'The clock is ticking down as National Signing Day 2016 is upon us. Butch Jones and company have done another outstanding job assembling a top notch recruiting class. While this class may not rank as high as the last two to come through here according to the usual suspects that cover recruiting, make no mistake, Tennessee filled it's needs and will add more important pieces to its championship puzzle.

One big piece to that puzzle will take center stage bright and early at 8 am in the morning, when Nigel Warrior (Dale Carter's son) makes his college decision. From talking to several people in and around the program, I think it will be a major upset if Warrior doesn't pick the Volunteers. Warrior has been #1 on Tennessee's board since the beginning of this recruiting cycle. I don't see any upset in the making here. I fully expect to see Warrior don the orange and white cap and get the Volunteers day started off with a bang.


I've heard nothing but positives about this past weekend's recruiting visits and I'm expecting Tennessee to really hit a home run tomorrow and close hard. It should make for a really exciting day in Big Orange Country.


Just when you think our Basketball Vols could gain a little traction, coming off of a nice win over a top 25 South Carolina team, they go out and lay a couple of rotten eggs last week. There was just no excuse to blow big double-digit leads and lose to both Alabama and TCU. This team would be a contender if games ended at the half. It's just mind blowing how awful this team plays after the break. Can anyone tell me what our offense is? For the life of me, I can't figure it out. Do we ever run any plays? It looks like an uncoordinated mess out there. It's jack a bunch of 3's and let Kevin Punter improvise. The word on Coach Barnes is, he wins with talent, not X's and O's, and after watching this team this season, we better hope he can recruit us up, because this offense and his plays (or lack thereof) is really a sight for sore eyes.


What hope I had for beating Kentucky has all gone out the window. Honestly, I can really see this team going in the tank. Things just don't look good. You follow up Kentucky with a trip to Arkansas and after these two games, I'm not sure how you pick up the pieces. We're looking at being 10-13 after this week if we can't pull a miracle out of the bag. I didn't have any lofty expectations for this team or this season, but I certainly didn't think we'd be this bad. Last year we started off 12-5 before dropping 10 of our last 13 to finish the regular season at 15-15. It sure looks like finishing this season at .500 or above will be a tall task. I'm starting to come around to what Tony has been saying about Barnes. I'm really starting to wonder what this guy has left in the tank.


I want Dave Serrano to bounce back this season in baseball. I just want him to do it without our starting quarterback. Joshua Dobbs has been working out with the baseball team and while no one will officially say whether Josh is going to play baseball this season or not, I can tell you I am 100% against it. It's obvious I have selfish reasons for not wanting our star quarterback to be playing baseball. 2016 is such an important year for our football program. We really could make a serious run at the SEC crown and the college football playoff. I'd hate to see that opportunity go down the drain because of a baseball injury. If I'm Coach Jones, I'd do everything in my power to try and talk Josh out of getting out there on the diamond.


Here's some interesting odds that were posted by 5Dimes Sportsbook over the weekend.

Vols were listed as a 5/1 favorite to win the SEC in 2016 behind Alabama at 2/1 and LSU at 4/1.

Vols were the eighth choice to win the National Title at 17/1 odds

Vols were listed at +120 to make a New Year's Six Bowl Game. This means laying 100 dollars would pay you 120.

Josh Dobbs was listed at 20/1 to win the Heisman Trophy


That's all for this week. Here's hoping we kill it on National Signing Day!

Have a Great Day and Go Big Orange!

Your Vol Colonel'

'It is white knuckle time at football complexes all across the country. With Signing Day drawing near from now until the prospect(s) signs the Letter of Intent, this is the time where the elite recruiters make their money. Tennessee has a couple on staff. Personally, I’m curious to see how they fare as they go head to head against the best in the SEC.


This recruiting cycle can’t come to close fast enough for me. Something about this cycle has just seemed odd or off for some reason. From Signing Day 2015, Tennessee set the table for a small 2016 signing class. That certainly made sense after effectively maxing out signees the previous two classes when rebuilding the roster.


But labeling the 2016 class as “developmental” class was poor messaging in my opinion. This class never seemed to sustain its momentum until the last couple of weeks. If Tennessee media folks had a do-over, I bet they would lose the word "developmental to describe this class. It is a poor choice of words, especially when Tennessee fans are watching Alabama and LSU continually just reload their rosters cycle after cycle.


With that said, give credit where credit is due. Butch Jones made a heck of a hire with Larry Scott. Tennessee needed an injection of enthusiasm and newness on this staff. Jones recognized it, stepped out of his comfort zone, and hired Scott whom he had no prior coaching experience with.


I do believe regardless of how Tennessee closes, Butch Jones and his staff have put forth every ounce of energy they have to recruit these remaining targets. If they close well, great. If they don’t, it happens. You wake up on Thursday and start in earnest toward signing day 2017.


With the above out of the way and now 24 hours from go-time, let’s take one last look at the handful of remaining targets for those oh so precious few spots.





Offensive Targets

Two legitimate targets are left Landon Dickerson and Latrell Williams.

Regarding Dickerson and Williams, if both want to be VOLS. Williams gets the nod over Dickerson.


