Top Five KEY PLAYERS For Tennessee Football This Season

[Music] welcome to the SEC unfiltered platform I appreciate you guys listening to all our content on all our channels and platforms I'm your host Dave schumate longtime recruiting director director of player Personnel in the SEC and I am here to give you today the top five impact players for Josh hypo and the Tennessee Volunteers heading in to the 2024 football season but as you know guys we have some bills to pay first and my bookie our buddies at my bookie there's a lot of lines already out there I bet some last week week zero is not being kind to your boy week one's going to be better though but go to my bookie.ag and use code SECU at signup to receive a special welcome offer on your first deposit guys there's no better place to bet this is where I put my lines in so I encourage you to go use those guys and use that code guys help yourselves out let me help you use that code first time to sign up at SECU for a special welcome offer but let's get to why you are here guys the top five impact players for the Tennessee Volunteers heading in to 2024 how this goes guys just to explain it this has been a segment I've been doing for all 16 SEC teams we've been going in alphabetic order we're obviously to the t's now but we go in reverse chronological order 531 54 3 2 one and I'll give you some guys that just missed the cut we'll recap it at the end but starting at number five I'm kind of proud of myself this one I like this one wide receiver Dante Thorton came over last year from Oregon the 65 215 pounder I think is going to be a top two wide receiver for this offense in 2024 you heard me a top two wide receiver for this offense in 2024 could be wrong it's kind of my bold take for this year for Tennessee but I even remember talking to people at Oregon remember I worked in the Personnel World know some of those guys over there at Oregon at work in recruiting and they thought he'd be a great fit at Tennessee and that offense they were kind of surprised he didn't have a bigger year last year but he got hurt towards the end of year I think was at Missouri game he did but go back and watch some film from last year the numbers weren't great I think he had one touchdown it wasn't consistent but you saw him make plays in the Florida games at times I coming back to Joe Milton helping him make plays on third down Kentucky had some big third down conversions and even even had the big time catch that I think he actually got hurt on touchdown really the only bright spot of that game against Missouri and Columbia last year had to adjust make it a contested grab I thought that was a very impressive ball when you went back and watch that Missouri game from last year add in he's another big time third down possession type body like Brew McCoy him and Brew McCoy I think went through rehab together with their injury so there's going to be some um camaraderie there I think built up there's gonna be some trust there if Thorton becomes consistent like I think he's going to be in 2024 if he becomes consistent Tennessee's weapons on the outside are GNA cause massive issues for defenses it is I mean you're gonna have Thorton brw McCoy squirrel white and Chris Brazzle coming over from twoa and I and I thought Thorton would start to come on when they moved him to the outside but then he got hurt he played inside early looked more comfortable with that X spot on the outside that's when he looked comfortable I think that's where he's GNA be this year with Brew McCoy oh and factor in if he's producing on the outside you know who gets to go win the middle of the field oh yeah transfer tight end holding stays that's that's how it works guys you win on the outside it puts it puts more stress on the defense to have to go to fin that leaves the middle of the field wide open it helps everybody everybody wins if Thorton comes on it will help the entire Tennessee off I think he does so that's why he comes in at number five for me moving to number four impactful player for the Tennessee BS in 2024 we're going to the secondary we're going to the other side of the football we're going to Willie Martinez's group that's Corner jamod McCoy I me I I read an interview with v safety Andre turntine he said Jam McCoy he's making plays quote quote he is making plays I haven't seen from anyone at that position since I've been here as a freshman in Oregon State remember he's coming over from Oregon State 16 tackles seven pass deflection pair of interceptions and he faced some good quarterbacks last year Michael pinnick bonick cam Ward NOA faf in Arizona just telling you there's not a lot to say really because the secondary I mean it's just a bold take it's impactable players you go back and watch the field you like what you're seeing I think Tennessee just has to be pretty solid on the back end this year because I think they're front they need line in the linebackers if they stay healthy is going to be a good unit come down to the secondary really for the defense and a lot of it for the team I feel like like to know the real upside for Tennessee in 2024 but bold statement here I think McCoy will be the most consistent Corner that the vs have had during the Josh IO here and that's not saying a lot because that's been the weakness but I do think this guy's gonna be