Posted by IPOrange on January 27, 2008 at 6:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Finally, a commitment in a needed area.....

Posted by utmdm on January 27, 2008 at 6:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sphs, are the dominos starting to fall?

Posted by Vols1998 on January 27, 2008 at 6:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What is his background?

Posted by Richmondvol on January 27, 2008 at 7:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think we just landed a zero star recruit....here is a link in the Tennesseean with a little bit on him...

http://preps.dnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...

Posted by VolnDothan on January 27, 2008 at 7:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Huh? THIS is what we're getting now? A guy that doesn't show up on anyones recruiting radar? This guy couldn't walk-on at a D2 school...

Posted by vol1994 on January 27, 2008 at 7:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

richmond vol is correct.
this is the guy I was talking about earlier today
on a different thread.

We brought him for a visit because we need numbers
to fill all the rejections.

According to doug matthews, vanderbilt didnt even recruit this guy.

Posted by IPOrange on January 27, 2008 at 7:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Rivals.com doesn't award him any stars, but lists him as a surprise commitment as we near signing day, whatever that means.

Posted by GerryOP on January 27, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

News is ... well ... news. Anybody know this kid?

Posted by KingsportVol on January 27, 2008 at 7:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow."Sometimes there just aint enough rocks"Forest Gump.

Posted by waterskier3 on January 27, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

stay the course and he has talent.. oh reality is setting in......... our dl is going to be ???? next season I'll let you fill in the blank.....

another extension and raise coming up.... oh we'll just out score everyone... except for fla, ala and ucla... maybe auburn...... anyone smell an outback steak???

thank god for basketball

Posted by pdhuff on January 27, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sign anybody. Times awasting! Keep lowering the bar. Welcome son, wear the orange, proudly.

Posted by 99gator on January 27, 2008 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

could not find this guy in a scout.com search. why give a scholarship to this guy? why not just save it for next year?

Posted by VolnDothan on January 27, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just for Fulmer and Chavis' information, I have zero stars and 4 years of eligibility left also.

I'm surprised we haven't seen the moral police pop-up and slam everyone for critizing a zero-star recruit. I'm sure they'll be around later trying to convince us all that this guy will be the next Brian Urlacher or something stupid along those lines...

Posted by vol1994 on January 27, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99 gator- because we have so many avl. scholarships to offer and they felt this kid was a sleeper even though they did not recruit him until the weekend. I have stated numerous times that
fulmer really thought he would have landed more recruits and surprised of all the rejections.

No I don't know fulmer but my source has been correct about everything else thus far so..

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 27, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hughes was Defensive MVP of middle tennessee according to Tennessean.... cant be bad, maybe he had academic issues or said he didnt want to play fball in college?

Posted by creepykev on January 27, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm pretty good at flag football with my kids, sign me up Phil.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 27, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe he didnt have a text plan on his cellphone? So no one could get in touch with him?....or remember when Coach Nick Nolte found SHAQ on the streets of New Orleans in BLue Chips?

Posted by pdhuff on January 27, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Juco, I missed that. Oh well, welcome in 2009 or whenever.

Posted by GerryOP on January 27, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

OMG, you gotta' read to the end to find that he is a non-qualifier? Don't mean to "dis" the kid, but, ... Sheesh. How the mighty have fallen! Welcome aboard #14.

Posted by knoxsingle on January 27, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You know, I don't have a big issue with the recruiting star thing. Montori has good size, and being a Vol means something to him, like it does all of us.

It sounds like our coaches believe in Montori, and now he has the chance to show the coaches were right.

Congratulations, Montori. We're rooting for you to be a terrific player here.

Posted by GreerVol22 on January 27, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There is a reason Vandy did not recruit him, he's a bone head. Most likely headed to Hargrave or Coffeyville until his grades improve. See you in a couple years Mr. Duh-Hughes.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 27, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Go to JUCO and gain 30 more lbs then come back and plug the middle.

Posted by volinSmyrna on January 27, 2008 at 7:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If you ask anyone that has seen this kid play, they will tell you he is a monster. Nobody was recruiting him because of the grade issue and the team he played on was horrible. I don't think his coaches publicized him that much.

After seeing him play several times over the last two years, if he would have had the grades he would have been a no-brainer 4* in my opinion. He proved that at the All Star game. He was even a man amongst boys in that game.

Posted by VOLnATL on January 27, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Can someone tell me why we wasted a scholarship on such a knucklehead that will not even be here next fall? What does this tell other recruits considering UT...we are bottom dwelling now? Man, we look desperate!

Posted by VOLnATL on January 27, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks volinSmyrna. You must have been reading my mind while I was typing.

Posted by AlpharettaVol on January 27, 2008 at 8:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If we already know that he can't even qualify to be admitted, what makes us think that he's not a flunk-out waiting to happen if he ever gets here? Sounds like he is a future prospect to be among the six we lost this year before the bowl game.