Regarding running back Zac Moss, I don’t see Zac Moss being part of the class. If Tennessee has a bad run of it today or on NSD, Moss may have a spot. He is a good prospect. However, signing Moss may throw off recruiting plans for 2017. Tennessee will need two top shelf backs to replace Hurd and Kamara since both are likely headed to the NFL after next season. Tennessee is positioned well with some of the best running back prospects in the southeast for 2017. Jalen Hurd, Alvin Kamara, Jonathan Kelly , Carlin Fils-Aime, plus a walk on or two should provide sufficient depth for 2016.




With three firmly committed offensive lineman, one more offensive lineman is a luxury not a need. Yes, it is very hard to turn down an offensive lineman of Dickerson’s potential. You can’t coach the difference making speed like Williams possesses though. Williams can help out as a slot receiver, taking a few snaps in a Kamara role as a running back, or in the kick return game. Dickerson had numerous opportunities to claim his spot in this class as far back as last spring and even in November and he failed to do so.




Defensive Targets:


The board now stands at five. Defensive Backs Nigel Warrior AND Tyler Byrd, plus three legitimate defensive line targets.


Though nothing is ever certain until they sign, Tennessee seems to be in good shape with Nigel Warrior. Auburn thinks they have a shot, as does LSU with Warrior. I would not completely rule either out.


Four weeks ago, many would be happy if Tennessee added Warrior and held onto to all its other commitments on national signing day.


Now, Tennessee has opportunity for so much more.


Defensive back Tyler Byrd has a tough decision: stay with a team he has been committed to for 11 months in Miami, or sign with a Tennessee program likely to compete for multiple SEC Championships during his time here. At Tennessee, Byrd will have an opportunity to play with his half-brother Carlin Fils-Aime. Too, there is no bigger college stage than football on a Saturday in the SEC.



Jonathan Kongbo. There is always at least one recruit that has a hard time telling people no. Kongbo appears to be that guy in 2016.
Kongbo has taken four official visits. Kongbo has given each school at different times an indication he would sign with them on Wednesday. During the day on Monday, I firmly believe Tennessee and Ole Miss emerged as the co-leaders for Kongbo . I also think both schools believe Kongbo is theirs.


Who Will Emerge as the King For Kongbo?
I have a hunch Tennessee wins out here but I don't feel convicted in that choice. I put nothing past Ole Miss with a kid they covet.





Derrick Brown. Again, no way to know. Here my instincts are that the kid is torn and probably himself doesn’t know for sure. What we have here is Tennessee and Auburn in a virtual dead heat for Brown. Brown’s recruitment has pitted two elite SEC recruiters against one another Tommy Thigpen and Rodney Garner. The way these things come down is usually the last staff that speaks with him Wednesday morning usually gets the prize.


Lastly, there is defensive tackle and Georgia commitment Tyler Clark. Tennessee seems out of it, but there is a pathway where he could end up signing with Tennessee. Tennessee is locked in a battle with Auburn for Brown. Auburn and Georgia are locked in a fierce battle for another defensive tackle in David Marshall who is currently committed to Auburn. Both schools have multiple defensive tackles committed. If Brown chooses Auburn, that might push Marshall to may Georgia. If Tyler Clark doesn’t like the fact that Georgia is closing with three or four defensive tackles plus himself, he could fall to Tennessee. Possible yes. Timing of these decisions and subsequent signings on Wednesday will be interesting to watch.




Buckle up....It's going to be fun.



'X'

'This Lady Vols patch is a save face for Hart & Cheek, the weasels.

STUPID compromise. If you put a patch on, why not just put on the logo which is basically a larger....PATCH!!!!

So, I suppose every team will keep wearing the patches (maybe the men's too-there's an idea!) Then this will keep the issue visibly and tangibly open until those clowns leave.

Cheek and Hart "compromised" with the legislature, not the fanbase. They could have easily squashed the issue by listening to the fans a long time ago before the Nike contract. As a matter of fact, they could still change the uniforms back to Lady Vols at anytime.

Cheek pinhead quotes of the week:
"The move to the Power T has built great unity among the women and men who wear it in competition every day."

"I think it brings unity to our athletic program," Cheek said. "I think it helps us in recruitment. I think it provides a much better atmosphere for all students."

Mid State'

I asked my Twidiots the following in the spirit of Jeff Foxworthy.


'You might be a Vol Cat if___________________'

you host a morning show with Jeff & Heather...

your first name is Mickey and your last name is Dearstone or DeMoss.

you're wearing the same color as everyone else in the Georgia Dome regardless of the sport.

1st cousins are off limits, but you think your 2nd cousin is kind of cute.


your mullet is longer than your wife's.

you work without a shirt on and so does your husband!

you wear the orange jersey and the blue hat.

your baby's formula is part Mtn Dew...

you hold up a brick at the Great Alaska Shootout.

you have a Jellico address.

you're a guy and you sit down to pee.

your dad is also your uncle.

you search "On Demand" for David Keith and Ashley Judd movies.

you chase a shot of Jack with Berry Blue Kool-Aid.