Posted by Brama on January 22, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good Althete in High School, we could use another DB although it sounds like Slade is concerned about his ability to break on the ball. With signing day around the corner we may not be too picky.

Posted by tngeoff on January 22, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

“I’ve been trying to study a little more, make sure I’m hanging out with the right crowd, go to classes and make sure I listen to what the teachers are saying,” Raines said. “I’ve just been really honing in on my academics.”

Bring him on! HURRY!

Posted by jamali76 on January 22, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good to hear something positive after the last week or so of players getting into trouble.Raines seems to have his head on straight and hopefully he will be able to contribute in the upcoming season.

Posted by johnlg00 on January 22, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good for you, young man! Just stay on that path you charted and all good things will come to you. Don't be afraid to put your example out there for others to follow. It's good to know that for every immature knucklehead we have, and every school has them, there are also some who appreciate the opportunity they have. I hope you keep on kickin' a** in the classroom and on the field!

Posted by Chattavegas on January 22, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have seen this kid play plenty of times. The speed is there....could use a little more weight.

Posted by GreerVol22 on January 22, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"There was some question whether UT is still interested in Raines, especially because the Vols signed several skill position players in 2007."

skill is like Mayfield's ice cream...can you ever really have too much?

Posted by Basketball_Jones on January 22, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe him and Kenny Oneal can play wideout together

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tngeoff ,You beat me to it.There are a few trouble guys on the team I'm sure , but let us not forget the quality young men we have.Berry being the best example.Raines runs a legit 4.4.He can atleast make an immediate impact on special teams.There is no excuse for us not to have one of the best return teams in the conference next year, especially w/ the emergence of Rogan.

Posted by tngeoff on January 22, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

thesavageorange.

Exactly. Those guys, who really take playing for Tennessee seriously, I will support them forever. We have a bunch of nice young men who are growing into superstars and they stay out the negative spotlight. That's what I love for Tennessee football! That IS excellence! Stephauns words are a fit for the other young guys you mention. THEY could lead this team to greatness through their positive example. I agree with you...next year has the potential for a very exciting Championship caliber performance. Go Vols!

Posted by TommyJack on January 22, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Savage: You mentioned special teams. Too bad we don't have a coach for that position.

Posted by Ironcity on January 22, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

He hasn't played ball in two years. I would not expect him to help until 2010. I to like athletes and believe you can never have enough of them.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TommyJack ,Agreed.Hopefully one of the new coaches can help in that area.Drayton was a special teams assistant w/ the Packers from 01-03, as well as 00 w/ Bowling Green.Special teams is 1/3 of a football team.There are 2-3 games a year where ST's will win or lose a game.It was huge momentum swings in all 3 of our big losses.UF,CAL,Bama.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tennessee doesn't have a special teams coach?

how is that possible?

doesn't every school have a special teams coach?

Posted by MOOREVOLS on January 22, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I may be mistaken, but I believe the new tight ends coach, Michael, was hired as tight ends/special teams coach.

Posted by rab63 on January 22, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nope....Tommy Jacks is right.....we don't have a special teams coach...I think I remember someone one the football staff referring to the special teams as being coached "by committee".

Posted by LazhilUT on January 22, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Horrible written article, I didn't find out his position until the end of the article pretty much.
Sounds good but the last sentence is scary:

"The Vols have 11 commitments for the 2008 class. National Signing Day is Feb. 6."

Wow.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, Last yr coach Adkins coached Special Teams.UF doesn't actually list a coach as ST coach either do they?Who does it for your Gators?The problem is the limitations on coaches.I believe you are only allowed 10 named coaches.

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

9 coaches allowed plus grad asst's

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

rab63 ,that was the case until the debacle at Florida.After that CPF gave it to Adkins.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

florida's special teams coach is....

urban meyer himself

and if you have heard the man speak about it, he takes special teams very seriously. florida has been very good on special teams since he has been there. whether it be returning kicks, covering kicks, or blocking them.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 4:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18 ,Is that including the HC , or is that the rule on assistants?Thanks for the info.Just wondering b/c if you include CPF UT has 10.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 22, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

2* OUT OF HS..... MAYBE HE IS A SLEEPER!