Posted by VOLnATL on January 27, 2008 at 8:08 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by nivatne on January 27, 2008 at 8:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My uncle's kids go to Seigel and he told me that this guy was unstoppable, but Seigel's footbll team as a whole is terrible. He was defensive MVP for 5A in Middle Tennessee, and from what I heard, was the only positive on an otherwise terrible team. He was constantly getting double and triple-teamed, and still managed 25 tackles for loss. Let's not give up on a kid till we see him action. Everybody in Vol Nation needs to take a Xanax and just relax. That's two commits in 2 days. Let's see if more dominoes fall...GO VOLS!!!

Posted by GerryOP on January 27, 2008 at 8:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yah, but, we couldn't beat out Hargrove, Coffeyville, and Pellissippi!

Hey TD, just like the BIG SURPRISES we were told about during the coach recruiting week? Yup, really big surprises. Just like the big surprises some coeds promised .... Well, you know!

Posted by andy112382 on January 27, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Forget the freakin' rankings....saying stuff like 'well he will mess our ranking ups if anything'......all I care about is having the right guys on the team and winning football games, if we need DEs and we land a DE, than that is called getting the job done, our coaches don't offer just anyone a scholarship, they do indeed scout out players before offering them, I think they know quite a bit more about what is going on than any of us do.

Posted by nivatne on January 27, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

By the way, for everyone up in arms about recruiting his year, and yearning for the days of yesteryear, remember, this is the first time that we have had to replace 4, count them, 4 coaches less than 60 days to Signing Day. Alot of these coaches were recruiting the very players that are commiting elsewhere. If we can pull out a Top 30 class, I don't think anyone here can complain. Some of you have unreal expectations about recruiting. We had a Top 3 class last year. We have talent. Take a deep breath. We will be alight. Let's not crucify Fulmer just yet. As I recall, we did just win the East with one of the least talented UT teams in recent memory.

Posted by KingsportVol on January 27, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TouchdownTN
I bet the Golden Eagles are saying ah shucks on losing this kid. He picked Knoxville over Cooke Vegas. LOL.

That's going in the vault.One of your all time greats.Gotta go clean up the Stoli&Sprite I just spit all over my keyboard after reading that one.

Posted by nivatne on January 27, 2008 at 8:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey TouchdownTN, what is your deal??? So everytime we don't go 12-0, go to a BCS game, or land a Top 5 recruiting class, are you just go to completely flake out? Or did you flake out w/ this year's East championship and Top 3 recruiting class last year? Let's try and keep in all in perspective. He lost 4 coaches. You are expecting the impossible. Chill out, man.

Posted by sjt18 on January 27, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You know... There are 2* guys in abundance out there that would have signed with UT but instead they went after this kid. We'll see...

Posted by mallardbayvol on January 27, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What a pathetic excuse for fans you guys are. Ripping a kid who bleeds orange, actually WANTS to be here, has size and ability and just got overlooked for several reasons. The kid is excited and had his dream come true and you morons rip him like he was your worst enemy. I hope people treat you guys the same way some day.

Posted by nivatne on January 27, 2008 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VolCR, for one thing, none of those teams had a Top 3 class last year. Also, higher rankings go to the "glamour" positions, positions we don't needs right now. Our recruiting class isn't going to look sexy, but it is going to fill needs. And geeze, can't we wait a couple years before we crucify a guy for commiting to UT? Some you on this board are an embarassment to other UT fans who bleed orange. If some you have so much of a problem, go root for Saban or Urban, or other coach who has sold his soul to the devil.

Posted by bgreybass on January 27, 2008 at 8:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good move by the Vols. This guy has size and showed well at the easst-west game. He will not be part of the 08 class. He is off to prep or JC. He will not be tied to TN or TN tied to him. Can re evaluate in a year or two both academically and talent wise. Remember Jujuan Smith was a walk-on for the BB team---one never knows.

Posted by jawjavol on January 27, 2008 at 8:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey guys, I realize we are having a sorry recruiting year but lighten up on this kid. UT has had quite a few surprise players over the years who were not exactly the best students to grace the hill. Over half the guys on this site never made it to college!

MOST IMPORTANTLY>>>>> THIS IS A TENNESSEE KID WHO WANTS TO WEAR ORANGE. I bet some of you who are dogging this kid out were the same ones who said last October that we needed some TENN kids who would play with heart... Well here ya go!

I am not sure I would want my kid to play at UT right now. You guys have ripped Casey Clausen and you have ripped Eric Ainge. Seems a lot of y'all get a little too personal about these kids. Pick on the coaches and their weight.. they get paid to be abused. I promise you this message board is used against us in recruiting!

