Tennessee Volunteers Recruiting
Recruiting Never Sleeps Part Deux: A Look Ahead To Tennessee's 2013 Defensive Class Needs
by Brad Shepard on Feb 13, 2012 8:00 AM EST
in Tennessee Volunteers Recruiting
To get you caught up in case you missed it, here's a link to Friday's offensive breakdown.
The Cliff's: UT has 70 scholarship players on its roster now with 14 signed high school players yet to make it into town. There's the possibility that the Vols could add one more player, but that's still up in the air. With only 13 scholarship players set to graduate after this upcoming season, that means UT can only bring in 14 kids in next year's class.
There will be attrition [check the rules listed in Part I of this two-part series on listing potential defections]. And we're going to operate under the thought that Derek Dooley will not be able to sign a full class of 25 but that the Vols will make it to 23-24 signees for the 2013 class.
NOTE: UT has a lot of defensive backs who can play cornerback or safety. So, we'll do a little projecting below. Again, there could certainly be differences in where I see a player fitting or moving to and where the coaching staff does. Again, as we mentioned Friday on the offensive side, some players may be listed twice.
So, without delaying any longer, let's break down the defensive side of the football.
INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMEN [TACKLES/NOSE GUARDS]
Returning players: Sr. Maurice Couch, Sr. Daniel Hood, Sr. Daniel McCullers, Jr. Alan Carson, Jr. Greg Clark, So. Danny O'Brien, So. Trevarris Saulsberry, So. Trent Taylor.
Possible defections/roster questions: I don't see any way that Clark gets any playing time, so he's a possibility to go elsewhere or not be on the team by this time next year. Taylor is already 270, so there's a legitimate possibility that he packs on another 30 or more pounds and stays in the middle. He is going to be another one of those hybrid types, and it'll be interesting to see with Saulsberry's size where he winds up -- inside or out.
Recruiting targets: 2-3. I see the Vols wanting AT LEAST five defensive linemen overall in next year's class. How they sort that out remains to be seen, but with UT graduating three interior linemen -- and likely the three who will get the most playing time, finding help on the inside will be essential. My early guess is the Vols seek two big-body, 300-plus pound types to anchor the 3-4. This is a specialized position that would be best-suited to be filled with a huge player who can still move around some inside. I'll go with two, but that number could swell to three if the opportunity arises.
Recruiting Never Sleeps: A Look Ahead to Tennessee's 2013 Offensive Class Needs
by Brad Shepard on Feb 10, 2012 9:00 AM EST
in Tennessee Volunteers Recruiting
The Tennessee Volunteers have finally caught up numbers-wise -- almost too caught up, actually.
By my count, UT has 70 scholarship players currently on its roster including the mid-term enrollees. Throw in the 14 committed high school players yet to arrive on campus, and that gets the Vols to 84. If Jacksonville (Fla.) inside linebacker Kenneth Bynum decides this week that he wants to join UT over Cincinnati, that would put the team right at the 85 scholarship player limit allowed by NCAA rule.
As of now, the Vols are in line to lose only 13 senior scholarship players after the 2012 season -- Marsalis Teague, Rod Wilks, Prentiss Waggner, Herman Lathers [likely, unless he gets another year from the NCAA], Ben Bartholomew, Nigel Mitchell-Thornton, Carson Anderson, Dallas Thomas, Darin Gooch, Mychal Rivera, Zach Rogers, Willie Bohannon and Steven Fowles. That would mean that -- unless some major attrition happens -- UT will only be able to sign 13 [or 14, if Bynum elects to head north] next year.
We all know that's not going to happen and the Vols will find a way to make more room, but still, we'd have to cull 12 players between now and next year's National Signing Day to get to the 25 max. That seems tough to imagine. There is the looming possibility that several Vols will test the NFL waters early, and while we hope that doesn't happen, it would clear recruiting spots for the next class.I do think the Vols will get close to that number, but 10 is probably the most room they will clear. So, we'll operate off Derek Dooley getting to 23 scholarships in time for the 2013 class.
For our exercise below, the information below can get a bit tricky unless you keep some things in mind. To note, a junior for the upcoming 2012 season will be referred to as a senior leading into the '13 class, and so on. We're going to list the players at each position the Vols will be returning, their class and also give a projection on who may look elsewhere for playing time.