a stable I think he's gonna be a guy that's G to be consistent be a stap for that offense I really that defense sorry I think he's gonna be a consistent face but they're gonna make F Tennessee fans gonna make finally we have somebody we can trust on that back in and no one's going to breathe e easier than Willie Martinez and Josh hypo that's why I got jamod McCoy the Oregon State transfer coming in at the corner coming over from Oregon State coming in at number four number three come on guys we know about this one number three you may think he needs to be higher defensive end James Peters best defender in the SEC heading into the 2024 season long athletic has a very explosive First Step let's be honest guys number 27 is an absolute monster had 27 tackles nine and a half sacks in 2023 he could be right now I think going into the season he would be the first pick he would hear his name called First on that Thursday night in the 20 heading into the 2025 NFL draft shows ability to win on the edge with his speed but with improved power not saying he doesn't have power I'm not saying he he's power deficient if he just improves it which I think he has he could be Dam near unblockable guy impacts the entire defense across the board when you look past just his sack numbers I mean go watch the force fumble against Alabama when he was 1 V one with Kaden Proctor force that fumble a little bit that J milro could have slid up but again hey he understood he tried to strip sack he understood where he was when rushing the passer where he was on the hip side of Kaden Proctor where jayen milro was give him credit that's instinctual that's not just rushing the passer without a plan James Pierce has a plan pre- snap that's what a lot of people don't remember the best or don't realize I should should say the best Edge rushers best pass rushers have a plan for the balls even snap there's not just running down the middle of the offensive tackle offensive tackles love that you got to take a shoulder but another another play I love from him last year was go watch the pick six Tennessee had I think it was Kamal Hayden in the South Carolina game deep in South Carolina's own territory with Spencer Rattler that was James Pierce give him credit he was in Spencer Rattler's face he beat the true freshman I think it was tree balade maybe Tron ball one of them had got that start for South Carolina and Kamal Hayden took advantage of it came in walked in for a pick six that that was a credit to James Pierce guys James Pier is also going to help his guy opposite of him Joshua Joseph's is going to be wrecking Havoc so many teams are going to be that extra tight end that extra running back to chip that's going to give Joseph's a lot of one-on-one opportunities he's a guy just spoiler alert he was going to be on my just missed the cut guy because I think James Pierce helps him he helps everyone behind him he helps the secondary it's going to be improved as well James Pierce not only helps himself but he helps everyone else in the defense offenses have to factor in how a game plan around him so he comes in at number three you can make a case to me he could be higher as well I'm sure that'll be in the comments but moving to number two quarterback I say everyone of these videos Nico Emi lava most important position on the field in all of sports the quarterback position in all of sports obviously football but I would say in all the sports guy has all the upside and tools to be an elite quarterback my wife can tell you that my watching him Nico is almost what you what Josh hyper would create in a lab to be his quarterback but I think what is going to separate him and this isn't a take I've heard from many people is simple is going to be easy for him the easier throws he's going to be able to consistently make more so much more so than Joe Milton maybe even more so than henen hooker this is what makes the great ones great who can do the little and simple things at a consistent level over and over and over again that is key folks I'm telling you there isn't a quarterback in the world that fits this Josh hyp system as well as Nico Emi laa Emi lava does also don't forget he's a hell of an athlete he's a volleyball player in high school and he's going to be able to pick up plays with his legs with design runs that Tennessee is going to factor in and off improvision with his legs I know everybody likes to think Tennessee throws it outside the hash nfield they want to run if it wants to be honest if the if the numbers in the Box are there they're going to have a lot of design runs for ni and I think he's gon be able to pick up some plays off in provision as well impact will be felt for everyone in Knoxville in 2024 you can make a case he's number one too but I'm fired up about my number one I'm fired up let's move to it number one Center Cooper Mays gotta respect the center position got to respect the big man up front I think he's the most important piece to the Tennessee offense when you factor in Nico be a red shirt freshman making his first full season start and we saw last year how the offense didn't look themselves when he was out the Florida game comes to mind I think it was Addison Nichols who's now at Arkansas got that start but he's a senior who has played a lot of football in this league will be a helpful