Think positive vibes!

Posted by GerryOP on January 27, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mallardbayvol, what the hell is this, the Make A Wish Foundation? (No disparagement meant toward MAWF.)

Posted by pdhuff on January 27, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TDTN- we're definitely seeing the surprises. I guess the "big" ones are right around the corner.

Stay tuned.

Posted by vol4jesus on January 27, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Rankings schmankings....boy do some people need to get a life!!! The player does not need to be called moron....Will be arrested soon. Greervaul22 grow up on comments like that!! He wants to wear Orange will see if he can cut grades at Juco and come play like Sykes and others are trying to do. I will not die if we can fill needs and get staff solidified for 2009 recruiting class attack. We had a solid class last year and have some depth at most places(yes dl/de thin.) Try to learn not to have such a sad outlook on life.I just buried a co-worker Friday leaving wife and 27 yr old daughter so perspective again is being retooled to reflect what is really important in life. Guess what? Football recruiting isn't it! Plus what the player brings to the field is what really counts...not how many stars he has in the sky. So focus on family and friends and see where next weeks signings end up and move on. Life is more than a ' box of chocolates' sir Gump. GO VOLS!!!

Posted by jimr07 on January 27, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

it is so nice to see all the positive comment. however, i have come to expect that from some of you. you are pathetic.

Posted by Ironcity on January 27, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

When a player has no rating it means the recruiting service has nothing on him. It usually means that he never showed up at their combines. Rogan was a one star recruit. I would trust the coaches that they know what they are doing. I will say this, it sounds like a nonevent if has to go to prep school because UT can decide not to offer next year or he could decide not to attend.

Posted by mparker on January 27, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey guys, I will paraprase Tommy Tuberville, a pretty damn good coach:

'I figured out that my recruiting was going badly because I was letting the recruiting services dictate my efforts, instead of my gut feel for whether a guy can play ball.' He was really saying he almost lost his jobe until be went back to recruiting 'the old way'.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 27, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This kid is a good "prospect" on the field from the local tenn. papers and some people that have posted...a 6'5" DT could be a monster, besides, last time I checked Henderson couldnt spell his name, and Haynesworth was stomping on people in the pile...all you need is size, a wingspan, and an attitude.

Posted by navyvolinva on January 27, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We talk about these kids going to JC or Prep School...like its a bad thing. Look at our roster now..How many starters or sub guys are from these schools? So what he's gone for a year or two.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 27, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We are all excited about Quinton Coples, Gerald Williams, Enrique Davis...all prep/juco.

Morley JUCO

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 27, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mahelona was JUCO

Posted by navyvolinva on January 27, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

BTW...Look at all the other Tenn recruits that didnt want to play with UT. Some have done well and then there are some I wont mention any names that are on garbage teams.

Posted by IPOrange on January 27, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TDTN, Rivals.com has UT listed as #39 at the moment, and not #53 as stated in your 8:30 p.m. post. That's still not all that great, but things are looking a bit better for us.

Also, I agree with vol4jesus and andy112382 on this one - let's give the guy a chance before we blast him out of the water.

Posted by DennisVols on January 27, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What a bunch of clueless CLASSLESS morons. Knocking some kid you know little to nothing about.
Why in the world would anyone want to come and play at UT with a fan base that simply looks for something stupid to say about someone.
This kid wants to wear the Orange and White. How many of you so called professional critics ever put on the Orange and White and played in a game.
This kid has a greater chance of helping this team than any of us on here do.
Putting him down ranks as high on the decision chart as public drunkness or smoking the wacky weed while driving a recruit around.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 27, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Antonio Bell uncommited from his "soft verbal" and chose Nebraska

If he is stupid enuf to think Nebraska will throw the football with Osbourne as AD then let him go....

Posted by navyvolinva on January 27, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bolden-prep, Vinson-prep

Posted by pdhuff on January 27, 2008 at 9:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

IPOorange- The rankings just changed apparently as we now show 8 3* players. We were at #53 yesterday. I too, welcome this kid and hope for the very best. But overall, things are a turmoil. Somehow, Go Vols. Beat Bama.

Posted by GerryOP on January 27, 2008 at 9:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ahhh, ATLVOL1, Mahelona was JUCO? You might want to check your sources on that.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 27, 2008 at 9:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

http://tennessee.scout.com/a.z?s=7&am...

hit that link up Gerry...Orange Coast JUCO

Question me once, its OK, question me twice its not Okay =).

Posted by navyvolinva on January 27, 2008 at 9:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mahelona and Toeina were both 5 star JUCOs.

Posted by mtoms1272 on January 27, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I live in the Boro and know first hand that this kid is elated to be putting on the orange. That is value you can't put a price tag on. Just remember those recruiting services are inexact at best. Your arguabely best QB in the( aside from Peyton) is a 12th round draft pick in Tom Brady. Big Phil and the boys get paid big bucks for a reason.