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 22, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WE HAVE COLQUITT, LINCOLN, ROGAN ALL COMING BACK.... DONT NEED A SPECIAL TEAMS COACH THIS YEAR DO WE?

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on January 22, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

On the topic of Tnnessee having skill players/not recruiting more:

I agree that you can never have "too many skill players" in a manner of speaking, but then again there is a scholarship limit on every team. We already have plenty of QBs, RBs, and WRs. We need to bulk up on defense! I don't think we need to waste any precious scholarships on positions where our cupboards are full. Wouldn't you all agree?

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 22, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

AGREE VOL IN LSU LAND

WE COULD USE SOME 5* TALENT THO AT RB,QB,RECIEVER *AFTER THIS YEAR*.

IF WE HAVE INJURIES AND ACADEMIC ISSUES WE CAN BE IN TROUBLE LATE IN GAMES BEING THIN AT DT,DE,LB

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i think i misinterpreted the special teams coach thing.

most every school's special teams coach is also a postion coach. the way i read what some of you wrote is that no one was assigned to coach special teams

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator ,Thanks.I imagine UM could coach any unit on the field.Special Teams has been an on again off again problem for UT.W/ UG & UT making gains on UF(yes you are still the team to beat)ST's may be a determining factor in each of those games next year.

Posted by agentorange on January 22, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

we have a crapload of scholarships to use. we need warm bodies at this point. bigger the better but raines is solid addition.

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

savage, you may be right about 10 total.

ATLVOL, Hard to figure on that kid. As someone said, he supposedly runs a genuine 4.4 and ran a 10.6 100m in HS track.

I think he did come out of a smaller school and lacked size. UT has done a pretty decent job of recruiting N Ga though so maybe they saw something others didn't.

I read elsewhere that the D1AA schools were drooling over him. He probably could have qualified for one of them. Instead, he worked to get into UT.

Posted by TommyJack on January 22, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

moorevols: If that is so, then I missed it.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator ,Actually ,from the way it looked in the first 3-4 games,we didn't have a ST coach.No particular coach was asigned to that duty until UM's squad lit into us.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

i don't think it will make anyone happy to hear that "D1AA schools were drooling over him".

most of the board will ask why is tenn fighting for kids recruited by D1AA schools.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ATLVOL1 ,By the way on Vereen.If Raines is a true 4.4 guy then it probably puts Vereen closer to 4.5.I say that b/c Raines runs a 10.6100m,and Vereen runs a 10.84.Just thought you might want to know.Although on a given day who knows?

Posted by tngeoff on January 22, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Stephaun Raines

http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewprosp...

Watch the videos on that link. Give me ten of him and his talent and attitude!

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

savageorange.....

i haven't studied enough to give an opinion on who the team to beat is. i think schedule means a lot.

i will say this....tenn can not lose to florida and win the division in 2008. tenn would still have auburn and georgia on the road as well as bama. tenn has to beat florida.

and who was the genius that gave tenn back to back games....9/20- florida, 9/27 @ auburn

Posted by bigbluevol on January 22, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, I read the same thing that sjt was saying about the 1-AA teams. The point in that article (from the Chattanooga TimesFreePress) was that Raines hadn't gotten a lot of 1-A attention because of his size. The 1-AA coaches were thinking that he would be a talent that slipped through the cracks. Since his last official listing he's said to have gained between 5 and 10 pounds without losing any speed.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i also give credit for tenn playing a....

cal, notre dame, ucla, etc... over the years when they don't have to. the SEC is tough enough as it is.

florida, georgia, and south carolina have natural out of conference rivals....tenn doesn't and still schedules a strong out of conference opponent.

no one else does.....although lsu did play va tech this year....but that is not typical

next year, @ ucla, @ georgia, @ auburn. and ucla would love to make a splash in the early season with a new coach. tough road schedule

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator ,Agree 100%.Don't know about the schedule.Last yr we played our west games in Oct.Whoever did it needs to be choked.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the reason UT schedules those out of conference games is b/c of TV exposure in different parts of the country.Tenn has one of the toughest recruiting jobs in the country, and that exposure has paid dividends.

