Looking ahead to next season

[Black Diamond Vol]

Obviously, we have a lot coming back.  And I think the schedule is manageable.  UF and bammer have to come to Knoxville, VPI isn't that great, and our other crossover opponent out of the west is at aTm, who haven't won a meaningful game since Manziel left, and who oddly seem to play worse at home than on the road. 

But there are two guys on our defense who are going to have a big choice to make, and based on what I've seen out of the other guys at their position, losing either or both would scare the hell out of me.  As much as our D has struggled this year, how much worse would they be without Cam Sutton and Jalen Reeves-Maybin?

IMO, Butch's biggest recruiting job this winter may be convincing both of those guys to stay another year.

[Creek Walker]

IMO the way Cam Sutton has played the last two games would indicate he needs to stay and work on perfecting his trade a little more. I haven't looked at where he's grading right now. I know scouts were high on him early in the season but I think he's had some lapses recently.

[Black Diamond Vol]

IMO the way Cam Sutton has played the last two games would indicate he needs to stay and work on perfecting his trade a little more. I haven't looked at where he's grading right now. I know scouts were high on him early in the season but I think he's had some lapses recently.

Most projections I've seen have him as a mid first rounder.  But here's the latest one I could find (5 days old) that has him going in the 2nd round.  I don't know much about "Walter Football", though.  Maybe they're pretty accurate, maybe not.

http://walterfootball.com/draft2016.php

[BanditVol]

This site has been pretty accurate the last 2-3 seasons.  The only miss was the Junior in our "all star" OL class of 2012 (name eludes me).

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2016/CB

Sutton is 71st overall, which would be high 3rd round

[BanditVol]

And I couldn't find Reeves Maybin on that site at all.  He might emerge as a prospect later in the season, but it's a bit odd.  

Good news...right now looks like both will be back.

That's huge, because we have struggled in the secondary a bit and have no depth at all at LB.

And, oh yeah, Reeves-Maybin is probably our best defender right now, period, dot.

I don't begrudge any kid a shot at the NFL, but if these two come back next season's prospects are much, much brighter.  

[Black Diamond Vol]

And I couldn't find Reeves Maybin on that site at all.  He might emerge as a prospect later in the season, but it's a bit odd.  

Good news...right now looks like both will be back.

That's huge, because we have struggled in the secondary a bit and have no depth at all at LB.

And, oh yeah, Reeves-Maybin is probably our best defender right now, period, dot.

I don't begrudge any kid a shot at the NFL, but if these two come back next season's prospects are much, much brighter.  

I'm guessing that JRM's big year has taken the national pundits by surprise (not me, though) and they hadn't even considered that he might come out early, and that mock draft reflects that.  He is a bit undersized to play LB in the NFL though, so maybe he won't be that high of a prospect.

[Volznut]

JRM is a 4 year player - he is undersized which is why he won't get a good NFL grade, and I am not sure he isn't a safety in the NFL anyway.

Sutton will likely go pro - but I like what I have see in Martin. Gaulden is back. TK Jr is back. We will need a free safety. Evan Berry or a new guy. We will need to see if Moseley/Foreman get better or go with a new guy at CB. Osborne?

2016 DL should be very good and deep - and that will help the secondary. You can see what Barnett can do if he is healthy. Vereen is also back.

[BanditVol]

On closer inspection, JRM had an outstanding OU game with 21 tackles but has averaged 8-10 since.  But then again, he made several key tackles against bammer...I think at least 3 for loss on Henry and I think had at least one of the five sacks, though I am unsure.  The bottom line is he has made key plays in every game this season other than WCU when he sat really early.