Posted by kbart4033 on January 27, 2008 at 9:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To the boneheads on here who have nothing better to do than dis kids and a head coach who just won the
toughest division in the nation: Get a life! Most
of you have been bitchin for new blood on the staff--this recruiting class is exactly why the reigning SEC East championship head coach is adamant about keeping his staff intact, even when
all the fair-weather posters are screaming for
change. Tennessee has one of the weakest recruiting
bases of any successful D-I programs in the nation.
I have seen this kid play. He is a great-looking
athlete who plays on a struggling, new team in
the very competitive Rutherford County 5-A
division. If he had played for Riverdale or Smyrna, he would have been on the big-name
radar. Don't get too carried away with the
recruiting boards (after all, they are maintained
by boneheads like Bill King, who neither played
nor coached a game in his life).Hopefully, this
opportunity will turn this kid's life around
(I'll bet the Super Bowl will have more than a few kids who have walked in this kid's shoes!).
We should be encouraging him--instead of
dissing him Go Vols!

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 27, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the boro

haha

Posted by GerryOP on January 27, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ATLVOL1: Whoops! My mistake. My humble apologies. ;>}

Posted by IPOrange on January 27, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff, you're right - I saw that previous ranking of #53, too. I noticed at that time that we had 3 four-star players that weren't listed on the top 100 rankings page, so I "figgered" we'd move up a little. I agree with you, though - still plenty of climbing to do.....

Posted by 99gator on January 27, 2008 at 9:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the scout ranking is 53
the rivals ranking is 39

Posted by GerryOP on January 27, 2008 at 9:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ahhh, kbart4933, we are not dissing this kid. We all wish him well and hope that he can get his academics together and excel in playing D-1 football. Have a nice day.

Posted by andy112382 on January 27, 2008 at 9:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TouchdownTN, I don't exactly celebrate getting guys who may have grade problems, but come to think of it, it is not always a bad thing - I've got a great example of a time no school gave a certain player from Florida a chance because of grades except Tennessee, his name was Travis Henry, he holds the all-time rushing yardage record for our beloved Vols.

But that wasn't really my point, my point was that we have atheletes on hand, we need linemen, specifically d-line - that might not land us a top ranking, but that doesn't land you guranteed success, either (a high recruiting ranking). We need to worry about getting who we need, big tough football players on the line to compliment the load of athletes we brought in last year, if we get a bad, decent, good, or great ranking doesn't make or break the team, what does make or break the team is building depth at those spots we need help at, d-line being the most obvious.

Posted by filmjr on January 27, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mahelona was a juco (http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&...) and if I recall, an Oklahoma commitment that Stoops & Co. forgot about when the Vols snatched him up.

I, for one, am CRAZY GLAD we offered this kid, because he's obviously a gamer and obviously desperate to prove himself on the big stage. It also tells me the coaches have made the desperately needed philosophical shift away from only reading recruiting stars and toward finding hidden gems in our own backyard -- they're betting on finding upside invisible to our competition. Time will tell if they're right, but I'm willing to give them, and this kid, benefit of the doubt.

I also like that he's heading to juco (like Henderson, Mahelona, et al) to grow physically and mentally; Tennessee's public school system is awful disproportionate to the state's socio-economic status; why not give the kid a fair shot at a decent school before we start calling him stupid.

Finally, he shouldn't cost a scholarship until he enrolls, which tells me the coaches are taking a reasonable risk for a potentially tremendous payoff, not betting the farm on a whim.

For those talking about UT "competing" with lower-division schools: Travis Stephens was committed to I-AA Austin Peay before they cut scholarships in 1996. Didn't he do pretty well wearing orange?

Posted by bobbyutvol on January 27, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with K Bart give the kid a chance he might be pretty good. why so negetive???? coach Fulmer doesnt give scolarships away for nothing. this kid might have enough heart to become a starter all of you fair weather fans.. GO VOLS

Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 27, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Read a little bit closer gentlemen. Your eyes are so filled with stars that you can't see some simple facts.

1. 6'5, 265. That is a large boy.
2. He always wanted to play for TN. (for my friends who hate seeing CA boys come to play here when we have local talent)
3. He has academic issues. That scares away a lot of schools.

He is not on the radar but that doesn't mean much. He has size and the heart for UT. He seems to have some ability as he displayed in the all-star game. I wouldn't judge him based on whether or not VANDY recruited him either. Maybe he will bust and maybe he will never even get out of Community College, but he seems like a risk worth taking.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 27, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

did Kenny Oneal ever make it to Campus? =)

Posted by martinvolfan on January 27, 2008 at 10:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

maybe he will turn out to be good for us. We need tall D/L and he will grow. I am concerned that he needs academic work.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 27, 2008 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

meloncon is back!!!!!!!!!

