmer needs to lock down this area of the state.
VOLS85 writes:
what kingsport said...time to refocus recruiting...chavis should know how to pick up some DL's...or just get haynesworth come in town to threaten to stomp out the face of a DLiner if he thinks about going somewhere else.
Come on down Alby!
MrBamSeydu writes:
haha, nice one Kingsport.
We should just forget about an OL and DL and suit up 11 WR's or "all purpose backs" on offense and 11 DB's on defense. We haven't had a big time DT recruit since Demonte Bolden, and he has proven to be very over rated so far.
cjraney writes:
We need to sign double-digit DB's every year to keep the FireAnt D properly stocked up.
Does anyone else think we sometimes try to be too selective on DTs? It seems like some coaches just offer anyone with good size, get 'em on campus and see what happens. I like that approach.
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
I have to admit guys, I don't know if the KNS purposely writes these articles in such a negative tone, but it almost sounds like this kid is talking about visiting UT Chattanooga instead of UTK, like he's just throwing us some crumbs and has no intentions of choosing the Vols. Wow. Com'mon Tennessee boy! Play for the home team.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Kingsport 5:59, Are you sure we only have 48?
I really like the "didn't want to overlook it".
What he would probably over look is the pines he'd be riding. But who knows.....
I still like my 2-9 defense, swarm em'. Make them get tired of 80 yard drives.
LiveFaith writes:
Refocus on recruiting? Guys c'mon, this is a news article from GVX. Like all news of the mainstream sort it is always imbalanced, distorted and made palatable for marketing purposes.
There were no quotes from Fulmer, Chavis etc, where they said a DB or DBs was the main or even major focus of recruiting right now. In fact all this reveals is that one of the top players in the state and major target of schools nationwide missed our camp but still has us on the radar. That's it.
What do you want to hear, Fulmer & Co say we don't need/want one of the nations elite because were solid at DB this year, and need DTs? Nonsense.
It's just a reporter meeting his quota and this story was accessable, and has a couple of jingles that resonate with locals. It's not a comprehensive report on the status of recruiting. It's OK to back up, think a little, and look at the bigger picture rather than getting a false impression that media stories actually tell the story.
Bigger_Al writes:
pdhuff - Remember that Al Wilson was a DB when he was recruited. A lot of our DB recruits grow into LB's.
invisiblekid writes:
Fear the Buzzard...Fear the Buzzard fellas.
As far as Gordon goes, my bet says he goes to Bama. Not showing up to the camp isn't a good sign.
cjraney, it may be that they are selective but I wonder if they may have missed the mark in evaluating some guys recently. Brimfield, Shaw and Richard were all moved to the O line. Hall and Williams have yet to make it onto campus and Melancon is at a directional school in LA. Garretson was dismissed for the ever popular violation of team rules. Right there is 7 DL prospects from the past 3 years that either: weren't good enough to avoid the switch to O line, or didn't make it to campus.
vol4jesus writes:
Vol85 out of line! What Haynesworth did was cheap and if memory serves me correctly he did a little NFL time for his inexcusable behavior.Nothing cute or funny about that! Next time think when system gives you or me time to edit before we send our comments. We want quality athletes with solid character(good kind) to represent my alma mater!
dvols writes:
who is the coach at hillsboro?
thesavageorange writes:
dvols ,Scott Blade.
dvols writes:
ok, what about hillwood?
dvols writes:
ok, what about hillwood?
thesavageorange writes:
Our very own Mose Phillips is head coach at nearby Hillwood HS, trying to resurrect a stalled program.
CoverOrange writes:
I-kid, curious why you say not showing up at camp wasn't a good sign. Tennessee had already offered him. Don't most kids go to these camps in order to get an offer?
dvols writes:
hell yeah! mose is who i was thinkin of. he will get it going. probably still pushin his hooptie to work!
invisiblekid writes:
Turbofan, he attended the AL camp on June 9 instead of the UT camp and they had already offered as well if I understood correctly. Also making some uneducated inferences based on his comments. Seems like if he was serious about making a decision to be a Vol, he'd want to spend as much time with the coaches as possible.
