National Recruiting Thread

[Some Irish Bloke]

They don't have to win a natty again, just beat OSU and Michigan when the opportunity arises

That's something we can all get behind.

 

[Huntr]

IMG Academy promised him an edge — then he was sexually assaulted on campus, lawsuit says​

A court case filed on behalf of two former students describes a culture of “chaos, lawlessness and neglect” at the elite boarding school for athletes.

But months after his arrival in 2021, the teenager and another boy were sexually assaulted on campus by an older teammate, according to sheriff’s office reports and the lawsuit.

A criminal investigation followed, and the teammate was sentenced to nearly a year in jail. Now, the assaults, their aftermath and the circumstances that preceded them are the subject of a civil suit against IMG and the convicted former student.

The lawsuit, filed in Manatee County Circuit Court last November, depicts a darker portrait of the academy during that school year, where boys as young as 13 lived in residence halls alongside teammates as old as 20, where drug and alcohol use among minors was alleged to be rampant and adult supervision scarce.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

IMG Academy promised him an edge — then he was sexually assaulted on campus, lawsuit says​

A court case filed on behalf of two former students describes a culture of “chaos, lawlessness and neglect” at the elite boarding school for athletes.

I hope our IMG guys weren’t involved, but, jeez, it sounds like a school we should stay away from. Maybe their elite players (they have multiple football teams) are in a different environment?

 

[dublinirish]

WTF is Five Star Plus+????????????

 

[zelezo vlk]

WTF is Five Star Plus+????????????

Idk but John Brice keeps mentioning how Tennessee is treating this kid like an absolute can't miss stud

 

[IRISHbluehen]

WTF is Five Star Plus+????????????

Consensus 5 star by all services, I believe

 

[NDPhilly]

I think it’s dumb for a school like Tenn to blow their load on a RB, but maybe they have more money than I think

 

[Fbolt]

They have $$ leftover.

Nico Iamaleava, the former five-star quarterback, transferred to UCLA after a standout career at Tennessee. In his latest season with the Bruins, he recorded 1,928 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, 7 interceptions, and 505 rushing yards, achieving a 123.5 passer rating.

 

[notredomer23]

I think it’s dumb for a school like Tenn to blow their load on a RB, but maybe they have more money than I think

They went all in on Hiter last cycle and missed so they ended up with the 1262nd ranked kid at RB last cycle. Still no RB this cycle. Apparently Adidas is heavily involved.

 

[IRISHbluehen]

I think it’s dumb for a school like Tenn to blow their load on a RB, but maybe they have more money than I think

They got out of Chaz Coleman's NIL contract so that's probably a hefty chunk. I enjoy the OSU cope when they lose guys, should try not being poor

 

[Dale]

I think it’s dumb for a school like Tenn to blow their load on a RB, but maybe they have more money than I think

A Canadian one at that

 

[arrowryan]

As long as Heupel is their coach, spending money on any kind of player is a waste of money

 

[Dale]

As long as Heupel is their coach, spending money on any kind of player is a waste of money

Heupel’s tenure has been a resounding success, no? This was their “worst” year since Year 1 and it was a 8 win season with 4 Top 15 team losses lol. Playoff, Orange Bowl, and Citrus Bowl. In retrospect, they paid Nico chump change from what anyone is getting now so it’s not like they emptied the bank account.

 

[arrowryan]

Heupel’s tenure has been a resounding success, no? This was their “worst” year since Year 1 and it was a 8 win season with 4 Top 15 team losses lol. Playoff, Orange Bowl, and Citrus Bowl. In retrospect, they paid Nico chump change from what anyone is getting now so it’s not like they emptied the bank account.

I’ve just never been a huge fan. They seem like a team that is always prematurely ranked and gets propped up by the media because they have a SEC logo on their jersey. Then they underperform. Yes they made the playoffs, but they proceeded to get their doors blown off.

Emptying the bank account on a running back is something you’d do if he’s your missing piece to make a run at a championship. Idk much about Tennessee’s roster, but I’d imagine they have many missing pieces.

 

[greyhammer90]

Heupel’s tenure has been a resounding success, no? This was their “worst” year since Year 1 and it was a 8 win season with 4 Top 15 team losses lol. Playoff, Orange Bowl, and Citrus Bowl. In retrospect, they paid Nico chump change from what anyone is getting now so it’s not like they emptied the bank account.

I think there's a growing sentiment from Tennessee fans that Heupel is their BK. He's righted the ship and put himself in a position where it would be difficult to fire him, but they aren't sure he's ever going to really play his way to an SEC title or NC.

 

[zelezo vlk]

It's the Bayloresque offense that caps the ceiling imo.