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 27, 2008 at 10:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the kid banneker the team mate of fowlkes commited to arkansas and arkansas is reporting they are in contention for fowlkes

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 27, 2008 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the kid from banneker, al davis

Posted by VolsorCat on January 27, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

kbart: Well said. The only people on here that know the kid say he is good. The traditional naysayers are on here all day criticizing everything possible. I think some are Bama fans signed on just to screw with real UT fans. We shall see in about 10 days what transpires........

Posted by LiveFaith on January 27, 2008 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Has anyone noticed that the Vols are on the final commit list of EVERY DT prospect on Rivals database? Every single one no matter where in the USA they are from. One thing you can't say is that nobody tried.

Could Rivals be homering with UT? These are outrageous odds.

Always the bridesmaid, but never the bride?

Posted by 4jerry on January 27, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You guys are hillarious! Thanks for the laughs.
I think my all-time favorite is TD TN talking about 'Foolmer' text messaging 2* at the Ohio St game. HA HA HA HA

Posted by marinevol on January 27, 2008 at 11:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The funny thing, is TDTN referring to the coach as "Foolmer." How ironic that the biggest moron to post on this site tries to attack the inteligence of Coach Fulmer, or anyone else.

Posted by andy112382 on January 27, 2008 at 11:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I wish they didn't have the dang star rating system sometimes.....it is amazing how dependent the 'msg board experts' have become with it! How about we get football players, the ones we need at the positions we need and shut up about the dang star ratings, that does not make a football player, that is just based on the person in charge of rating these guys and how much/little they have seen the person on film or at summer camps.

Think about it, from one recruiting internet service to another, some guys go from 2, 3, or 4 stars between the sites, because it is based on the opinion of the 'expert' that reviewed them (or didn't review them)

I think some of us have been playing a little too much x-box or playstation and suddenly think we reconize talent better than a coach that has dedicated his life to the game!

Posted by dfreeman on January 28, 2008 at 12:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Funny, if this guy signs with someone else and none of us had heard about him and he ends up being all american then the people on here would be bashing Fulmer for not noticing this guy in his own back yard!!

Posted by andy112382 on January 28, 2008 at 12:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoff...

There is an interesting article that kind of goes along with what I was saying about the rating system being so hit or miss....Wes Welker, who broke the patriot team record for receptions, only had 1 scholarship offer to college (Tulsa) and was not drafted or invited to a single combine.......just a small example of awesome athletes just not being reconized because they were not a household name or anything.

Posted by Hacksaw57 on January 28, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I’ll take a kid who WANTS to play, gives 110% EVERY down and bleeds and sweats ORANGE over a sefish prima donna who only wants what you can do for HIM, ANY DAY! AND be THANKFUL for him!

Posted by BigOrangeVol on January 28, 2008 at 12:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Geez, I hope that Montori Hughes never reads this garbage! It is so pathetic to rip this kid out of the gate! Sometimes ya'll can be some cold heartless SOB's; at least give him a chance before you declare him a worthless idiot.

BTW, Bill Battle took us to 5 bowl games in 7 years which is 71% and he won 71% of his games. With the number of bowls we have today, his every season would have been a bowl season. Coach B is a class individual and super role model. He recruited just fine: Jimmy Streater; Condredge Holloway; Haskel Stanback; Stanley Morgan; Larry Seivers; Andy Spiva; Craig Puki; Roland James; Hubert Simpson; Robert Shaw; Mickey Marvin and Jimmy Noonan – just to name a few. Battle WAS too young to have been offered he job but he did make a good showing despite that. If he hadn’t lost to N. TX St. and the fake punt against UGA then Majors may not have been hired. Ok, the Bama record hurt too but let’s not go too hard on such an exceptional man that fell on his sword for the program, made NO excuses and was treated like garbage by the fans because there was a love fest brewing for Majors. The grass is always greener huh?

Johnny went to 11 bowl games in 16 years (69%) and only won 62% of his games. Naturally he always blamed Battle, his players, position coaches, coordinators, AD’s, boosters, fans and anyone else he could think of for his losses. But he would always tell us that things were so much worse than he thought when he got here and that it was going to take a lot longer for us to be competitive again…we just needed to be patient and he would save the program…he was taking us to the promised land…… and we swallowed that crap hook, line and sinker for 16 long years! He was 4-12 versus Bama (0-5, 4-0, 0-7). We finished 1st in the SEC twice and tied for 1st once in those 16 years and averaged a 4th place position during his tenure.

Our wonderful fans wanted to tar and feather Coach Battle who was beyond reproach, hang on forever to the 'never take responsibility for anything" alcoholic that had us mired in mediocrity and now you want to run off the best coach we've had since the General. Sometimes I think that if we were left with nothing then that would be exactly what we deserve! We're starting to make Bama fans look reasonable.