Posted by mattrob44 on January 22, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Guys Im from Dalton, this guys a play maker. The better the competition the better he plays. He can compete

Posted by marc_ash on January 22, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe this is the key...maybe instead of high school students going right on to college, they all need to go to JR. College to struggle for a year. That way, they realize just how lucky they are to have a chance at a D-1 top ranked college porgram.

This marks the 2nd young man in the past couple of days that said similar things as this “I’ve been trying to study a little more, make sure I’m hanging out with the right crowd, go to classes and make sure I listen to what the teachers are saying,” Raines said. “I’ve just been really honing in on my academics.”

Kudo's to you and welcome back to Tennessee. You EARNED it.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tngeoff ,Nice.This guy has another gear.Looks explosive.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 22, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SCHED. IS HUGE NEXT YEAR IN THE SEC

GEORGIA AND LSU HAVE BRUTAL ROAD SCHEDULES

AUBURN AND FLORIDA HAVE EVERYONE AT HOME (IN SEC)

SANFORD STADIUM IS A HOME GAME FOR US, AT LEAST RECENTLY.

I DONT THINK UGA AND AUBURN WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH US OFFENSIVELY NEXT YEAR.

FLA/TENN IS THE EAST TITLE GAME -I AGREE.

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hey gator, I understand what you mean but every kid that ends up FCS or mid-major isn't there because they lack the physical talent to play BCS. Some realize they can make it better academically. Rolando Melancon was a big time pick up for UT last year who decided he'd rather play at La Tech where the academic standards are lower.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 22, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

OK FLA PLAYS US ON THE ROAD TO SNAP OUR HOME WIN STREAK...

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, who is UF's "rival" in the west?

UT always plays Bama... does UF always play LSU?

Posted by tngeoff on January 22, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

thesavageorange.

Yup. I'm very impressed.

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, the same one that gave them Cal, USM, and UF to start this past season... I've often wondered the same thing...

UT's run of UCLA, UF, and Aub is going to be tough.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, we'll know how good we are pretty fast.Clawson won't even have a warm up game.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

florida was lucky enough to get lsu every year.

i think the SEC did this to maintain fairness in the league. florida's natural west rival (historically) is auburn. but the SEC could not break up GA-Auburn, and Tenn-Bama. they also could not give florida, let's say mississippi, so they gave florida ....lsu.

with regard to schedule....for florida... the tenn game is critical because it is the biggest conference road game.... win it and most of the rest of the big games are @ florida.

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

savage, they start out with UAB which should be as close to a warm up as UT has scheduled in a few years now.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

i was not trying to pick on the kid. i feel good for all kids who get a chance to get a scholarship and live a dream...etc.

i wrote what i did because i know some of the negative folks that usually post here will not be impressed about anything with D1AA in the same sentence.

Posted by volntx on January 22, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

yes ,

tenn/bama
florida/lsu
georgia/aub
sc/ark
vandy/ole miss
ky/miss st
could have last two backward

Posted by mbradshaw1 on January 22, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, I live in Lakeland and I know one thing. Florida has a lot of players to chose from year in and year out. Tennessees' population can't compete with the numbers. Plus it's easier to sell tickets to games against quality programs than it is for second tier programs. It works for UT. And the players like to jell with other players from across the nation, there is more to talk about when you come from different parts of the country.

GO VOLS!!!

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with everything you've said concerning the schedule. UT has to win the UF game. UF can lose it and still depend on Aub, UGA, or USC to beat UT in road games for the Vols.

Ole Miss could be the surprise team in the West this year... If they aren't then UF's west games are easier than UT's this year and definitely better than UGA's.

If it were for schedule reasons alone, I don't think UGA could win it next year. But the more I read, the more I'm convinced that UT and UF are in better shape and especially on D in spite of the national media love the Dawgs are getting.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

what you all are saying makes sense. if you are going to recruit nationally.....you have to play "national" games. that would also explain constantly playing california schools as opposed to..... let's say michigan.

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

gator, I didn't take it wrong. I can't remember the name but one of UF's significant contributors right now was a 2* that came in with a class of 4-5* players.

Posted by VolSwaff on January 22, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i played against this guy in high school. he was a good athlete for the area. but the region he played in is the slowest and smallest in the state.
he should be at UTC not UT. He can't hold a candle to any athlete on our current roster. i promise you.

