Let me be the first to say that rivals rankings are not everything. However, they are probably as good a barometer of raw talent as we have. If you look at the Vol's and Mountaineer's projected starters (I took an educated guess), there is a huge talent gap in favor of the Vols. I guess it could be argued that all of our talent were misses and theirs were diamonds in the rough but I don't think that is the case.
Below, I have listed the position, star ranking and rivals ranking, along with the class year for each projected starter...
West Virginia
QB: RS-SR, 4 Star, 6.0
RB: JR, 3 Star, 5.6
HB: RS-SR, 3 Star, 5.7
WR: SR, 4 Star, 5.8
WR: JR, 3 Star, 5.5
WR: JR, 3 Star, 5.6
OL: RS-SR, 2 Star, 5.4
OL: RS-SO, 3 Star, 5.6
OL: RS-JR, 3 Star, 5.7
OL: SR, 3 Star, 5.6
OL: RS-JR, 2 Star, 5.4
DE: JR, 3 Star, 5.5
NT: SO, 3 Star, 5.5
DE: SR, 3 Star, 5.4
LB: RS-SO, 3 Star, 5.5
LB: RS-SO, 2 Star, 5.4
LB: RS-JR, 3 Star, 5.7
SPUR: RS-SR, 4 Star, 5.8
CB: SO, 4 Star, 5.8
CB: RS-JR, 3 Star, 5.6
S: SO, 3 Star, 5.6
S: RS-SR, 2 Star, 5.4
Average seasons in college = 2.5
Average star rating = 3.0
Average Rivals Rating = 5.6
Tennessee
QB: RS-SO, 4 Star, 6.0
RB: SO, 4 Star, 5.9
TE: RS-JR, 2 Star, 5.3
WR: JR, 4 Star, 5.9
WR: SO, 3 Star, 5.7
WR: JR, 3 Star, 5.6
OL: SO, 4 Star, 6.0
OL: FR, 4 Star, 5.8
OL: SR, 4 Star, 5.8
OL: JR, 3 Star, 5.6
OL: RS-JR, 5 Star, 6.1
DE: SR, 5 Star, 6.1
NT: SR, 4 Star, 6.0
DE: SR, 4 Star, 5.8
LB: RS-JR, 4 Star, 5.8
LB: SR, 4 Star, 5.8
LB: RS-JR, 4 Star, 5.8
LB: JR, 4 Star, 5.8
CB: JR, 3 Star, 5.7
CB: SO, 3 Star, 5.6
S: JR, 4 Star, 5.9
S: SR, 3 Star, 5.6
Average seasons in college = 2.2
Average star rating = 3.7
Average Rivals Rating = 5.8
This probably doesn't mean much at the end of the day but this is food for thought for those who think the Vols don't stand a chance.
Below, I have listed the position, star ranking and rivals ranking, along with the class year for each projected starter...
West Virginia
QB: RS-SR, 4 Star, 6.0
RB: JR, 3 Star, 5.6
HB: RS-SR, 3 Star, 5.7
WR: SR, 4 Star, 5.8
WR: JR, 3 Star, 5.5
WR: JR, 3 Star, 5.6
OL: RS-SR, 2 Star, 5.4
OL: RS-SO, 3 Star, 5.6
OL: RS-JR, 3 Star, 5.7
OL: SR, 3 Star, 5.6
OL: RS-JR, 2 Star, 5.4
DE: JR, 3 Star, 5.5
NT: SO, 3 Star, 5.5
DE: SR, 3 Star, 5.4
LB: RS-SO, 3 Star, 5.5
LB: RS-SO, 2 Star, 5.4
LB: RS-JR, 3 Star, 5.7
SPUR: RS-SR, 4 Star, 5.8
CB: SO, 4 Star, 5.8
CB: RS-JR, 3 Star, 5.6
S: SO, 3 Star, 5.6
S: RS-SR, 2 Star, 5.4
Average seasons in college = 2.5
Average star rating = 3.0
Average Rivals Rating = 5.6
Tennessee
QB: RS-SO, 4 Star, 6.0
RB: SO, 4 Star, 5.9
TE: RS-JR, 2 Star, 5.3
WR: JR, 4 Star, 5.9
WR: SO, 3 Star, 5.7
WR: JR, 3 Star, 5.6
OL: SO, 4 Star, 6.0
OL: FR, 4 Star, 5.8
OL: SR, 4 Star, 5.8
OL: JR, 3 Star, 5.6
OL: RS-JR, 5 Star, 6.1
DE: SR, 5 Star, 6.1
NT: SR, 4 Star, 6.0
DE: SR, 4 Star, 5.8
LB: RS-JR, 4 Star, 5.8
LB: SR, 4 Star, 5.8
LB: RS-JR, 4 Star, 5.8
LB: JR, 4 Star, 5.8
CB: JR, 3 Star, 5.7
CB: SO, 3 Star, 5.6
S: JR, 4 Star, 5.9
S: SR, 3 Star, 5.6
Average seasons in college = 2.2
Average star rating = 3.7
Average Rivals Rating = 5.8
This probably doesn't mean much at the end of the day but this is food for thought for those who think the Vols don't stand a chance.
