Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Follow TVOvols on Twitter
Welcome to TheVolunteerOnline. The Volunteer Online is a place where UT fans cross paths to discuss sports and life's other matters. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

Fill out the registration as instructed. Go to your email, where a message will be sent to you. Click on that link to activate your membership and posting options.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Players on the Bubble
Topic Started: Aug 20 2011, 11:15 AM (463 Views)
*OrangeRev
Member Avatar
Tree hug'n, bleed'n heart, lazy luv'n, global warm'n token liberal

After many years of watching Fulmer stick with mediocre players for a full 4-5 year scholarship ride, I have a strong feeling that Dooley is not going to tolerate this. If a player is not performing, he's gone.

I say this simply because we have only 14 scholarships to give for our 2012 recruiting class, and Dooley is blowing through that number as if he is going to sign a full 25 player class. If he indeed does this - following the pro mentality of you get cut if you aren't up to it - this means that we are going to need to shed about 9-11 players between the end of the 2011 season and the start of the 2012 season.

Things may change as the season progresses and players excel or decline, but as we head into the 2011 season, who is on the bubble to go? Yes I'm mentioning names because this is big time football, these are big boys, and guys need to step it up on this team ... I want them to step it up and demonstrate their desire to wear the orange & white.

Players who might likely turn pro early
  • S Janzen Jackson (Jr)
  • S Brent Brewer (Jr)


Players who aren't contributing much and may be asked to just graduate and move on ...
  • OL Carson Anderson ... he'll be a 5th year player, and he is buried on the depth chart
  • C Darin Gooch ... he was brought in as a JUCO emergency, and even started. But watching him last year, at times he looked lost and inept, and he has been passed by a mile. He's gotten his opportunity for 2 years to finish his degree. He's gone.
  • DT Steven Fowlkes will be a 5th year player ... as much as we need DTs, he's down on the depth chart and we have other options just as good.
  • DB Rod Wilks will be a 5th year player, and he can barely find the field even on special teams.
  • FB Ben Bartholomew will be a 5th year player ... of this group, I think he is most likely to be asked to stay on the team because we haven't developed much depth at FB. Without Ben, it's Fugate and not much else.


Players who aren't contributing much (to this point) and could be asked to transfer ...
  • DB Nigel Mitchel-Thornton ... it might be cruel to push out a 4th year player, and I'm thinking he's one of the last that might be asked to go ... but my goodness he's almost obscure at this point.
  • DT Arthur Jeffery ... everyone it seems thought he was gone coming into the 2011 season and then he just pops back up. He's back but will he last the year?
  • WR Matt Milton is on the depth chart simply because of the lack of depth at WR, but reports I've seen indicate that he's just not "getting" SEC football. If he doesn't step it up in 2011, he is a prime candidate to transfer. I'm really hoping to see Milton break out this year ...
  • LB Robert Nelson ... I haven't seen anything definitive from a reliable source, but I have heard people murmuring that he just isn't making the cut. And, the fact that he didn't find the field in 2010 as a redshirt freshman even in mop-up duty tells me that he is behind the curve. If he isn't on the field this year with any consistency, he's a prime candidate for a pink-slip and a transfer.


Another situation or two ...
  • DT Joseph Ayers ... he's the "Rudy" of UT right now, and he is stepping it up on a thin defensive line. I think everyone would hate it if this walk-on lost his scholly that Dooley awarded to him for 2011 ... but you know, its a business.
  • OL Alex Bullard ... he walked on to the team after leaving Notre Dame. A former 4-star, he's expected to be in line for a scholarship in 2012 ... but it isn't a certainty.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Shakearag
The Voice of Al Sharpton
[ * ]
Excellent information Rev, I think Bullard and Ayers are safe. I am not so sure that Brewer is NFL ready unless he has a great year. He is a big hitter but he got lost in space too often last season.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Hermitagevol


Bullard isn't going anywhere, and Brewer is a sophomore. The 5th year players for next season will probably be told to move on.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
gallavol
Cynical Idealist

I think Fowlkes is a DE, no? I don't think Bartholomew or Anderson will be ask to leave because they are legacies and their families contribute to the school. I pretty much agree with all the rest, some guys will be asked to look around.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
gatewayghost
Member Avatar
Awesome
[ * ]
Ayers has progressed nicely. Gave us nice minutes at the end of last year and he's having a good fall practice. No way he's on the list.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
gallavol
Cynical Idealist