Posted by volntx on January 22, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Raines said... that show they're committed to there players...

UT standind by there word to him means a lot regardless of where on the field he plays. That is what could land UT bigger recruits... like defensive lineman

Posted by volntx on January 22, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

s

g

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the only 2* i can remember recently is brandon james, who is certainly valuable.

meyer did not want to give him a ship becuase he is 5'6. one of the assistants, can't remember who, kept bugging meyer about it to the point where urban gave in.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18,Thanks.Forgot about UAB.Phew, thank god.UCLA will be pretty solid and unpredictable next yr.They have a very good staff.They(luckily for us)start w/ Fresno St.They may have to show us a little more than we have to show them.

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 5:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, it doesn't explain the Nebraska home and home that's coming up in just a few years. Other than getting on national tv... there's no one UT needs in Nebraska.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

well, like i said....i give tenn credit for doing it.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

because it's been a topic recently...

FYI....so far....

florida has 22 commitments. 11 are from out of state

Posted by mbradshaw1 on January 22, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18, I think we owe them one. And it's doable now.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VolSwaff ,That's what alot of people(not in east TN)said about Rogan.Not saying your not right , but I say give him a shot.What classification did you guys play in, and did his school go to and do anything in the playoff.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18, you may be right, but alot of kids in Texas and Oklahoma will be watching.

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

savage, I may try to make the game if I can get tickets. Lincoln is only about 4.5 hours from here.

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Carl Pickens, Jimmy Streater, Shawn Bryson, and Heath Shuler played in one of NC's slowest and smallest conferences.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 5:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18, No matter what happens, the sea of red will be a sight to see.People say that those are the classiest fans in college football.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

uhhh...i just looked at the georgia schedule in 2008.

i have concluded georgia will not win the sec east or the sec in 2008. and if they do, they should play for the national title whatever their record happens to be....

who is their schedule maker....

10/25 @ lsu
11/1 florida (jax)
11/8 @ kentucky
11/15 @ auburn

how can you be preseason number 1 with that slate.

for fun, they also added a non conference game....

@ arizona state 9/20....a week before georgia plays bama

georgia has what florida did in 2006....bama, lsu, and auburn on the schedule in the same year. i am more impressed that i think about that and florida won the national title that year.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

they also play at south carolina

Posted by VolSwaff on January 22, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

it was 4a, his school is notorious for recruiting talent from other region schools to keep its prestige of being the dominant team in the region every year. Dalton is usually the top 1-2 seed in the playoffs and then they lose in the opening round at home to a 5-5 4th seed team. Pardon for being so blunt but his competition is a bunch of white kids that run 4.9's.

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't congratulate yourself too much. Bama wasn't very good and you should have lost to LSU... which I guess was some divine justice since you should have beaten Aub.

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, I know you think they owe UT... but the Dawgs haven't had much fun hosting the Vols lately.

All in all, that schedule is a bear. They could be the best team in the East and still finish 4th.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

hey, it got done. i am willing to let the "style points" slide.

let's see a team from the west win with florida, georgia, and tenn on the schedule in the same season.

or a team in the east, win with lsu, auburn and bama.

i don't care how it happened. it happened.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

hey, if tenn went there and won it wouldn't shock me. all i can say is looking at the whole of georgia's schedule....tenn is a must, must, must win. with the road schedule they have and playing florida after lsu....they better beat tenn.

tenn will have a great deal of confidence playing there. what florida will run to at tenn (revenge for 59-20), tenn will feel when it heads to georgia.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 22, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

if you watch this guys videos on rivals it looks like his team is running the west coast offense and he looks like donte stallworth SIGN HIM UP N O W he is catching screen passes and as john ward says running all the way to the state capital get him a freakin dorm room, move him in, ill take my old truck up there and help him move in!!!!!!!!!heck he looks way better than that owens guy that went up in smoke!!!!

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VolSwaff ,Thanks.I was just curious.

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

oops. did not finish the thought.

that does not mean that the emotion the home team will play with will not be overcome. every year these teams want to destroy one another, no matter what happened the year before.

Posted by sjt18 on January 22, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dawg schedule starts fairly slow but after CMU it gets pretty brutal.