NOTE:
- We will not base potential transfers on ANYTHING besides lack of playing time or NFL departures. So, you won't get anything like "If Player X gets homesick" ... or ... "If Player Y gets in trouble."
- UT's offensive line is full of players who can play guard or tackle, so we'll separate the centers from the exterior linemen, but all other OLs will be tossed in together.
- Some players will be listed twice.
- Finally, we're not factoring in redshirts, which will almost certainly occur.
As I said, this is far too early [but never too early if you love recruiting ...] so here is my subject-to-change breakdown of how I see numbers shaking out for next year's class. This is a completely unscientific look at the numbers, and I could be WAAAY off from what UT coaches envision currently. Still, think of it as an early-bird guide to get us thinking about what UT's needs will be entering this year's recruiting cycle. And, yes, I enjoy recruiting far too much.
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The National Signing Day 2012 Rocky Top Talk Podcast
by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 1, 2012 9:20 PM EST
in Tennessee Volunteers Recruiting
After a month long respite, the Rocky Top Talk Podcast returns tonight to break down National Signing Day 2012. How'd the Vols do? Who are the stars of the class? Did we fill the right needs? How'd we do in relation to the rest of the SEC? Should the other conferences even bother next season? Brad has the answers, and Will's going to get them out of him, so join us tonight at 9:30 ET.
If you're listening live tonight, follow along in the comments below with your questions and thoughts. Here's the pertinent info:
- Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
- Call ID: 61505
- Subscribe via iTunes
You can listen live by clicking the sometimes magic orange widget below. Or you can wait, download it later, and listen to it in your car on the way to work tomorrow.
Tennessee Football Recruiting: Commitment Capsules
by Brad Shepard on Feb 1, 2012 2:00 PM EST
in Tennessee Volunteers Recruiting
Below is a list of this year's Tennessee Volunteers football signing class as it stands right now. May still be an iron or two in the fire, but the Vols address some needs ... and some are left unanswered. Still, not a bad class overall. The only addition today was Cordarrelle Patterson, but what a huge addition he was.
Korren Kirven chose Alabama, Quinshad Davis chose North Carolina and Amos Leggett decided to stick with Marshall. Below are the capsules for this year's signees ... so far.
1. LaDARRELL MCNEIL, 6-1, 190 S DALLAS, TEXAS [WILMER-HUTCHINS HS] Rivals 4* No. 7 safety No. 86 overall player in the nation No. 11 player in Texas, Scout 4* No. 6 safety, ESPN 4* No. 12 cornerback No. 28 player in Texas, 247 4* No. 7 safety No. 115 overall player in the nation No. 14 player in Texas. Chose UT over Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Nebraska, Arizona State, Arizona, Baylor, California, Clemson, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Miami, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Syracuse, TCU, Texas A&M, Southern Cal, Utah, others .
2. DANNY O'BRIEN, 6-2, 290 DT FLINT, MICH. [POWERS CATHOLIC HS] Rivals 4* No. 12 defensive tackle No. 161 overall player in the nation No. 2 player in Michigan, Scout 4* No. 18 defensive tackle, ESPN 3* No. 56 defensive tackle, 247 4* No. 23 defensive tackle No. 6 player in Michigan. Chose UT over Michigan, Michigan State, Florida, Alabama, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt.
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Cordarrelle Patterson To Tennessee: Volunteers Get Big National Signing Day Prize In Five-Star Receiver
by Brad Shepard on Feb 1, 2012 8:58 AM EST
in Tennessee Volunteers Recruiting
One of the most dynamic playmakers in this year's recruiting class decided he wanted to catch passes in Knoxville for the next year or two.
Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson surprisingly chose the Vols over Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Auburn, giving UT another offensive weapon to go along with Justin Hunter, Da'Rick Rogers and Tyler Bray. Patterson is a five-star player, according to 247 Sports and Scout, and he is widely considered by all recruiting services to be the top-ranked junior college player in the country.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound playmaker had offers from virtually anybody, chiefly because he is a threat to score every time he gets his hands on the ball. His size-speed combo is out of this world, as he has a compact frame but still sports a 40-time in the 4.4s. Though the Vols took a lump in the past week with the defection of longtime linebacker commitments Dalton Santos to Texas and Otha Peters to Arkansas, getting a player of Patterson's caliber softens the blow.
He will immediately step in and play from Day One, giving UT another downfield threat to go along with Hunter and allowing Rogers to slide back into the slot, where he can go across the middle and use his big body to make the tough catch-and-run.