GerryOP writes:
I agree i-kid, I make the same "uneducated inferences" you do! He doesn't sound like our kind of kid. Probably go to the highest bidder -- Miami or FSU?
“I didn’t want to overlook it,” Gordon said of UT. “I wanted to give them some attention.” Well, thanks Mr. Gordon, we're really grateful.
mun4life#454315 writes:
kingsportvol,pdpuff, yemmusdarb. you guys are hilarious. lol
CoverOrange writes:
I-kid, I totally agree that Gordon has little interest in UT. Got that more from his comments though than the fact he didn't go to UT camp. Didn't know he preferred the Bama camp instead. Guess it was a case of he was looking to be wowed by Fulmer rather than him wowing Fulmer.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
I have to admit that I don't agree with 99% of Kingsport's posts but that first one gave me a good chuckle.
Smallmike4pres writes:
What, he's not being recruited by Chickamauga State & Kisseemee City College? Are we sure we want to recruit this guy?
wtnvol writes:
Scout article says he didn't really participate in the Alabama camp either although he was there for it. There's no reason for a player to attend a camp if he's already got an offer...makes me wonder if he wasn't just "struttin'" a little bit around the recruits who were busting their butts to try to get an offer.
RJ_Vol writes:
I gotta say...I can't believe we're not comparing something to the Gators in this article. Some of the Florida posters have good things to say and I'm glad for much of their input. However, I'm ready to talk UT football. Maybe we just need go find some obscure article in the archives and post there. Of course 300 additional posts on an old thread may be too obvious. Really, I'm getting tired of all the Gator/Vols comparisons. There is more to UT football than UT vs Florida. It's just one game/one team on our schedule.
VOLS85 writes:
jesus,
it was a complete joke...read over my comments in the past and you will see that I am not one to hate on our players or be unsupportive of our university as I am a recently graduated alumni and very proud of its accomplishments on the academic and athletic side. Remember that Haynesworth did this after UT, therefore there was nothing that Fulmer or UT could have done to prevent this...please try not to take my comments so seriously, though I do appreciate your concern. It was merely a joke!
I'll be there on September 1st at UCLA, sitting in the coliseum and cheering on my Vols!
GO BIG ORANGE!
MidTennVol writes:
This reads like just another kid in love with himself. No way he's a Vol.
King53 writes:
slow news day in Knoxville...when is the next Rocky Top League game?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Bigger Al 7:25, dang, TT beat me to it about Al W being a LB in high school. We should be ok at DB for the next 17 years or so if the current trend continues.
richvol writes:
If this kid really chose to attend Bama's camp over his home state's then we don't need him or want him.
The tone of the article leads one to believe he has a very high opinion of himself as well.
Another 5'10" defensive back...Tennessee needs to hire a former all-pro DL to recruit and develop big kids.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
richvol 7:58, lose the logic. It does not apply to the masterplan.
Vol13 writes:
Here's a fine public service announcement brought to you by our fine friends over at outermonvolia.com. This will make you throw up in your mouth a little bit.
http://outermonvolia.yuku.com/topic/2754
bowerst#242774 writes:
Tennessee will need plenty of depth in the defensive backfields, because our d-line won't be able to slow anyone down, much less stop them. A 180-pound guy can only hit those 210 to 230-pound backs so many times before he needs a blow.
Football games are still won or lost in the trenches and I don't see us matching up very well with the big boys in the SEC.
99gator writes:
vol13
that's a bad news, bad news proposition.
it will probably show more in 2009 and 2010 than in 2008......which is after fulmer gets his raise and contract extension.
i have plenty of respect for tenn as the games since 1998 have been very competitive, especially in knoxville.
but, every preseason publication, national guru, or local sports talk personality (granted i live in florida) treats tenn like an after thought.
if the vols have a 2005 type of season (which i doubt, but almost happened in 2007) can they do anything considering the contract extension fulmer is about to receive.