 

[Dale]

Idk I actually have been impressed my Heupel quite a bit. He’s continued to adjust his offense as time as gone on to make it less gimmicky. You can say why spend on a RB, but Tennessee is, by people’s surprise, a RB centric offense. The level of disarray Tennessee was in before he was there to now complaining about 8 win seasons is a sign of the progress. The BK comparison may be a fairish comparison, but who is your Marcus Freeman then? Until then, hope Faizon Brandon is legit and I imagine the complaints would stop if so.

 

[Dale]

Yes they made the playoffs, but they proceeded to get their doors blown off.

Eh. We aren’t exactly one to throw stones there. And OSU blew the doors off Oregon next. Again maybe that makes a BK comp fair but playoff blowouts happen.

 

[greyhammer90]

Idk I actually have been impressed my Heupel quite a bit. He’s continued to adjust his offense as time as gone on to make it less gimmicky. You can say why spend on a RB, but Tennessee is, by people’s surprise, a RB centric offense. The level of disarray Tennessee was in before he was there to now complaining about 8 win seasons is a sign of the progress. The BK comparison may be a fairish comparison, but who is your Marcus Freeman then? Until then, hope Faizon Brandon is legit and I imagine the complaints would stop if so.

Agree with all of that. Tennessee has themselves in a bit of a spot because they are experiencing sustained success for the first time since 2007 but at the same time it's far below the success found by their biggest rivals in that time (Bama, UGA and UF all winning chips in that window). I don't think it would be wise for Tennessee to seriously consider pushing Heupel out but I also know that Tennessee is a really short sighted institution from an athletic perspective and their fans think being a top 10 team is their birthright.

 

[greyhammer90]

Not really relevant but Heupel needs to thank heavens that Mario Cristobal exists. If not for Cristobal, Heupel might have the reputation of being the worst coach in the country when he has a 14 point lead. Still can't believe he choked away that Georgia game last year.

 

[dublinirish]

It's the Bayloresque offense that caps the ceiling imo.

inability to make anyone on their offense "pro ready" gotta hurt them so much in recruiting so they have to throw bags at everyone

 

[zelezo vlk]

inability to make anyone on their offense "pro ready" gotta hurt them so much in recruiting so they have to throw bags at everyone

People fall for it in the Draft every year too. Josh Gordon is the only guy from the Bayloresque offenses who became a legit star IIRC. The best of the rest have become serviceable. It turns out refusing to teach receivers basic routes does not prepare them for facing great defenses.

 

[Dale]

inability to make anyone on their offense "pro ready" gotta hurt them so much in recruiting so they have to throw bags at everyone

Yeah our WR and DT NFL development landed our commits fair and square with no bags. The right away. #RKG

It’s hilarious that we brag about our recruiting class in one thread and then still chastise teams for paying recruits in others lmao

 

[Irish du Nord]

I think there's a growing sentiment from Tennessee fans that Heupel is their BK. He's righted the ship and put himself in a position where it would be difficult to fire him, but they aren't sure he's ever going to really play his way to an SEC title or NC.

Phil Fulmer isn’t walking through that door. This is a PSU/Franklin mentality.

 

[arrowryan]

Eh. We aren’t exactly one to throw stones there. And OSU blew the doors off Oregon next. Again maybe that makes a BK comp fair but playoff blowouts happen.

I don’t think Notre Dame has ever gotten blown out under Freeman

 

[Riddickulous]

I don’t think Notre Dame has ever gotten blown out under Freeman

Louisville of all teams has the biggest margin of victory over him, 33-20 in 2023.

 

[arrowryan]

Louisville of all teams has the biggest margin of victory over him, 33-20 in 2023.

For Freeman’s standards, the 2022 and 2023 rosters were pretty ass if we’re being honest.

 

[Dale]

I don’t think Notre Dame has ever gotten blown out under Freeman

Great. and I wouldn’t have have called the 2012, 2018 or 2020 teams underperforming wastes of money.

Blowouts in CFP games have happened since the CFP was invented, to all sorts of teams. If your point is just all those coaches are worse then Marcus Freeman, okay great I guess.

 

[arrowryan]

Great. and I wouldn’t have have called the 2012, 2018 or 2020 teams underperforming wastes of money.

Blowouts in CFP games have happened since the CFP was invented, to all sorts of teams. If your point is just all those coaches are worse then Marcus Freeman, okay great I guess.

I must be missing the point. Idk. I’m fully aware blowouts happen in the CFP. Unfortunately, our Irish have been on the receiving end of a couple of them.

 

[Dale]

I must be missing the point. Idk. I’m fully aware blowouts happen in the CFP. Unfortunately, our Irish have been on the receiving end of a couple of them.

I don’t think Heupel is a bad coach, even though he got blown out in a CFP game.