Projecting the Future: Deion Bonner
by Brad Shepard on Jan 24, 2012 9:53 PM EST
in Tennessee Volunteers Recruiting
DEION BONNER, 5-11, 185 CB COLUMBUS, GA. [CARVER HS]
Ratings: Rivals 4* No. 19 cornerback No. 227 overall player in the nation No. 37 player in Georgia, Scout 3* No. 28 safety, ESPN 4* No. 15 cornerback No. 20 player in Georgia, 247 3* No. 35 cornerback. Chose UT over Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Southern Cal, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Miami, South Carolina, Florida, others. [Note not all these offers were committable].
STRENGTHS: Has very good size, and his speed is certainly not bad for a big corner. He has elite potential, including some of the best ball skills in this year's class of defensive backs. His break on the ball is excellent, and he has the ability to make players miss when he gets the ball in his hands. Unlike some analysts, I'm actually impressed by his technique. I think he pivots well and really looks impressive when the ball is in the air. He isn't afraid to go up and get it.
Projecting the Future: Alton "Pig" Howard
by Brad Shepard on Jan 23, 2012 10:50 PM EST
in Tennessee Volunteers Recruiting
ALTON "PIG" HOWARD, 5-9, 180 WR ORLANDO [EDGEWATER HS]
Ratings: Rivals 4* No. 47 wide receiver No. 41 player in Florida, Scout 3* No. 76 wide receiver, ESPN 4* No. 150 overall prospect in the nation No. 22 wide receiver No. 29 player in Florida, 247 4* No. 121 overall player in the nation No. 14 wide receiver No. 19 player in Florida. Chose UT over Florida, Central Florida, South Florida, West Virginia, Ohio State, UCLA, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, Miami, Michigan State, Michigan, South Carolina, Utah, Kentucky, Louisville, Cincinnati, others.
STRENGTHS: Blazing fast athlete who is incredible with the ball in his hands. He has that quick-cut, turn-on-a-dime ability that UT sorely lacks on offense. He also is a legit 4.4 player. He also can run the football and has an explosive burst. Makes good grades and by all accounts is a great leader on the field and off. He is very well put-together for a kid his size, and is a bundle of muscles who appears pretty durable. He plays bigger than he is.
NEEDS WORK: It's going to be tough to work on his size, but he is pretty small. If he really is a wide receiver, he certainly isn't going to be a downfield threat who is a mismatch for cornerbacks but rather a player who you get the ball to and let him work in space. Howard needs to work a bit on his hands, but they aren't bad by any stretch. He just needs to get more consistent catching and route-running.
Projecting the Future: Daniel McCullers
by Brad Shepard on Jan 22, 2012 4:32 PM EST
in Tennessee Volunteers Recruiting
DANIEL MCCULLERS, 6-6, 380 DT RALEIGH, N.C. [SOUTHEAST RALEIGH HS/GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE]
Ratings: Rivals 4* No. 6 overall JUCO player, Scout 3*, 247 3*. Chose UT over Alabama, Mississippi State, N.C. State.
STRENGTHS: Well, first of all, he's bigger than a barn and strong as an ox, so when you put him at the nose guard in a 3-4, the center of the line looks like a pile-up on I-40. He also is surprisingly athletic and quicker on his feet than most 380-pounders [like there are many ...] The best thing about McCullers to me is he doesn't look sloppy or lazy. It's not every day that you can weigh what he weighs and not look like you're laboring. While I'm sure he doesn't have the same stamina as most out there, he looks to be in pretty good shape, and he looks to play hard the majority of the time. With his height, it will be tough for quarterbacks to throw over him across the middle.
NEEDS WORK: He is going to be a disrupter because of his size, but he is never going to be a technician. He simply can't help playing high sometimes because of his height, and he's a bit slow at the point of attack. He doesn't need to rush the passer -- that's not his game -- but he will be dynamic at what he does best which is clog the hole. Scout knocks his lateral quickness, which is kind of laughable to me. You never expect a guy like McCullers or Terrence Cody to make a tackle downfield. You want them to plug the middle of the field. In that, McCullers can't help but be great if he just doesn't get knocked off the ball, which he doesn't often. I'm also going to throw this out there: You just don't know about his grades. Though I've not heard of any worries academically it's happened before that UT struggled to get JUCO DTs in school. I will worry until he's in uniform for fall drills.
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