99gator writes:
before someone says it, the games have been competitive since 1998 with the obvious exception of 2007.
99gator writes:
i'll ask y'all too......as a "what if"
the way tenn's schedule sets up....i will assume las vegas knows what they are doing.
tenn would be 3-3 and 0-3 in the sec (their first three sec games are florida, @auburn, and @ georiga). i don't think they will be favored in any of those.
would it be bloody murder on rocky top? because in my opinion, tenn is not going to get more than one win of those three.
Vol13 writes:
sjt:
Pay attention, son! Yet again, you fail to understand what is actually being said. That's from 2006, 2007, and the 2008 signing classes.
From 2006, ONE signee is starting - McClendon (4 Star) and ONE 5 Star is in the DT rotation (Fisher). The only non-4/5 Star guys that play significantly are Daniel Lincoln (2 Star) and Luke Stocker (3).
From 2007, Eric Berry, Brent Vinson, and DeAngelo Willingham are starters (5 Star, 5 Star, 4 Star). The only other significant contributors from this class to date are Gerald Jones (4) and Dennis Rogan (3).
From 2008, Nobody since they are not here yet.
Not counting Lincoln, that's 4 starters from 2006-08. I'll confidently throw 2008 in there because there is nary a soul in that class that is going to start this year. Taking it one step further, that's 7 of 44 in the two-deep that actually play much at all. That's 18% of our starting lineup and 16% of our two deep. Where do you suppose the other 82% and 84% comes from? Why, the 2004 and 2005 classes!!!
Here's a breakdown for projected starters (not counting those above).
R. Foster - 3 star
A. Foster - 3 star
Parker - 3 Star
Briscoe - 3 Star
Crompton - 4 Star
McNeil - 4 Star
Scott - 4 Star
Rogers - 3 Star
Taylor - 4 Star
Ayers - 4 Star
Bolden - 4 Star
Wilson - 2 Star
Brown - 4 Star
McCoy - 4 Star
Morley - 5 Star
Williams - 3 Star
Brama writes:
Sounds like we need this kid 5 10" 185 lbs . perfect size for a DB.
VolGraduate writes:
99gator smells like cabbage
VolGraduate writes:
so yall are saying we are going to lose b/c all the 3*s??? by your own admission we had a 3* running back last year who ran for over 1000 yds. Is that bad? What gives??? These recruiting stars are given too much credit. I would place my trust in the coaching staff before I would in a recruiting website.
beachvol1 writes:
Say what you want, but Mr. Gordon is the real deal...have seen him in action and he is the kind of impact player that will get your attention...you like Mr. Berry, then you will love Mr. Gordon...
huntined#565710 writes:
Fla. has had one of the top classes with a lot of 5* ratings for the last few years and they did put a hurting on Tenn last year.. but they also lost 4 games and came in third in the east last year. But we all know you win as a TEAM and lose as a TEAM..TAKES A FULL 22 to win. LSU,GA,AUB,and MICH. beat Fla they did not have as many 5* as Fla but they had some and a good TEAM effort. But on any given day a total TEAM effort can win a game just ask MICH. about APPY STATE. who I don't think had a single 5*..
cjraney writes:
Oh my! Austin Rogers was a 4* recruit[per Vol13]? Guess that means no more criticism from you guys.
Vol13 writes:
Continuing from above, the starters for 2008 (projected)....
5 Stars - 3
4 Stars - 10
3 Stars - 8
2 Stars - 1
Let's break down the 3 stars before anyone has a chance to glorify Fulmer for really being able to coach them up......
OL - Foster and Parker. Both have played great, especially Parker. The only 4/5 Stars available on the OL that are not currently starting are Sawtelle and R. Johnson (4). And neither should be starting over 2 seniors who are as good or better than they are.
RB - Arian Foster. Very nice career to date and has a chance to become the all-time rushing leader (which he should). Starting over 4 Star backs Hardesty and Creer (4). IMO, Hardesty has shown flashes of being a better back. But he's also had a slew of injuries. Creer has looked good with what we have seen of him. I agree though that Foster should be starting and you can't argue with his production.