Posted by posivol on January 28, 2008 at 1:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

BigOrangeVol --nominate you for the post of the year!

my fav part:Sometimes ya'll can be some cold heartless SOB's; at least give him a chance before you declare him a worthless idiot.

couldnt have said it better myself...thanks.

Posted by brdteton on January 28, 2008 at 1:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Uhh,,, Go Vols?!!?!!

I am just happy most of the posters are not on a University athletic team....

Talk about bad attitudes.

Start rooting for the team instead of against it.

Posted by andy112382 on January 28, 2008 at 2:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Amen, BigOrangeVol, posivol, and brdteton. Who needs'em! I just don't want to hear their sorry comments when we win another national title, acting like they were pulling for the team the whole way.

Go Vols!!!

Posted by DannyVol on January 28, 2008 at 2:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Aside from the nastiness, I sort of understand the frustration about this story. We need as many live bodies as possible -right now- on the defensive line. In the midst of the final recruiting push, in what may just turn out to be our worst recruiting season of the modern era, we just signed a kid who:

1. no one has heard of because he wasn't that good.
2. can't play in '08 because his grades were bad.
3. is not bound to UT in the event he develops.

Posted by GerryOP on January 28, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't see too many folks bashing this kid. He may turn out to be a star, if he ever makes it to K'town.

However, we are approaching a decade of mediocrity as a football team. Forgive our cynicism. If some of you are happy with that, we will not interfere with your fantasy. If some of us are not satisfied with that, please don't interfere with our anguish. But we are not bashing this kid.

Posted by pdhuff on January 28, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Perhaps we all wouldn't be dissing the star system if a few more had fell on the Vols instead of our opponents. Maybe not.

They're sure easy to keep up with this year so far in Knoxville. C'mon Clawson, drag us a few out, please.

Realityis not bashing. Reality is reality.

Posted by jimr07 on January 28, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Flash---touchdowntn has just been named know-it-all coach. I know when i log to this site that he is going to be negative. it is always funny that he thinks he knows so much.

Posted by LazhilUT on January 28, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow...we're competing for recruits with Carson Newman and Tennessee Tech?
C'mon Fulmer!!! We need talent not bench warmers!
Another scholarship wasted...

Posted by orangebloodgmc on January 28, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Committment from a big dt, not a bad thing. But, as Huey Long used to say, some of y'all would b*tch with a ham on your shoulder!

Posted by VolnDothan on January 28, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Glad to see the morally superior "optimists-at-all-costs" coming out to attack anyone with an opinion other than:

"What a great kid, YEAH!"
"He's a TN kid wanting to wear orange!"
"We must support him!"
"What a great selection!"
"Academic scholar all the way!"

Suckers.

Posted by sjt18 on January 28, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

VolCR, of the returning DT's collectively between UGA, UT, and UF, Dan Williams was playing by far the best at the end of the season.

TDTN, death spiral? I guess it must be since you are so smart and such a great fan.

I guess we all should just pack it in. TDTN has made a declaration... nay, a prophecy... it must come to past.

Posted by sjt18 on January 28, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

FTR, the recruiting svcs do miss players and especially the ones that don't go to the big camps and HS combines.

Some of you guys from Tn should kind of be ticked that this kid doesn't at least rate a 2* rating. He was an MVP of your all-star game. Scruggs' main experience is blowing a horn in the band and gets 2*s because of his measurables... This kid has the measurables... could it be that Scout and Rivals are dissing Tn HS football?

Wilks, Bailey, Spurlock, the QB that committed to UK, M Johnson, Rogan,... all kids that were/are probably underrated. Maybe some of this angst should be directed elsewhere?

Posted by drwfocus on January 28, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I do not understand how Coach Fulmer can go from "great job Phil" - "way to go coach" -
"Fulmer has turned the corner and headed in the right direction" -- to -- "Fat Phil Foolmer" in less than three weeks over ONE recruit for the defensive line, a position that everyone agreed was a big need.

Posted by andy112382 on January 28, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

drwfocus - easy, the haters & naysayers have been waiting to jump all over something at moments notice.....they just couldn't wait any longer so they are venting on here now. When you think the whole world is out to get you and nothing good could possibly happen, I suppose stuff like winning the sec east, getting a new OC and other staff members and so on can really mess with how you go about things......

Or it could just be they don't know as much about football as they would like to think.

Take your pick!

GO VOLS!!!

Posted by sjt18 on January 28, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

drwfocus, obviously because it is CPF's incompetence that causes all these blue chip guys to choose other quality programs that are closer to home.

