Tennessee Recruiting Check-in - Offense

[tsweezy]

Time to take a look at how this seasons recruiting has been since the fans have been rioting over the slow start. Taking a brief overview of the current underclassmen on the roster, their prognosis, how much this cycle matters at the position, targets and progress:

 

QB:

Current Roster:

So Balanced QB Mark Koch

As a recruit: 4 star C overall, B potential, #26 QB recruit in the class of 2022

Staff: 5/10 - now look, Mark is a good kid, he's a hard worker who has a lot of plus skills. Unfortunately he just doesn't have the arm to be a starter at a program like this. I think his ceiling here is a perennial backup and team glue guy. We'll see if he accepts taht or transfers out to get playing time, but either way he isn't going pro in this sport
 

Fr Pocket QB Jake O'Connor

As a recruit: 5 star, B overall, C potential, #3 QB recruit in the class of 2023

Staff: 9.5/10 - This is the guy who we expect to lead the program. He's got as live an arm as we've seen. Some big footsteps to fill, but we think he's up to the task. Built in the same mold as Savage but a little less poised on the field and way more boisterous off of it

 

Class need: 5/10 - if we expect Mark to transfer next year we could be down to just Savage and JOC. Need injury insurance and a quality backup

 

Class Targets:

- 4* B overall Pocket QB Leonard Harlow - Texas. #12 QB recruit.

This might be surprising but recruits know JOC is good and it'll be hard to win the job here. The staff also knows it's not really a pivotal year to get a high end player. Despite that, the program made a real connection with Harlow. I think this kid is a very good fit. He's ambitious, a little cocky, he's go the arm talent but needs seasoning. I think he's betting on JOC leaving early and stepping in as a fully groomed upperclassman. He's got a lot of Texas programs coming after him and Washington has started to sniff around but I don't foresee any serious challengers to the Volunteers here and I expect him to sign in the next week or 2.

Recruiting Cycle Grade: 8.5/10

RB:

Current Roster:

(So) Receiving RB Joe Williams

As a recruit: 4 star, B overall, B- potential, #3 RB recruit in the class of 2021

Staff: 9/10 - Joe Williams was the Ynoa replacement plan. He took a bit to spool up, but you can see him making some highlight runs this season and the coaches are trusting him more and more even behind a meh OL. Look for him to have a true break out year next season and be one of the best backs in the nation as a RS SR.
 

(So) Receiving RB Jose Bandy

As a recruit: 4 star, C overall, C+ potential, #14 RB recruit in the class of 2021

Staff: 4/10 - To be honest we don't love him and he doesn't really have a niche. Some thought he could push and spell Joe, but after a few years it's become clear he just isn't at that level. With the freshmen coming in, I don't see how he gets on the field. Prime transfer candidate tbh
 

Fr Receiving RB David Forsberg

As a recruit: 4 star, B overall, C potential, #10 RB recruit in the class of 2023

Staff: 5/10 - Nobody has seen this kid play and he's actually taking a redshirt year to separate from Joe. He's basically in a contest with Forsberg (next guy on the list) to see who gets a year or two at the helm when Joe leaves. The loser either tries their hand at WR/TE or transfers
 

So Receiving RB Peter Meyers

As a recruit: 4 star C overall, C- potential, #7 RB recruit in the class of 2022

Staff: 6/10 - He was originally planned to be the Joe Williams successor and is taking his redshirt now. We think he'll be good and are hoping he beats out Peter for backup duties next season but we'll see

 

Class needs - 1/10, it’s hard to imagine more of a luxury position than RB seeing how many talented players there are as underclassmen

 

Class Targets:

- 5* B overall Speed RB - Scott Koch - Georgia, #2 RB

The first circled prospect in pre-season was Scott Koch who the staff considered a true difference maker and worth keeping Mark rostered for. Unfortunately he didn't want to do his brother like that and decided to stay in state, wound up signing with UGA.

2nd Fiddle:

- 4* B overall Receiving RB - Mitch Gentry - Arizona, #5 RB

Mitch and the coaches clicked and he was seen as a 1b kind of talent in this class. Initially he was trending to South Carolina, but right as the staff was preparing to move on the RB option 3, the SCAR coaches turned over and TENN swooped in. He made us sweat with considering FAU at the last second but ultimately SIGNED to be a volunteer.

