Not sure how much traffic the free board gets but thought I would post some info on the 2015 Vols for you guys.
I was not able to make it to Norman last season as my wife and I were expecting, but I heard great things. I hope those who make the trip to Knoxville enjoy. I hope our fans are welcoming and I anticipate that they will be. Really look forward to hearing what you guys think about Neyland Stadium and gameday in Knoxville.
I did this on the Iowa board last season, prior to the bowl game, and it was some good convo... Here is a break down of the 2015 Vols by position group. If someone wants to do one for OU that would be nice. Ill take it to VolQuest for the guys over there.
OFFENSE
QB: Josh Dobbs. He changed our season last year. I dont want to set up like a world beater, but the guy makes plays with both arm and legs and has Vol Nation excited. He makes some spectacular plays but sometimes struggles to make the routine plays. If he becomes more consistent and doesnt lose the ability to make big plays we will have a good season. It is cliche, but he makes the other 10 guys on the field look better.
RB: Jalen Hurd did nothing but get better as the season progressed last year. He is up to 240-245. I really like his game in that he is a one-cut runner, but he is a "jumbo all-purpose back" if you will... In fact, no freshman RB caught more passes than Jalen in 2014. I look for a big year from him. Alvin Kamara will provide a great compliment to Hurd. The former Bama RB was a 5* JuCo and is a perfect RB for Butch's system. He has not done it on the field yet but all signs point to him being really really good. After these two guys, we are uncomfortably thin at RB. If Dobbs, Hurd, anbd Kamara all stay healthy our rushing attack will be one of the better in college football.
WR: This group has a ton of potential but has not performed to that potential yet. Injuries have been an issue but guys like Marques North and Josh Malone have the tools to be go-to type WRs, but we havent seen that production yet. Pig Howard is probably our most productive WR even though he is probably the smallest in stature. Josh Smith was having a really great start to 2014 until he was hurt against OU last year... The key to this group is production, the potential is there but most of Vol Nation is taking a wait and see approach here.
TE: Former walk-on Alex Ellis is a solid player here. Ethan Wolfe has an NFL body and should have a really solid sophomore year.
OL: Cant be much worse than 2014, as OU saw first hand. Dobbs makes this group look better because the option action means something when he is in the game. We did not lose anyone from this group and added a very good freshman class. I think most Vol fans expect this group to be pretty decent in 2015, nothing special, but not the nightmare that was the early portion of 2014.
DEFENSE
DL: Curt Maggitt and Derek Barnett are special. They combined for something like 24 sacks in 2014. Barnett had 20+ tfl's to add to that. How well the big time freshmen acclimate at DT will be huge. Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle will play a lot of football this year. DL should be a strong point for us in 2015, depth is solid and talent is at a pretty high level.
LB: Jalen Reeves-Maybin will have a breakout season this year. He had a great sophomore year and all signs point to him being one of our best defenders this season. We need to find a MLB. Most think it will be Dillon Bates, Kenny Bynum, or perhaps freshman Darrin Kirkland Jr.
DB: Cam Sutton will go pro after this year. He is a really solid player. We are replacing our nickel back but most think that Rashaan Gaulden will do a great job there this season. The CB position opposite Sutton is up for grabs but there are several capable bodies to own the job. Juco Justin Martin could be the guy with the highest ceiling if he puts it together. At safety, we have a great mix of experience and talent. I anticipate all four guys playing quite a bit (Randolph, McNeil, Kelly Jr, Berry).
IMO, we win 7-9 games this year. We are much more talented than we have been in awhile. We also closed 2014 in very strong fashion. Staying healthy will be huge as depth is still somewhat of an issue. No idea how the OU game will go. I can say pretty confidently it will be a much more competitive match-up this season.
I was not able to make it to Norman last season as my wife and I were expecting, but I heard great things. I hope those who make the trip to Knoxville enjoy. I hope our fans are welcoming and I anticipate that they will be. Really look forward to hearing what you guys think about Neyland Stadium and gameday in Knoxville.
I did this on the Iowa board last season, prior to the bowl game, and it was some good convo... Here is a break down of the 2015 Vols by position group. If someone wants to do one for OU that would be nice. Ill take it to VolQuest for the guys over there.
OFFENSE
QB: Josh Dobbs. He changed our season last year. I dont want to set up like a world beater, but the guy makes plays with both arm and legs and has Vol Nation excited. He makes some spectacular plays but sometimes struggles to make the routine plays. If he becomes more consistent and doesnt lose the ability to make big plays we will have a good season. It is cliche, but he makes the other 10 guys on the field look better.
RB: Jalen Hurd did nothing but get better as the season progressed last year. He is up to 240-245. I really like his game in that he is a one-cut runner, but he is a "jumbo all-purpose back" if you will... In fact, no freshman RB caught more passes than Jalen in 2014. I look for a big year from him. Alvin Kamara will provide a great compliment to Hurd. The former Bama RB was a 5* JuCo and is a perfect RB for Butch's system. He has not done it on the field yet but all signs point to him being really really good. After these two guys, we are uncomfortably thin at RB. If Dobbs, Hurd, anbd Kamara all stay healthy our rushing attack will be one of the better in college football.
WR: This group has a ton of potential but has not performed to that potential yet. Injuries have been an issue but guys like Marques North and Josh Malone have the tools to be go-to type WRs, but we havent seen that production yet. Pig Howard is probably our most productive WR even though he is probably the smallest in stature. Josh Smith was having a really great start to 2014 until he was hurt against OU last year... The key to this group is production, the potential is there but most of Vol Nation is taking a wait and see approach here.
TE: Former walk-on Alex Ellis is a solid player here. Ethan Wolfe has an NFL body and should have a really solid sophomore year.
OL: Cant be much worse than 2014, as OU saw first hand. Dobbs makes this group look better because the option action means something when he is in the game. We did not lose anyone from this group and added a very good freshman class. I think most Vol fans expect this group to be pretty decent in 2015, nothing special, but not the nightmare that was the early portion of 2014.
DEFENSE
DL: Curt Maggitt and Derek Barnett are special. They combined for something like 24 sacks in 2014. Barnett had 20+ tfl's to add to that. How well the big time freshmen acclimate at DT will be huge. Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle will play a lot of football this year. DL should be a strong point for us in 2015, depth is solid and talent is at a pretty high level.
LB: Jalen Reeves-Maybin will have a breakout season this year. He had a great sophomore year and all signs point to him being one of our best defenders this season. We need to find a MLB. Most think it will be Dillon Bates, Kenny Bynum, or perhaps freshman Darrin Kirkland Jr.
DB: Cam Sutton will go pro after this year. He is a really solid player. We are replacing our nickel back but most think that Rashaan Gaulden will do a great job there this season. The CB position opposite Sutton is up for grabs but there are several capable bodies to own the job. Juco Justin Martin could be the guy with the highest ceiling if he puts it together. At safety, we have a great mix of experience and talent. I anticipate all four guys playing quite a bit (Randolph, McNeil, Kelly Jr, Berry).
IMO, we win 7-9 games this year. We are much more talented than we have been in awhile. We also closed 2014 in very strong fashion. Staying healthy will be huge as depth is still somewhat of an issue. No idea how the OU game will go. I can say pretty confidently it will be a much more competitive match-up this season.