This kid is definitely a plan C type kid. You can hardly deny that this kid is not a Vol if Thompson had chosen UT... but mabye he comes in with a chip on his shoulder, keeps his nose to the grind stone, and does special things.

In any given year, the NFL draft is littered with guys like him that got no attention out of HS, went to FCS or second tier FBS schools and did well.

He may never be any good... but CPF spent a scholarship on him that he could have given to any number of 2* recruits from elsewhere. He thought he was worth the risk.

Posted by DennisVols on January 28, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by Richmondvol on January 27, 2008 at 7:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we just landed a zero star recruit....here is a link in the Tennesseean with a little bit on him...
Posted by VolnDothan on January 27, 2008 at 7:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Huh? THIS is what we're getting now? A guy that doesn't show up on anyones recruiting radar? This guy couldn't walk-on at a D2 school...
Posted by pdhuff on January 27, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sign anybody. Times awasting! Keep lowering the bar. Welcome son, wear the orange, proudly.
Posted by GreerVol22 on January 27, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is a reason Vandy did not recruit him, he's a bone head. Most likely headed to Hargrave or Coffeyville until his grades improve. See you in a couple years Mr. Duh-Hughes.
Posted by VOLnATL on January 27, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can someone tell me why we wasted a scholarship on such a knucklehead that will not even be here next fall? What does this tell other recruits considering UT...we are bottom dwelling now? Man, we look desperate!

What a sorry bunch of excuses for fans. You knock some teenage kid that for all you really know may be a great player. You know absolutely nothing about this kid other than what was said in this small article. No of you and I mean NONE of you are fit or ever have been good enough to wear a UT uniform and yet you feel you have some given right to put this kid down.
Just for you pitiful knowledge, Scout and Rivals rate lest than 10% of all the high school football players in this country, that are seniors. If you do not come from a large market (Atlanta, Miami, Cal, to name a few) chances are they are not going to get any information on you. How many of you idiots can remember when you first tried to get a job in your career? What if the employer took your attitude towards you when they look at you small resume? “This guy is a zero star” “He hasn’t any experience”, ”He’s stupid because he has no experience”. How would you have felt about that? Getting kicked before you even had a chance to prove yourself. You judged this kids as if you knew everything and yet you no nothing.
The only thing you accomplish is continue to give credit to the other coaches that use this kind of stupidity to persuade other kids and their parents that UT is not the kind of university they should send their kid too.
Anyone who would judge this or any other kid prior to them having a chance is shallow, narrow minded and a far bigger “Foolmor” than any of the coaches for this team. Fulmer has a reputation as one of the great recruiters in this country and yet you who couldn’t recruit a good football player if your life depended on it jump on this kid. Does it make you feel good to put others down? You are an embarrassment to true UT fans, you make us look like the backwoods hicks many claim we are. Grow up, be an adult for once.

Posted by orangebloodgmc on January 28, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Aw gee. There was a good streak of hand-wringing, sky is falling, wallow of self-pity going, and somebody had to go and open the curtains and let the sunshine in! Dang you 4-star Marlon Walls, why'd you have to go and brighten up the day?

Posted by stanandseth on January 28, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

this guy will be ok,and to my understanding who has acedemic issues and will probably be next yr. before he will play.lets give him a chance and i believe we will all be surprised.

Posted by AllVol on January 28, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs, are you sticking by your signing day forecast?

Posted by jcvet on January 28, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sounds like he will never get into school anyway. Letting kids graduate HS with no academic skills is a pathetic joke in this country.

Posted by LVVOLJJ on January 28, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Many of these posts provide competitive SEC recruiters fodder to feed to young men who are in the midst of a big decision. While we may have frustrations because the Big Orange is not supposed to lose football games and it truly hurts when they do, we need to temper the angst that we make public. We need to keep in mind that this is a public forum. Our dirty laundry and our family feuds make great "insight" into the "reality" in Big Orange Country. If I was a competing recruiter, I would direct recruits to govolsxtra. I firmly believe these anti Fulmer and anti everything else posts have caused us to lose prime recruits. I believe there is a correlation to this site becoming free and our recruiting woes.

Posted by drwfocus on January 28, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks andy and sjt. Now I understand.

Posted by sjt18 on January 28, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If I were a recruiter for another school, I would definitely point recruits to some of the Vol message boards. I would specifically point them to excessive criticism of guys like Ainge and mockery directed toward kids that have committed.

Why should their recruiters tarnish their character by bad-mouthing UT and its staff when they can have folks like some of the ones here do it for them?

Posted by sjt18 on January 28, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

BTW, scholarships are NOT cheap financially or in terms of value to a program. CPF has 85 scholarships to work with and only a limited number (25, 28 maybe?) can be given out in a year.