WR - Briscoe and Rogers. I think both will start at UCLA. And I think that one of these guys will start the entire year. But I do think that one will give way to Gerald Jones at some point. He's too good to keep on the sidelines and he's more gifted than either of these. The only other 4 Star on the bench is Paige and I don't see him as a starter anytime this year. He's rail thin and I'm not sold on him until I see more of him in game play.
TE - Cottam. All of our TE's are 3 Stars unless Brandon Warren plays this year. No choice here but to start a 3 Star. Aaron Douglas is s 4 Star, but he won't be starting in 2008.
DL - All DE's are 4 Stars in the two-deep. At DT, Williams is only 3 Star starter. 4 Stars on bench....in rotation - Langley and Mathis. Neither has shown consistency and tenacity that Williams has to date. Overall though, we are woeful here and it's only going to get worse.
LB - Wilson. 4 Stars on bench - Myers-White and Chris Donald. MW is a senior and has done nothing to date. Donald is still young, but has done nothing to date. Both are alarming. I'll have to trust the coaches that Wilson is the best man for the job here. Loss of Mayo will be felt.
RJ_Vol writes:
Vol13. I think your stats are great(better than KNS!), but I may getting the wrong point. It seems like you are saying the 04 & 05 classes were better. It's pretty normal for juniors and seniors to start IMO. Five recruits starting their first year on campus(most freshman, 1 Juco?) is outstanding from 07 class! Did not know G. Jones was a 4*. He should have been a 5*. Arian Foster was a 3*. I think it's obvious he should have been at least 4*. My point...you can't take too much stock in recruiting services. Look at Georgia, they have a lot of talent when compared to the conference and they sat at home during the SEC championship game last year. Finally, in '08 UT has laid the foundation for a VERY strong class this year if we can indeed land some 5*/strong 4* players at skill positions and DT(big IF there). I think it's interesting we complain that some recruits are 3* or 4* recruits. That shows how much Fulmer has raised recruiting expectations here.
TDTN (2:27)...I have to admit, that comment was pretty funny.
cjraney writes:
Those Outermonvolia #'s are encouraging...we're second in the number of 5* recruits, heh?
cjraney writes:
Please disregard 10.18 post...I can't read sometimes.
Vol13 writes:
RJ:
Cliff notes version - 14 of our 22 starters for 2008 were rated 4/5* and 9 of those 14 were from 2004-05. So, yes - those two classes play a significant part for 2008 AND we lose a lot of talent after this year and we don't have 4/5* guys en masse to replace them with next year.
The only 3* guys who are starting because of being coached up, being better than advertised, overachieving, etc. are A. Foster, R. Foster, Parker, and Dan Williams. If we would have had more talent last year I don't believe that Briscoe or Rogers would have played much and I still believe one of them will be out of the starting rotation by the end of 2008. Conclusion - we are playing more 3*'s than in year's past because at some positions that is all we have to play. It's not like we have a ton of 4/5* guys that they are just beating out who are riding the pine.
RJ_Vol writes:
Vol13. Here is what I hope/think will happen. Clawson's offense will be fun to watch - maybe not the first few games, but should be coming up to speed by the middle of the year. With so many coaching changes and a change at QB, it may be unfair to expect an SEC title this year. However, I said similar things in '98 and we all know how that year turned out. Back to the point, if his offense shows promise and production, the recruits will be here. We have great coaches, great fans, great facilities, a great university, and a tremendous track record of sending players to the pro's.
Addendum...How many 4/5* players did we sign in '07? You mentioned there may a big talent drop after this year.
cjraney writes:
99gator@9.45-
People howled all the way through the SECCG last year and are already howling now though we're still undefeated. Sooo, what do you think the mood on Rocky Top will be if we go 0-fer in 1st 3 SEC games? Or 1-3 vs. FL,AU,UGA, & Bammer? There won't be a moving truck at Fulmer's house, there will be a whole line of 'em.
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