Aug 30 Georgia Southern Athens, Ga.
Sep 06 Central Michigan Athens, Ga.
Sep 13 South Carolina * at Columbia, S.C. Sep 20 Arizona State at Tempe, Ariz.
Sep 27 Alabama * Athens, Ga
Oct 11 Tennessee * Athens, Ga.
Oct 18 Vanderbilt - Homecoming * Athens, Ga. Oct 25 LSU * at Baton Rouge, La.
Nov 01 Florida * at Jacksonville, Fla.
Nov 08 Kentucky * at Lexington, Ky.
Nov 15 Auburn * at Auburn, Ala.
Nov 29 Georgia Tech Athens, Ga.

Posted by vol1994 on January 22, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I wasn't aware that the Dawgs had such a difficult schedule.
Looks like they will play against 5 potential top 20 teams (UT, florida,LSU, ASU, and auburn. SC and KY always gives GA fits as well.

NO way GA wins the national title next year-minimum of 2 losses.

I still think UT has a good shot winning the East, just depends on the play of Crompton. any new NEWS of recruits?

Posted by ReallyAVolFan on January 22, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, sorry I'm getting into this thing so late because you may be offline by now. BUT, when you seem to suggest that FL got the shaft by having LSU as one of their regular SEC West opponents, you should go back and look at what LSU was doing for the ten years preceding 1990, when the league was expanded. FL got off good campared to TN who got AL. My how times change!!! And, I, for one, think that's good!!

Posted by vol1994 on January 22, 2008 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

good point rallyavolfan. good point!

Posted by 99gator on January 22, 2008 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

reallyavolfan

i am not indicating florida got screwed by getting lsu.

in my opinion....things are even.

tenn has bama
ga has auburn
fl has lsu

it would have been unfair for florida to get mississippi.

Posted by pjhaddix on January 22, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey 99gator, it's good to see you around again. Curious, do you post on other SEC school sites? Or are we special?

Posted by bigfan502 on January 22, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Rumors going around that VOLS will recruit two terrific DT'S..if we do...LOOKOUT.

Posted by DennisVols on January 22, 2008 at 9:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Raines said UT’s coaches never seemed to lose interest.
“That says a lot about them,” Raines said. “That shows they’re committed to their players."

Now that is the kind of statement the prospect recruits need to see. Not the drinking and drug use news stories that seem to take center stage.

Posted by sjt18 on January 23, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey bigfan502, the problem hasn't been that UT hasn't recruited and done a good job recruiting some big name players this year.... They've just been coming in 2nd place with most of them.

Barrett Jones, Lawrence Guy, Askew along with several others had UT in their final 2-3 before committing elsewhere. That's one of the worst things about this year... there have been so many teasers.

Posted by pdhuff on January 23, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Help the defence. Please.

Posted by BigOrangeJeff on January 23, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

vol1994,
Keep in mind that LSU won the MNC with two losses this year.

Posted by orangebloodgmc on January 24, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

VolSwaff, with all due respect, I hope you turn out to be wrong about Raines. (Hey, you got people up in the Sequatchie Valley? We may be cousins).

Posted by BigOrangeVol on January 24, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good news on Raines! We are also in the running for with # 8-E.J. Abrams-Ward at LB; #9-OT Antoine McClain; #16-DE Keith Wells; #16-CB Reuben Johnson; #22-DE Andre Wadley; #27 WR-A.J. Alexander; #21 QB Casey Kelly and RB Enrique Davis. All are 4-star recruits.

We still have a shot at some pretty good kids! I guess we're all anxious to see what rabbits Phillip can pull out of his hat.

Posted by sjt18 on January 24, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You missed Thompson, Page, Coples (oddly I thought he was gone), and Witherspoon. Thompson is probably the most important guy on the board if they can get him.

Enrique Davis is a 5* per Rivals and the #3 prep school prospect in the country. Could be special: 5'11, 220, 4.39 40.

You can take Wadley off barring some miracle. I think he cancelled visits twice.

Posted by 99gator on January 24, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

wells will be a gator

Posted by sjt18 on January 24, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Within the last couple of days I have read that Wells was down to UT and tOSU... with Buckeye fans certain that he was a lock for them.

