The scholarship limitations do not allow for a quick fix. That may be changing with the grad transfer portal allowing players to move freely.
Pruitt is in year two coming off the horrid years of butch and dooley. The first year the hay was in the barn with the early signing period so lets look at year two recruiting.
Offense - Gray, Morris, Wright, Maurer (probably starting). The tight ends would be playing if not for DWA and Pope.
Defense - Henry, Burrell, Solomon, Williams, Middleton, Crouch, Harrison are all playing significant periods or starting.
That is not bad for recruiting and considering the roster. The guy is building a decent class this year. The problem is the roster he inherited and he is learning to be a head coach.
Let’s look at next years starting lineup barring a freshman starting
QB - Harrison Bailey, Hill, Maurer, JT Shrout,
RB - Chandler, Gray,
TE - Lowe, Brown
LT - Morris
LG - Smith
C - Carvin
RG - Wright
RT - Calbert
WR - Palmer
WR - Tillman
WR - Keyt
Incoming - Bailey, Hill, Mayes, Hodge, Callaway, Gibbs, and Hyatt are going to contribute. If Smith has any issues a grad transfer would be awesome for the line as well as a proven receiver.
Outgoing - Guarantano (definitely leaving unless something major happens), Callaway, DWA, J Jennings (biggest loss), Kennedy, Byrd, B. Johnson, R Johnson )probably leaving. Not sure on Locklear or Tatum staying.
LDE - Bumphus
NT - Gooden
RDE - Solomon
Jack - Bennett/Harrison
SAM - Crouch
MLB - Banks
WLB - Henry T
LCB - Thompson
FS - McCullough/Fields
SS - Jackson
RCB - Taylor/Burrell
Incoming - McDaniel, Lawrence (don't think you will keep him off the field), Bailey, Green, ojulari are going to contribute. Barnon and Hardy can make a difference. A Grad transfer LB/DE would be great on this side of the ball. Expect Isiah Simmons to make a move next season
Outgoing - Bituli (loss), Warrior , Taylor. Not sure Buchanan returning.
When you look at that very few seniors contributing. The Jones influence is leaving. I would expect several to hit the portal this offseason. Another year in the program and the sophomore class should be a bigger and stronger. The offensive line with Morris, Wright, Calbert and Carvin should be much better and a real strength. Keep in mind, Jamir Johnson becomes the utility lineman.
The thing to do is to finish out the class strong. One of the biggest problems is young players learning on the job against juniors and seniors. Suddenly as you are seeing now competition is pushing some of these guys.
I don’t want to lose a recruiting class over a coaching change as some suggest other than Meyer (not happening) as if you take out the dead weight and have some patience (as it will be needed) the future should improve. If not a new coach after year three will inherit a better roster than what Pruitt was left with. I do think they will be some changes of the guard in the next few weeks as you see JG and Warrior hit the bench. Hope we can all survive this season. Go Vols.
Pruitt is in year two coming off the horrid years of butch and dooley. The first year the hay was in the barn with the early signing period so lets look at year two recruiting.
Offense - Gray, Morris, Wright, Maurer (probably starting). The tight ends would be playing if not for DWA and Pope.
Defense - Henry, Burrell, Solomon, Williams, Middleton, Crouch, Harrison are all playing significant periods or starting.
That is not bad for recruiting and considering the roster. The guy is building a decent class this year. The problem is the roster he inherited and he is learning to be a head coach.
Let’s look at next years starting lineup barring a freshman starting
QB - Harrison Bailey, Hill, Maurer, JT Shrout,
RB - Chandler, Gray,
TE - Lowe, Brown
LT - Morris
LG - Smith
C - Carvin
RG - Wright
RT - Calbert
WR - Palmer
WR - Tillman
WR - Keyt
Incoming - Bailey, Hill, Mayes, Hodge, Callaway, Gibbs, and Hyatt are going to contribute. If Smith has any issues a grad transfer would be awesome for the line as well as a proven receiver.
Outgoing - Guarantano (definitely leaving unless something major happens), Callaway, DWA, J Jennings (biggest loss), Kennedy, Byrd, B. Johnson, R Johnson )probably leaving. Not sure on Locklear or Tatum staying.
LDE - Bumphus
NT - Gooden
RDE - Solomon
Jack - Bennett/Harrison
SAM - Crouch
MLB - Banks
WLB - Henry T
LCB - Thompson
FS - McCullough/Fields
SS - Jackson
RCB - Taylor/Burrell
Incoming - McDaniel, Lawrence (don't think you will keep him off the field), Bailey, Green, ojulari are going to contribute. Barnon and Hardy can make a difference. A Grad transfer LB/DE would be great on this side of the ball. Expect Isiah Simmons to make a move next season
Outgoing - Bituli (loss), Warrior , Taylor. Not sure Buchanan returning.
When you look at that very few seniors contributing. The Jones influence is leaving. I would expect several to hit the portal this offseason. Another year in the program and the sophomore class should be a bigger and stronger. The offensive line with Morris, Wright, Calbert and Carvin should be much better and a real strength. Keep in mind, Jamir Johnson becomes the utility lineman.
The thing to do is to finish out the class strong. One of the biggest problems is young players learning on the job against juniors and seniors. Suddenly as you are seeing now competition is pushing some of these guys.
I don’t want to lose a recruiting class over a coaching change as some suggest other than Meyer (not happening) as if you take out the dead weight and have some patience (as it will be needed) the future should improve. If not a new coach after year three will inherit a better roster than what Pruitt was left with. I do think they will be some changes of the guard in the next few weeks as you see JG and Warrior hit the bench. Hope we can all survive this season. Go Vols.