tool for making that transition of a red shirt freshman making his first full season start I think it's gonna be massive we're not talking about that Cooper May's announcing him coming back there shouldn't have been anyone more excited than Nico emay lava there really should Nico eamay lava should have been more excited than anybody outside probably Josh Hull uh but Nico he's going to be judg unfairly at the beginning he is I mean their first road game in the leag Play I think is going to be tough at Oklahoma against the Brit vable Zack Alli defense and that defense in itself that they have the least amount of question marks on defense by the way but I think having a center can make all those checks get his quarterback comfor was going to go a long way if Tennessee was breaking in a new center this year I'd probably add them another loss I'm telling you I think Cooper ma is that big of a difference a two to three game difference at him being back for Tennessee this year I have Tennessee 10- two I have them losing to Oklahoma have them losing to Georgia I think they make the playoffs but without Cooper Maz I think they're closer kind of that nine and3 team with that schedule I know it's said two to three game difference but really probably a one which would put them out of the playoffs I think Cooper ma is one of the more underrated players in the SEC I know he's on all these first first team SEC second third team I forget where he got where he got announced uh in the all secc team but again I think only I really see myself and probably Tennessee internally really appre appreciate what this guy does and obviously the Tennessee fans but I think he comes at number one because I think him coming back is going to be so key for a firsttime starter going into his full season like Nico is so he's my number one but just missing the cut here wide receiver Brew McCoy we mentioned him earlier wide receiver Chris brazell coming over from two lane as well left tackle Lan turd but I think Tennessee is more of a product of the system up front offensively and obviously Cooper m is the most important offensive lineman I think any of the three running backs behind Dylan Samson who could be rb2 could be in this deshun Bishop pton Lewis Khalifa Keith potentially tight end Holden stays the Notre Dame transfer could be in that as well um I mentioned defensive end Joshua Joseph's because I think so many people are gonna have all their attention and game planning on James Pierce at least early in the year until Joshua Joseph starts to come on and then they're going to be in trouble make hey how do we handle both these Edge guys look out for Joshua Joseph on the interior I think defensive tackle big O big om Mari Thomas he could have a big say as well Rodney Garner done a phenomenal job coaching up that defensive line then corner kind of f you need him to step up as well I mentioned jamod McCoy but also corner you could mention probably being an impactful player for the balls on defense so that back and probably Ricky Gibson as well they need him to step up at either one of the corner spots or the star spots but those are some other names to probably keep an eye on it just missing the cup but just recapping five through one of the most impactful players for the Tennessee balls heading into 2024 number five wide receiver Dante Thorton if he can step up and be a top two receiver for Tennessee they're going to be loaded there's gonna be so many guys you're going to cover on the outside he's going to make life easier for Nico yay lava and other people as well coming in at number four jamad McCoy I think he's going to be the best secondary player best corner that Josh Hy had during his time again they don't have to be great on the back end just be average just be average number three you could make a case he could be higher but I think he's the best defender heading into the league defensive end James Pierce he's gonna improve everyone's game on defense he just makes that's a guy in your game plan in Tennessee that you're like we got to know where he's at at all times but he's going to go help his buddy Joshua Jose is on the other side because he's going to get a lot of one-onone one matchups with like I mentioned adding offens is adding that tight end and running back to go scheme up against James Pierce number two quarterback Nico eami lava coming in red shirt freshman first start I think he is the perfect fit for the Josh hypo system from a quarterback perspective he's gonna make the simple things easy and the great ones do the simple things at a consistent level then number one I think an underrated pick here I love it though Center Cooper mazee massive comeback massive get for him to come back for his senior year for Josh hypo and especially Nico Emi lava I think Cooper Mays is gonna be key he's gonna be a game or two difference across the board remember Florida's off Tennessee's offensive line did not look good against Florida last year when he was out I think his first game back was against South Carolina if I remember Tennessee's offense looked a little different after that but guys I appreciate you joining us on this segment of the top five impact players for Tennessee heading into 2024 I'm your host Dave shate go like subscribe 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