Alden Hill to Tennessee
SIAP, but OH RB Alden Hill committed to Tennesee today-- at least that's what they're saying on Twitter. Given how few RB slots we have and how many other guys we're looking at, it's not a major loss, but Hill is definitely a good prospect and a nice pickup for the Vols.
I'm thinking in this class it's Dunn or None. I'm cool with that. I might even prefer none. We've got such a logjam. I realize none have proven themselves elite yet, but how could you tell? There's too many to deliniate.
+1 because of "deliniate" [sic]
Damn it. Del-in-e-ate. Just like it sounds.
Sam Webb thinks that fullback is a much greater priority than RB in this class - thus the offer to Hill as a BJ Askew-ish combo back. I would like to see more about EJ Fatu as we are high on his list and based on the limited info available he looks like a tough customer at FB.
Agreed that they would take Dunn if available but surprised that we have not offered William Mahone who looks great on film (and comes from that state down south that we own this year).
...our backs may look improved at the point of attack due to a change (and emphasis) on a slower-paced offense and different blocking schemes. I think one or two will emerge. Hopkins has to be a favorite, but there are so many options here we can't really go wrong.
I can't wait to see the occasional, old-style two-back formation. Imagine the concern of opposing D's facing Hopkins along with Toussaint/Cox/Shaw/Smith etc... and Denard. Formidable!
Yeah, good pickup for Tennessee, but not a major loss for us. I think he lost interest in us when we lost interest in him. Good luck to him.
As I understand it, we were recruiting him as a FB, but he wanted to play RB.
What is it about the vols around this area? I have seen them popping up a lot lately on prospects we have been targeting. Who ever is recruiting the midwest for them seems to be looking at a lot of the guys that Michigan is going after. I'm not heart broken over this but I would have been very pleased to see him in maize and blue. Would have almost sealed the deal for thomas in 2013 from the way hill made it sound. (said he and thomas wanted to play together in college)
But so does Dunn. With really no hope of Dunn and Hill in this class I will take Dunn and Thomas over Hill and Thomas
We'd never take a kid just to have a better shot at his teammate the following year. Alden Hill was a pretty good prospect, but with the number crunch we have, we're only going to take guys we really like or really need.
Hahaha ya, we don't want to end up like Nebraska.. they took Chris Whaley's brother in hopes to get him.. didn't work out the best.
sorry didn't really elaborate on that. i wanted hill for the fact he looked like a beast (even in a smaller division in OH). I liked as a bonus that he would have been in Thomas ear and the word that Thomas is already stating michigan is up in the top of his list would have improved the odds IMO. I wish the kid well in Knoxville.
I have actually read some rumors that say we have a better chance BECAUSE Hill didn't come here, and that their backfield relationship is pretty rocky.
That is a little bit strange...add Stokes, JT Floyd, and DeAnthony Arnett to that list (UT also poached Darris Sawtelle, although he did have pre-existing UT ties). Tennessee has always struck as a program kind of similar to Michigan (dismiss your opinions on ethics or the lack thereof of SEC programs) in its offensive and defensive philosophy (yes, MANBALL), so that could be a reason.
Yeah I think it has something to do with one of their best recruiters, Charlie Baggett, being a former player and coach at sparty. His familiarity with the area probably helps them get alot of the guys in the midwest.
Best of luck Alden!
Does this mean that he may be creeping out of middle Tennessee? What's the word on him? I remember Michigan offered him... At least I thought so... He was Mr. Football here in TN as a Junior and I believe has a nice list of offers too.. .
Alabama, Notre Dame, South Carolina, etc.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-I'Tavius-Mathers-117067
Derek Dooley considers Knoxville and the 250-mile radius around Knoxville to be UT's "yard." He's talked several times about the importance of recruiting locally because not only do you get to recruit a talent-rich area (Carolinas, Georgia, Ohio, etc.) but you take those players away from your rivals.
For DeAnthony Arnett, it was UT's Wide Receivers coach (Charlie Baggett) that made all of the difference.He can name drop a bunch of pros he sent to the NFL so it's understandable that he'd land big WR talent from this area (DeAnthony, Corey Smith until he failed to qualify).
For some time I have been hoping to hear that I'Tavius is still considering us... but have not heard him mention us since earlier this year. "All aboard!"