Posted by LazhilUT on January 28, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"I do not understand how Coach Fulmer can go from "great job Phil" - "way to go coach" -
"Fulmer has turned the corner and headed in the right direction" -- to -- "Fat Phil Foolmer" in less than three weeks over ONE recruit for the defensive line, a position that everyone agreed was a big need."

Yeah, we need talent...not scrubs! Sorry, he's no Tennessee material.

As for DennisVol...buddy, you sound like someone that was fit and good enough...are you in the NFL? Yeah...no you're not.
I'm sorry, I don't want my alma mater to sign marginal talent. I want game changers! Playmakers! Guys that can decide the game in our favor! He's not that type of guy. Sorry. Next!

Posted by TommyJack on January 28, 2008 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)

LazzieFrat: With you post in mind, I now believe Montori Hughes will become a legend as a TN D-lineman.

Posted by bigbluevol on January 28, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

laz, have you seen this guy play? Comments like that are pretty ridiculous. I would hazard a guess that maybe 5% of the people on here have even heard of him, much less seen him play. His future, like every prospect's, is undecided. That's why they're called prospects. Only time will tell, but I don't think that UT would offer him a scholarship, particularly if they were going to have to place him in juco or prep school, if they didn't think he had great potential.

Posted by lawvol on January 28, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just curious - (1) does anyone have actual knowledge that a recruiter has ever used any chat-room threads against UT? (2) Doesn't pretty much every school, at least in the SEC, have similiar coach bashing/player questioning sites?

Posted by TommyJack on January 28, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

lawvol: Absolutely. It's a red-herring.

Posted by tnbuco on January 28, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I hope to God that you posters who are critical of this kid are all sterile. I would love for you to have a child find out the greatest news of his life only to hear how "the Fans" think that his commitment is a sign of failure on the programs' part!

Posted by sjt18 on January 28, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs, You are beginning to sound contradictory. Maybe it is time to stop?

Posted by marc_ash on January 28, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hmmmm....top 15 class now sphs_vol? I thought it was top 10 yesterday. I'm beginning to wonder...

Posted by invisiblekid on January 28, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Appreciate the 10:07 post VolCR, very fair rundown of the situation at DT.

I am sure Hughes has talent or Fulmer wouldn't have offered him but it's a simple fact stated in the article that he isn't going to be of help to the Vols next year. One of the biggest problems the past two years has been at DT and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I have hope that Langley can help the situation but now that Brimfield has been moved to the scrap heap of the offensive line, our depth looks terrible at the position. One starter is a classic underachiever(Bolden) and the other is a classic overachiever(Williams). Beyond that, it's a big question mark, and if you don't control the line of scrimmage on defense, that's what every game becomes.

Posted by budd on January 28, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All you recruiting gurus need to go to your favorite site (rivals, stars, whatever) and look at their "5 star" and "4 star" players for 2002thru 2004. See how many you can name and how many really made an impact for their teams. You will see that their percentage of hits is about the same as Charlie Weiss's winning percentage. these guys make a living telling you what you want to hear. They can no more predict what some 18 year old kid will do in college than I can. They just spend more time running around watching them than I would. We have gotten and coached up great palyers before and we will again.

Posted by DennisVols on January 28, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

LazhilUTDelt
I never stated I was qualified to play for UT. But since you stated you were an alum it proves that UT allows those with marginal charcter to attend.
Critizing this young man when you know little or nothing about him shows a lack of charcter. Your unwillingness to give this kid a chance shows a narrow minded train of thought.
I'm willing to bet this kid has already accomplished more in football than you ever did. So how do you feel you are capable of critizing him? What makes you such an expert of developing and identifing talent in the football field?
I refuse to knock this kid because I admit I am not trainned as a football recruiter and have never been employed to do so.
I am a great judge of charcater however and those who chose to only see negitive and continue to complain about things they really have no experience or skill at doing better shows a lack of charcter.
Fulmer has a great record at recruiting and like many on here I have been disappointed at what the results have been with those recruits. Now Fulmer makes a change, goes outside the university to fill key positions on his staff that most experts feel where the right ones.
But there is nothng that I know about this kid that could cause me to be so shallow as to pass judgement on him before he has the opportunity to show what he can or cannot do. You have shown that you are not capable of thinking for youself other than to criize others to try an make a point. A point that has no facts behind it because you do not know this kid or have you ever been in such a position as that someone would respect your opinion regarding who should be given a scholarship to this or any other football team.

Posted by sjt18 on January 29, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Just in case someone is still looking...

NO DT taken in this class will help next year. DE, maybe... but even Marvin Austin who was supposed to be the most college ready DT in years last year got pushed around by second rate OL's for UNC. It takes time to develop the techniques in DT's required to play at the elite BCS level.

Hughes will go CC/JUCO/Prep. If his all star game performance was not an illusion then perhaps he comes back in a year or two as a 3-4* recruit.