Recruiting Cycle Grade: 9/10

WR:

Current Roster:

(Fr) Possesion WR George Simpson

As a recruit: 4 star B overall, C+ potential, #14 WR recruit in the class of 2022        

Staff: 6/10 - We saw him get his first game time and he was alright. I think his ego was hurt after he was the top dog in his class here and then got passed by the 2 in the next class. Still, we run a lot of WRs and he should get plenty of playing time and is a good player                
 

(So) Possession WR Alex Smith-Schuster

As a recruit: 4 star, B overall, C+ potential, #15 WR recruit in the class of 2021              

Staff: 7.5/10 - We're seeing ASS get his first legit playing time this season and for the most part we like what we see. He's not taking over games, but he's a very good WR2 and projects to be a good first option by next season           
 

(So) Route Runner WR Quincy Stanton

As a recruit: 4 star, B overall, C potential, #20 WR recruit in the class of 2021                 

Staff: 7/10 - Take everything we said about ASS and apply it to Quincy. Kind of a quiet name in the roombut he's shuffling it with ASS as they battle for depth chart slots. Probably just an archetype distinction between the Two.       
 

Fr Red Zone Threat WR Joseph Kleen

As a recruit: 5 star, B overall, B+ potential, #3 WR recruit in the class of 2023                        

Staff: 8/10 - Came in as a complement to BJ but was crowded out of the room and taking a redshirt. His measurables are fantastic, but he suffers from how low RZTs are valued
 

Fr Speed WR B.J. Flash

As a recruit: 5 star, B overall, B+ potential, #4 WR recruit in the class of 2023                        

Staff: 10/10 - This kid is the truth. One of the best WRs in the country as a true freshman he ticks every box you could possibly ask for. Absolutely over the moon that we got him.

 

Current need: 5/10 - last years pair was phenomenal, but with how many WRs get run out there we need 1-2 quality signings every single year for this offense.

Current Targets:

- 4* B overall Speed WR - Robert Hemphill, Florida - #10 WR

Honestly after the way BJ has shown out the staff was fired up to look for a top tier Speed WR. Hemphill was really the only guy they tabbed for that spot and it was immediate chemistry as he never really looked elsewhere and is officially SIGNED to be the next track star receiving threat.

- 4* B overall Route Runner WR - Marco Hernandez, California - #15 WR

After only taking 1 top tier WR last cycle we were looking for at least a pair this season. Marco fit the bill as a counterpart to just going after speed guys. Similarly it was an easy road to take the lead and he should be signing every day now, just waiting for a signal to make a splash on a particular day with some fellow recruits.

Recruiting Cycle Grade: 7.5/10

TE:

Current Roster:

(Fr) Receiving TE Kenneth Cox

As a recruit: 4 star C overall, B- potential, #6 TE recruit in the class of 2022                        

Staff: 6/10 we've struggled to get good TEs and he's the best we've signed. Took a redshirt last year but isn't ready this year either. Will need a huge progression over the offseason or we're gonna be running all 5-wide sets

 

Current need: 6/10 - it's only this low because I don't expect us to play much 2 TE packages and Kenneth Cox is still relatively young. Still, we lack high end talent here and need something this year or a big fish next season

Current Targets:

- 4* C overall Receiving TE - David Lee, Texas - #10 TE

It was tough for the staff to narrow in on a TE and none of them seemed like A1 priorities. They finally settled on pursuing David Lee though and have started ratcheting up the pressure as he moves up the priority order. He's looking for large crowds and is interested in Tennessee for the program and thin depth chart. Some other schools like BGSU have started taking notice of him too and the staff is going to have to see if they can convince him to sign quickly enough before they seriously get in the picture.

Recruiting Cycle Grade: INC/10

OT:

Current Roster:

(Fr) Run Blocking OT Jason Bush

As a recruit: 4 star B overall, C+ potential, #28 OT recruit in the class of 2022                        

Staff: 5/10 - a player who really wanted to be at Tennessee we took him but idk what his plan is. He's pretty average at everything and is probably actually going to be a good player but I don't see a path to starting for him. Still, he's a great 6th OL to keep in case of injury so we want to hold onto him
 

(So) Balanced OT Ricky Drummond

As a recruit: 4 star, C overall, C potential, # OT recruit in the class of 2021                        

Staff: 5/10 - he's fine I guess, but just hasn't progressed enough to win a starting job and after France signed he probably never will. Good enough backup though
 

(So) Pass Blocking OT Myles Hernandez

As a recruit: 4 star, B overall, C+ potential, #9 OT recruit in the class of 2021                      

  Staff: 8.5/10 - we knew we needed an elite OT this class with our best players graduating. We narrowed in on Hernandez and he won a starting job as a redshirt freshman. Of course he got worked last year but really grew from the experience and is an above average LT this year with 2 more years to grow. Pivotal piece and super glad we signed him.
 

