Tennessee Recruiting Board

CFAJ inane commentary: In recruiting, just like on the field, QBs always get the most attention. With Cutcliffe on staff Tennessee will always get interest from outstanding quarterbacks, but with what UT has on roster it's not a position of need in '08. Then again, it wasn't really a position of need this time last year when BJ Coleman was a 2-star prospect. Over the year, Coleman improved his standing and became one of the standout recruits of 2007's class, so you never know what you'll find.

CFAJ inane commentary: Early commit from TB Poole, any other takes would hopefully be with an eye toward building depth behind Creer in the future. Given Bartholomew's bloodlines, he was always going to have a spot in Knoxville, but is Cutcliffe's de-emphasis of the fullback temporary or long-term?

CFAJ inane commentary: We've got numbers on the roster, but what quality? All the spring practice reports sound doom-and-gloomy about the wide outs for the most part, and we won't know about the '07 guys until the fall. The number of early offers make it look like the coaches see this as a need position. Besides, you always take playmakers.

CFAJ inane commentary: Depends heavily on what happens with Brandon Warren. If Warren joins the Vols this season (or at all) TE is covered in this class by Douglass. If Warren's not around, UT might need another in this class.

CFAJ inane commentary: Arguably the biggest need in this class. Even though some of the young ones we've got should be pretty good, it's not unusual for a good OL to take two or three years to develop. The difference in size and strength might not be more evident anywhere else on the field. So, you almost always need a steady influx of big men cycling through your recruiting classes, and there just haven't been enough brought in over the last few years, and now we're playing catch-up.

CFAJ inane commentary: Although they often get lost in the crowd, defensive tackle can be either the most frustrating or most fun position to watch on defense, depending on who's playing it. When the opposing tailback is gashing you for eight yards a pop right up the gut, it's probably because your DT is on skates going backward somewhere in the middle. But when you've got a good big man in there, he can disrupt the offense play after play (John Henderson comes to mind). Plus, it's fun to see a 300 pound guy sit on the other team's QB. UT should be okay here for the foreseeable future, but like offensive linemen, you can never have too many.

CFAJ inane commentary: Here's a simple formula -- offenses pass more, so defenses need to stop the pass more. One of the key components to disrupting the pass is pressure from the line, and that often comes from the defensive end. Where the equation gets a little muddled is against these new-fangled spread offenses that, by design, force DEs to be pass rushers, pass defenders, and run stoppers all at once. Ergo, DE has become one of the most important spots on the field. UT is a little thin here, so some quality at the spot in this recruiting class is a need.

CFAJ inane commentary: The need for linebackers in this class depends on how serious coach Chavis is about switching to a 3-4 defense. With four LBs on the field at all times, the need for more depth becomes obvious. There are some interesting VHTs here that would look good in orange.

Updates: July 27, 2007 (LBs); July 14, 2007 (DT and DE); June 30, 2007 (TE and OL); June 26, 2007 (WRs); June 25, 2007 (QBs and RBs); May 22, 2007; May 15, 2007