Why are you so confident? Did Meyer offer his girlfriend a sunbathing scholarship?

Posted by 99gator on January 24, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

cute.....

actually, i realized i screwed up. william green was who i was thinking of....not keith wells

Posted by sjt18 on January 24, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well.... What did Green's girl get? A baseball Cheerleading scholarship?

Did she also say he called her every day only to get a "woops" moment when it turned out to be a problem?

Posted by sjt18 on January 24, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey, at least we now know a little more about that UM magic, huh? Why bend a rule when you can break it and get away with it?

In all seriousness, the Moore thing is the most ridiculous thing I've seen in awhile. I mean it isn't like he's not getting great players anyway. Why even play close to the ledge of cheating?

It does provide more affirmation though to my idea that UM is a narcissist.

Posted by 99gator on January 24, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sorry....

my computer spaced out for a few minutes.

i will not defend what happened. all i will say is, at least the girl is a good athlete worthy of a scholarship and not someone placed on the team with no ability just to land a football recruit.

but, it obviously was not cool.

Posted by pdhuff on January 24, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bet ol' Urban not much fun to be around right now. This kind of thing didn't happen out West.

Don't feel bad, Urbane, you've got a long way to go to get up to Charley Pell's standard.

Posted by 99gator on January 24, 2008 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i did not get into it because you all won't believe it any way, but there is no actual proof of wrong doing.

however, even if true....it is nowhere near charley pell territory.

Posted by vol1994 on January 24, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

been at work all day and evening.
Just spoke to a good friend who loves georgia (and hates gators) and he told me Florida has landed some huge recruits last few days or so and now have the #1 class thus far.

99 gator- who have you picked up? thanks!

Posted by 99gator on January 24, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

vol 1994

tj pridemore
omarius hines
carl moore
frankie hammond
ricky barnum
matt patchan
sam robey
troy epps
omar hunter
bryan jones
earl okine
chaz sutton
brendan beal
ramon buchanan
larentee mccray
jeremy brown
adrian bushell
janoris jenkins
dee finley
will hill
jeff demps
caleb sturgis

eight of them are already enrolled (early enrollee)

Posted by 99gator on January 24, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the headliners are

patchan, beal, buchanan, mccray, hunter, demps, moore, finley, hill, and sturgis.

sturgis is a kicker. but, to give you an idea of how good he is.... florida passed on tenn's kicker and another kicker (don't remember who) because they did not want it to jeopardize them signing sturgis. they thought he was good enough to wait a year.

Posted by awhill00 on January 24, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's good to know this 2-star receiver from two years ago is still a commit.

Posted by sjt18 on January 25, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, No evidence of wrongdoing?

It may not be serious but there is certainly a taint there. He recruited someone from another sport according to reports. The girl changed her story when it was found out that what they were doing was wrong.

I have absolutely no doubt that most of the press will give Meyer a pass and some internal investigation will result in a memo in his personnel jacket or something. But this kind of stuff IS part and parcel to what's wrong with the recruiting process.

On another note, there's a rumor swirling that Bama is intentionally sending their commits with undecideds to other schools to try and sway them.

Posted by sjt18 on January 25, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

awhill00, Chris Brown, Elix Wilson, and many others came to UT as 2* players and made major contributions.

Posted by 99gator on January 25, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

i said no actual proof. that doesn't mean he didn't do anything wrong.

my personal opinion is there is too much smoke not to be fire. i believe he doesn't necessarily break rules (intentionally), but he bends the hell out of them.

if there is a line you can't cross, he runs to it as fast as he can and comes to a screeching stop on his tip toes.

Posted by 99gator on January 25, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

there is so much wrong with the recruiting process....i don't know where to begin.

the popular thing now is to do what alabama is doing....which is legal....and most all schools do it now which is use your strongest commitments to get other recruits.

use them as agents to go take visits at other schools and "steal" recruits.

there are rules for the amount of contact a coach can have with a player.....but i think tebow can call you day and night.

certainly, another "committed" high school player....let's say, will hill, can call anyone all the time to try to sway them to florida.

Posted by 99gator on January 25, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

that's why having a commitment at these high school all american games is a big deal. they recruit for the staff at the camps and the games for the staff.