Fr Pass Blocking OT David France

As a recruit: 5 star, B overall, B potential, #1 OT recruit in the class of 2023                        

Staff: 9.5/10 - again, a phenomenal player who could probably start this year but redshirting so we can space it out better. He's almost certainly going to be a 4 year starter and is a technical master. He's not so strong at run blocking but that's fine by us.

 

Current need: 4/10 - we signed France last year who's got 4 years at one spot. So really we just need Myles's replacement or somebody to compete with Bush. Not a high need

Current Targets:

- 5* B overall Pass Blocking OT - Michael Cole, Indiana, #2 OT

Crazy to consider there might be as good a signee as France but from day 1 Cole was insistent he wanted to be a Volunteer. He never even took a visit to another school as his heart bled orange and the Vols staff gleefully accepted an easy recruiting win and early commitment locking up a 5* OT in back to back classes.

- 4* B overall Pass Blocking OT - Clayton Grimes, Alabama, #12 OT

Honestly the thought was that Clayton would stay in state, but his family was miffed when Bama showed they cared more about all the 5 stars and didn't make any effort to connect with him early on. Frankly he's a bit extraneous at Tennessee but his desire for revenge on the home team saw them as the early leader and the staff figured why not if he didn't have any other serious suitors. He wanted to string out the process as long as possible and see if any suitors come in. With Florida State, Ole miss, and BGSU sniffing around, we'll see if he sticks with his plan to go to Bama's rival, or make a toss up decision.

- 4* C overall Pass Blocking OT - Kevin Lowe, Louisiana, #41 OT

Initially the staff had Kevin as a backup target, but cooled on him after Cole signed and Grimes showed interest. When WMU pushed to make him a priority, Lowe tried to play both sides into more NIL money from Tennessee and was basically told to walk, signing with WMU uncontested.

Recruiting Cycle Grade: 9/10, 9.5 if Grimes picks TENN

OG/C:

Current Roster:

(So) Balanced C Marcus Morrow

As a recruit: 4 star, C overall, C potential, #8 C recruit in the class of 2021

Staff: 6/10 he's been growing but very slowly. As a (SO) we still don't trust him as our full time starter but may have no choice next season. He's been getting significant playing time in hopes of a big progression but his job is far from secure if one of the OGs show they should have it instead
 

(Fr) Pass Blocking OG James Hilton

As a recruit: 4 star B overall, C potential, #15 OG recruit in the class of 2022                 

Staff: 5.5/10 - we doubled up in 2022 and he's the more rounded athletic guard. Unfortunately his technique isn't great so he's going to need to take a big step forward to try and beat out Crosby / Morrow and win an OG starting spot. It's possible though       
 

(Fr) Pass Blocking OG Nicholas Crosby

As a recruit: 4 star B overall, C+ potential, #22 OG recruit in the class of 2022                  

     Staff: 6.5/10 - Crosby was our lower rated OG signee but his technical pass blocking is quite good. Unfortunately he's not good at much else but he's actually had some playing time and even started 2 games when Hernandez was hurt. He has the frontrunner spot to start next year but it's not a guarantee
 

(So) Run Blocking OG Steven Henry

As a recruit: 4 star, C overall, C+ potential, #20 OG recruit in the class of 2021                  

     Staff: 6/10 - this was an interesting signing as he was onboard before Savage was and we were still considering being a run-first program. To be clear he's impressed us a lot with his run blocking. Unfortunately we don't really need that right now. His likely path is moonlighting in games where we want to pound the rock and backing up the other games 
 

Fr Pass Blocking OG Charles Le

As a recruit: 5 star, B overall, C potential, #3 OG recruit in the class of 2023                        

Staff: 9/10 - part of the 5-star haul last season. Charles is already startable with his pass pro and after this redshirt year will absolutely have a starting spot. The only decision is if we want him to take the C or an OG slot

 

Current need: 5/10 - I mean we have a lot of good bodies and Le will be amazing at one spot. But I would like to have a second elite player in these positions. Not the end of the world though as we have a couple of good options still rostered

Current Targets 

- 4* C overall Pass Blocking C - Glenn Weaver, Alabama, #7 C 

The initial target as Bama was distracted, Tennessee wound up prioritizing other positions and TAMU has swooped in to take the lead here. 

- Some 3 * OG

Not really any other big fish on the board. Surprisingly TENN went after OTs first and is likely going to need to hit OG/C harder next cycle

Recruiting Cycle Grade: 2/10

 

Offensive Targets remaining on the board and up in the air

TE David Lee

OT Clayton Grimes - maybe?

C Glenn Weaver - maybe?

 

The rest of the focus will be on trying to close out the defensive class, coming in part 2

Thoughts? What should Tennessee do better?

Edited June 11 by tsweezy