I believe the Ayers family will end up paying for his education and allowing Dooley to use that scholarship. jmo
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
*OrangeRev
Member Avatar
Tree hug'n, bleed'n heart, lazy luv'n, global warm'n token liberal

gatewayghost
Aug 20 2011, 11:32 PM
Ayers has progressed nicely. Gave us nice minutes at the end of last year and he's having a good fall practice. No way he's on the list.
Like Bullard, I do not think he will be off the team, by any stretch ... I'm just wondering whether or not he will be on scholly next year.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
gatewayghost
Member Avatar
Awesome
[ * ]
gallavol
Aug 21 2011, 01:41 PM
I believe the Ayers family will end up paying for his education and allowing Dooley to use that scholarship. jmo

I don't know anything about the Ayers family. Are they Rich?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
*JollyVolly
Member Avatar
A Very Manly Man

Very good work, OR. Folks do have to realize that this should be a two way street. If you can't contribute...for whatever reason....it's time to move on.

I think that once Dooley has his guys only and not and Fulmer or Kiffin leftovers that this purge will slow. Not because he likes them better, but because he really seems to be doing his due diligence regarding ability and behavior.

I'm more impressed with Dooley week by week.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
*TennesseeTuxedo
Member Avatar
Administrator

Bullard is our starting left guard. Safe to say, he will land a scholly.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
LonzoVol


gallavol
Aug 20 2011, 07:17 PM
I think Fowlkes is a DE, no? I don't think Bartholomew or Anderson will be ask to leave because they are legacies and their families contribute to the school. I pretty much agree with all the rest, some guys will be asked to look around.
Bartholomew is the only other fullback on the team right now besides Fugate. Ben has had some injury issues but still could contribute as a blocker from the FB position. Fowlkes is playing defensive end and has shown some signs that he might be able to rush the passer. Wilks has had one of the best camps of anyone on the team and may even be the No. 2 SS right now as I saw where Moore is now working at corner and nickle, but not SS.
I would suspect that the rest of the list is very accurate and there will be guys moving on to other schools.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Hermitagevol


Wilks hasn't done anything in four years of playing. Why would you give him a 5th?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
LonzoVol


Hermitagevol
Aug 22 2011, 07:17 PM
Wilks hasn't done anything in four years of playing. Why would you give him a 5th?
For starters, he has only played two years, one red-shirt and two years on the roster. Secondly, he was moved around from offense to defense by Flummo and from defense to offense by Boy Kiffin. In two scrimmages thus far this month, Wilks was the third leading tackler in the first scrimmage and his two scrimmage numbers don't indicate a player who should be run off the team. Seven tackles, one sack, one other tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, three quarterback hurries on blitzes and one pass broken up. He has obviously improved considerably under the watchful eyes of Wilcox and Joseph.
And last but not least, on a two-deep just posted by Tater over on OMV, Wilks is listed as the second team, primary backup at strong safety behind Brewer.
Edited by LonzoVol, Aug 22 2011, 08:09 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
gatewayghost
Member Avatar
Awesome
[ * ]
LonzoVol
Aug 22 2011, 08:00 PM
Hermitagevol
Aug 22 2011, 07:17 PM
Wilks hasn't done anything in four years of playing. Why would you give him a 5th?
For starters, he has only played two years, one red-shirt and two years on the roster. Secondly, he was moved around from offense to defense by Flummo and from defense to offense by Boy Kiffin. In two scrimmages thus far this month, Wilks was the third leading tackler in the first scrimmage and his two scrimmage numbers don't indicate a player who should be run off the team. Seven tackles, one sack, one other tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, three quarterback hurries on blitzes and one pass broken up. He has obviously improved considerably under the watchful eyes of Wilcox and Joseph.
And last but not least, on a two-deep just posted by Tater over on OMV, Wilks is listed as the second team, primary backup at strong safety behind Brewer.
Careful Lonzo. YOu don't want to be this years Wagee. He was hyping Wilks all summer last year and he showed nothing.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
LonzoVol


Haw, haw, got ya Ghost, sure wouldn't want that to happen!!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
ZetaBoards gives you all the tools to create a successful discussion community.
Learn More · Sign-up Now
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Neyland Stadium · Next Topic »
Add Reply