Episode 173: Post-spring outlook on 2019 Vols

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown and Ryan Callahan went into the Fort Rucker Sun Room (Fort Rucker Studio is still being renovated) to gauge the temperature of these Vols heading into summer workouts and take some guesses on the 2019 season.Why just guesses or guesstimates? Well … there are four good reasons for that.***Two of Tennessee’s most intriguing talents — sophomore defensive lineman Aubrey Solomon and junior WR/DB Deangelo Gibbs — are still going through the NCAA immediately-eligibility waiver process, and it remains to be seen whether either player will be eligible to play this fall.***Tennessee needs immediate impact from several players who still haven’t enrolled in classes, and we’ll have to wait and see what kind of shape they’re in when they arrive. And if they’re in shape, we’ll have to wait and see how well they can adjust to life at this level and make an instant impact. If the Vols want to feel confident about their chances of securing a bowl bid this season, they’ll need some of those talented summer enrollees ready to roll.***Several of Tennessee’s younger players — even some of its best young players — need productive offseason workouts in order to take their frames and their games to the next level. We don’t know who will do that and who won’t. That’s not possible at this point.***It’s not clear whether Tennessee will even dip into the NCAA transfer portal and look to bolster its roster, but we do know this: The Vols need to shed scholarship weight in order to stay at 85 or fewer scholarships. If they do that, though, and they still have room to add an instant-impact transfer, that could change things in a hurry.One legit caveat is more than enough to delay making a final decision. Four legit caveats is more than enough to suggest there’s no way to know right now.Regardless, the GoVols247 staff — well, most of it — convened to discuss some possible projections for Tennessee’s 2019 record. We assumed the Vols would get as much good news as bad news this offseason, and we came up with the proper over/under for regular-season wins in 2019.This week’s episode also features discussion on the ongoing 2019 NFL Draft, which could come and go without a single Tennessee player being selected. Several Vols will sign free-agent contracts and rookie-camp deals after the draft concludes Saturday, but at least a couple have a chance to hear their name called during the draft. This episode briefly rehashes some of the reasons for Tennessee’s NFL Draft cold streak because … well … it is news when the Vols don’t have many or any prospects selected. It’s rare enough historically that it is news.Callahan took control of the conversation down the home stretch, offering insight and analysis on where things stand with Tennessee’s 2020 recruiting class. Discussions on Tennessee’s current class are combined with discussions on the Vols’ vague plans during the spring evaluation period and more. Recruiting never stops, so GoVols247’s recruiting efforts don’t stop, either.