National Signing Day: open thread

by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 6, 2008 7:40 AM EST in Tennessee Volunteer Football

Okay, so all y'all know that we barely take notice of recruiting here at RTT, but today is National Signing Day, and, well, just because we don't have enough time in our days to follow recruiting as much as we'd like doesn't mean that it's not worth a woo or two.

Consider this an open thread to discuss recruiting news of the day as it happens.

Go Vols!

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OK, I'll get a start

It's morning, so we should start with a positive - the big uglies on the O-line.

First, the in-state guy: Preston Bailey is ours. He's a 3-star from Nashville (take that, Vandy!), and linemen are always needed. Outlook is good for him.

We're likely to get Dallas Thomas, a 3-star OT from Louisiana. He may even be good enough for the always-needed left tackle slot. His teammate signed on as a linebacker, and it's between us and Ole Miss for Dallas.

Also confirmed is Carson Anderson, a 3-star OG from Alabama. That would make 3 quality guys for the O-line, and 2 big helps.

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 9:06 AM EST reply actions

Watch for 10 AM

Antoine McClain, a 4-star OT is expected to announce then. All projections split between UT and Auburn.

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 9:14 AM EST reply actions

10 so far

Including one not on any projections (Dallas is official). So far, no indications of any defections. Not a bad start.

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 9:28 AM EST reply actions

E.J. Abrams-Ward signed the dotted line.

A four-star LB prospect from North Carolina, he hadn't committed yet, so add this to Tennessee's list from yesterday. Things are looking better.

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 10:45 AM EST reply actions

DE Stephen Fowlkes is aboard.

He's a 3-star D-end who needs to add weight, so he might not play next year. Still, he's a good fill for a badly needed position. He hadn't committed previously, but was strongly leaning our way, which I read to mean he wanted to go here but just wanted to be sure of all his options first. That bodes well.

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 10:47 AM EST reply actions

WE JUST SIGNED WILKS!!!

WHOO HOO!!!!

One of ESPN's Top 150 WR's at #87

Caught 77 passes for 1,170 yards and 20 touchdowns. Also, returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns. Had 62 tackles and six interceptions as a cornerback.

Gentlemen, We got weapons! :)

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." John Heisman

by Joseph Stanley on Feb 6, 2008 10:57 AM EST reply actions

Current List

Here's who I have listed as confirmed

Austin Johnson
Tauren Poole
Casey Kelly
Aaron Douglas
Ben Bartholomew
Preston Bailey
Carson Anderson
Herman Lathers
Marlon Walls
Montori Hughes
Dallas Thomas
Steven Fowlkes
E.J. Abrams-Ward
Rod Wilks

I miss any ya'll know of as far as actual signings go?

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." John Heisman

by Joseph Stanley on Feb 6, 2008 11:07 AM EST reply actions

that's what I've seen so far.

All we really need is maybe one more O-liner and a couple of D-liners.

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 11:14 AM EST up reply actions

I have to admit

The 2 recruits, offensively that have me most excited is Poole and Wilks.

This Combo placed with our returning WR's and RB I think will be awesome.

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." John Heisman

by Joseph Stanley on Feb 6, 2008 11:17 AM EST reply actions

Ask and ye shall recieve

Willie Bohanin signed

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." John Heisman

by Joseph Stanley on Feb 6, 2008 11:18 AM EST reply actions

Good

expected, and delivered

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 11:20 AM EST up reply actions

govolsxtra seems to be having troubles

perhaps the storms we've had are causing them

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 11:21 AM EST reply actions

While your Genie is on duty

See if you can get Billingsley and Lewis :)

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." John Heisman

by Joseph Stanley on Feb 6, 2008 11:22 AM EST reply actions

I noticed

I'm bouncing between Xtra, EDSBS, ESPN, Insider, Scour.com and Rivals.com.

Xtra is all screwy tho.

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." John Heisman

by Joseph Stanley on Feb 6, 2008 11:23 AM EST reply actions

Gone

are McClain, Davis, and Coples. Grabbing at least one of them would have been great, especially McClain. Oh, well.

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 11:36 AM EST reply actions

Can't win'em all

I reckon.

Keep pur fingers crossed for the remainders

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." John Heisman

by Joseph Stanley on Feb 6, 2008 11:53 AM EST reply actions

Where...

Did Davis and Coples go, Hoop?

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." John Heisman

by Joseph Stanley on Feb 6, 2008 11:57 AM EST reply actions

Davis to Ole Miss

Coples to North Carolina

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 11:58 AM EST reply actions

Thanks!

I can up date my site with that.

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." John Heisman

by Joseph Stanley on Feb 6, 2008 12:00 PM EST reply actions

Gave you

some props for the help!

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." John Heisman

by Joseph Stanley on Feb 6, 2008 12:04 PM EST reply actions

thanks

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

FWIW,

Scout has us up to 33, even though we have fewer recruits than almost everybody else. If one or two more surprises come along in the next few days, that could jump as high as the top 25 (or drop back below 40, if other teams get surprises). Still, it's a much better class than originally projected. For what the rankings are worth, anyhow.

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 12:08 PM EST reply actions

ESPN

Initally said we wouldn't even make the top 15.

33 is a good jump, lets see how far we go.

I'm not entirely concerned, either way, because we do have some really good players coming back.

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." John Heisman

by Joseph Stanley on Feb 6, 2008 12:10 PM EST reply actions

Breaking 15

would be almost counterproductive.

Right now, we have so many positions filled and so many starters figured out, that there really isn't much to add. The linemen are the big needs, but linemen usually don't help a class ranking as much as the skill positions (even though, in my own humble opinion, the linemen are more important). So we have fewer slots to fill, and those slots are less sexy. To break the top 15, we'd need to have positions available for players to start immediately, and that's just not as viable for UT as it is for other teams.

Look for high turnover, new coaches, or recent turmoil (with probability of rebound) for schools who sign big-name guys. At 'Bama, this class will truly be "Saban's class", as it's his first full recruiting year, so they'll assume they'll be privileged. At ND, the whole team needs replaced. Same at Miami. UCLA ranks high because of Neuheisel and Chow. USC, meanwhile, falls a bit because there's no room at the inn.

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

Reuben Johnson (from the other thread - oops)

He's a 4-star corner from Camden Catholic in New Jersey. There's no read available on his decision, but UT is the only school he's visited, so there's hope there. (He visited during the South Carolina game, so who knows what his thoughts were. Even more reason to win your home games.)

I can't find any commitment data on him, and he might not sign today. If I do happen to find something, I'll post.

by David Hooper on Feb 6, 2008 12:34 PM EST reply actions