Tennessee Transfer Portal Planning - Year 1

[tsweezy]

Writing down some concepts of what I should do for transfers now, might as well let other people read it. Going position by position because that's what mostly matters instead of team-wide. 

We have 105 rostered players and 15 Sr/(Sr)s so would like to churn out 10 transfers to get 25 spaces. 

 

Center: 

Morrow - B+ (Jr) balanced, 4*
Ventura - C (Fr) Pass Blocker, 3*
Worthington - D+ Jr Line Captain, 1*

No transfer intentions, probably going to move an OG here anyways. If need a cut, Worthington was a former walk-on and an easy boot. Total cut options: 1

 

Cornerback:

Gsellman - A- (Jr) Zone, 4*
Travis - B+ (Jr) Zone, 4*
Peckham - B+ (So) Zone, 4*
Gallagher - B (Fr) Zone, 4*
Carranza - B (Fr) Zone, 3*
Crosby - B Fr Ball Hawk, 4*
White - B (Sr) Zone, 2*
Ku - C Fr Zone, 3*
Carmignani - C Fr Zone, 3*

No transfer intentions, good enough core that don't need to take any incoming transfers unless there are A overall options. No cuts needed. Total cut options: 1

Defensive End:

Dimmadome - A (Jr) Balanced, 4*
London - A (So) Speed Rusher, 5*
Carnahan - B (So) Balanced, 4*
Garcia - B (Jr) Speed Rusher, 3*
Medina - B (Fr) Speed Rusher, 4*
Hills - C+ Fr Balanced, 4*
Barron - C+ Jr Run Stopper, 3*
Wood - C So Balanced, 3*
Santos - C Jr Run Stopper, 2*

The bottom 3 on the depth chart want to transfer out. I don't think Barron and Santos will ever be on the depth chart at all, let them leave. Wood might be a potential senior depth option, make a really low priority promise just to see if he stays. Total departures: 2-3, extra cut options: 1

Defensive Tackle:

Sowell - A (Jr) Nose Tackle, 4*
Moran - A (So) Pass Rusher, 5*
Johnson - B+ Sr Balanced, 3*
Castle - B Fr Balanced, 5*
Key - B- (So) Pass Rusher, 3*
Alegria - C So Balanced, 3*
Laycock - C So Balanced, 3*

Again, bottom 3 want to leave. However, Castle is being redshirted so I actually want a 4th to fill out the depth chart. Age-wise, all of them still have chances to be starters in senior year if I don't sign more high 4/5*s next year so it's not exactly wise to let them leave. Key also has A+ potential so he could blow up and start if Moran leaves early. 
Make Key a real promise, make Alegria and Laycock a throwaway thing to see if they stay, but not huge losses. Total Departures: 2-6, extra cuts: 1

Free Safety:

Nothing controversial, no transfers out, no point in taking an incoming transfer, no cut options

Inside Linebacker:

Adames - A- Sr Coverage, 4*
Lawson - B+ (Jr) Field General, 4*
Dozier - B Sr Speed, 3*
Billups - B (So) Speed, 4*
Blanding - B (Sr) Field General, 2*
Cochran - C So Coverage, 3*
Bock - C Jr Coverage, 2*

So Dozier and Blanding probably should have transferred but whatever, guess they like it here. We only start 1 ILB so it's pretty fine. If there's a really good young player I might look for a transfer, or even just a freshman depth piece. There is no possibility Bock ever plays so he's gone. Nobody else is a good cut option. Total Departures: 3-7, extra cuts: 1

Kicker:

I'm fine here

Offensive Guard:

Le - B+ (Fr) Pass Block, 5*
Crosby - B+ (So) Pass Block, 4*
Henry - B+ (Jr) Run Block, 4*
Hilton - B+ (So) Pass Block, 4*
Taylor - C So Balanced, 3*
Klosterman - C Fr Balanced, 3*

Henry is actually a very good player and would be highly sought after I think. Just isn't a scheme fit and won't start here. Sad to see him leave. Other than that, a bit thin room, might look at taking another depth player, but no cuts. Total Departures: 4-8, extra cuts: 1

Outside Linebacker:

Falu - A- (Sr) Speed, 3*
Sweezy - A- (Fr) Coverage, 5*
Andriese - B+ (Jr) Coverage, 4*
Bradberry - B Sr Speed, 3*
Major - C+ Fr Speed, 4*
Perez - C+ (So) Coverage, 3*
Nestle - C So Pass Rush, 3*
Folks - C So Run Stopper, 3*
Roper - D+ Jr Pass Rusher, 1*

Roper should have never signed here, he's gone. Nestle and Folks are probably already done for, I don't think they catch Sweezy/Major/Perez at any point. However, Nestle might be a potential 2nd string as a senior so I'll make him a small promise I'm ok with him not taking. Total Departures: 6-11, extra cuts: 1

Offensive Tackle:

Hernandez - A (Jr) Pass Block, 4*
Perry - A (Sr) Pass Block, 3*
Lazard - A- Sr Pass Block, 4*
France - A (Fr) Pass Block, 5*
Drummond - B+ (Jr) Balanced, 4*
Cole - B+ Fr Pass Block, 5*
Bush - B (So) Run Block, 4*
Grimes - B Fr Pass Block, 4*
Perez - B Fr Run Block, 4*
Eilerman - C So Run Block, 0*

I think OT is the deepest position group we have, and actually probably shifting one to OG and move Le to a center. I'm not totally sure how to handle OL yet. Anyways, Eilerman get out. Drummond and Bush almost certainly will never play but they are good players. I think I'm letting Bush go and making Drummond a moderate promise to see if he can win the OT3 slot in his last season next year. Total Departures: 8-14, Extra Cuts: 1

Punter:

It's fine

Quarterback:

Savage - A Sr Pocket, 5*
Ratley - A- (Sr) Scrambler, 3*
JOC - B+ (Fr) Pocket, 5*
Koch - B+ Jr Balanced, 4*
Harlow - B Fr Pocket, 4*
Raines - C- Jr Field General, 1*
Wood - D So Field General, 0*

This is the biggest conundrum I have. Raines should be gone, Wood has a literal F in everything so he's getting cut. Unfortunately if Harlow gets the redshirt he needs I don't actually have a 3rd QB for blowouts which is not ideal. Honestly kinda put myself in a corner because Koch actually would be the smart option to keep as that QB3 for his last 2 years. But he's already locked out of facilities. Which means I either bribe Ratley to come back and close games out for his last year or let him be a star elsewhere. I want him to lead a program, but then I'd definitely have to target the portal and sign a QB, or not let Harlow redshirt? I guess I'd do it for the roleplay aspect but this kinda hurts the stat padding. Total Departures: 11-17, Extra Cuts: 2, Portal Needs: QB, OLB?, young ILB depth

Runningback:

Williams - A (Jr) Receiving, 4*
Bandy - B+ (Jr) Receiving, 4*
Meyers - B (So) Receiving, 4*
Forsberg - B (Fr) Receiving, 4*
Gentry - B Fr Receiving, 4*

I mean what can you say, this is like the perfect set up for a room where everyone is very good and gets 1 year to shine. Love it, just wanted to flex

Strong Safety:

It's great, nothing more to say

Tight End:

Mateo - A (Sr) Blocking, 4*
Cox - B (So) Receiving, 4*
Foster - C+ (So) Receiving, 3*
Lee - C Fr Receiving, 4*
Spalding - C So Vertical Threat, 3*

I mean, Spalding has 2 guys his age above him on the DC and one younger guy. It's best if he leaves I guess. Total Departures: 12-18, Extra Cuts: 2, Portal Needs: QB, OLB?, young ILB, TE?

Wide Receiver:

ASS - A- (Jr) Possession, 4*
Flash - A- So Speed, 5*
Stanton - A- (Jr) Route Runner, 4*
Kleen - B+ (Fr) Red Zone, 5*
Simpson - B+ (So) Possession, 4*
Hemphill - B Fr Speed, 4*
Hernandez - B Fr Route Runner, 4*
Jones - C+ Speed Jr, 3*
Steward - C+ RZT Jr, 3*
Sampayo - C Possession Fr, 3*
Cook - D Possession Fr, 0*

Ok so Kleen was a casualty of the changing rules, he was redshirted which means he shouldn't be allowed to transfer but with progressions going first that rule got nuked unexpectedly. He's getting a major promise / bag and staying with the team. I'm also redshirting Hemphill/Hernandez this season so technically Jones is in line to be WR5/6 and could see some garbage time. I'll make him a promise to stay, let Steward leave, and Cook is a cut option.

Total Departures: 13-21, Extra Cuts: 3, Portal Needs: QB, young ILB, OLB?, TE?, WR?

Major Promises: WR Kleen, DT Key

Minor Promises: WR Jones, OT Drummond, OLB Nestle, DT Alegria, DT Laycock, DE Wood.

Expected Roster Size: 95 with 14 departing Seniors/(Sr)s.