The CheckerBoard

Cant believe Sentimore is leaving..Wish him the best possible success, but my gosh, not only did we really need him for next year, but he is one guy i was convinced would stay and would really benefit from another season. Wonder who advised that move.. crap.

Maybe he didn't get an agent

He prob doesn't think he'll fit in 4-3 as well. May not like taking classes.

The line in a 3-4 is to take up blockers to free the backers to make the plays. Tackles for them are bonuses.

Really surprised

Doesn't matter in football once you declare you are declared there is no changing your mind like in basketball

This is so bad for recruiting transfers. I can't believe any transfer with a marginal academic record would ever come to UT. I'm not absolving Sentimore of blame - ultimately he should have performed better in class - but this arbitrary C- transfer rule, in place only so Cheek can enhance his own career as the chancellor of a top university, has really put Sentimore in a bad position.

Now Sentimore won't get a degree, and likely has no future in football. I feel bad for the kid. If he could have stayed for a senior year, he'd at least have a chance at both. Cheek's absurd quest to turn UT into an academically elite institution versus a place that educates the state's citizens is potentially going to make life very hard for Darrington Sentimore.

Again, it's ultimately on DS, but had he gone to any other SEC school this wouldn't be an issue, and that will without a doubt hurt us when recruiting transfers in the future.

I hate Cheek. He is the wrong guy for that job on so many levels.

Sentimore? That's hilarious.

IMO a NFL team running a 3-4 is not just looking for a DT that is only able to "take up blockers." Consider other SEC 3-4 DT that are entering the draft—John Jenkins 50 tackles, Kwame Gathers 40 tackles, Jesse Williams 37 tackles—they all are disruptive b/c of their ability to not only take up blockers/space, but they can and do get to the ball-carrier. Said differently, the skill-set of a DT in a 3-4 should not be limited to the ability to just take up blockers; he must also makes on the ball. IMO, a 3-4 DT making sacks is a bonus. A 3-4 DT being disruptive by making tackles is a necessity...

Think about it, why was Sentimore so highly sought-after in JUCO? He not only played in a 3-4 as a freshman but he had 39 tackels. Is Sentimore a good player? Yes. My only point was that he did not show himself NFL ready last year....

On the flip side, I thought he played well at DE in the 3-4 and several NFL teams run the 3-4. His draft stock would have likely fallen if he ended up a backup in 2013, which is the most likely scenario. He is putting himself in the best position possible to succeed at the next level, which is his dream. If he doesn't have a long NFL career, he can use his signing bonus to go back to school and get a degree. I'm sure he has met with advisors and thought things through. Our seaon has been over for 6 weeks, so it's not like this is a rash decision.

If he's such a marginal player that he couldn't have earned snaps as a 4-3 DT after a very mediocre year as a 3-4 DE, what real chance does he have to earn a paycheck for one of the, call it, 15 teams that run a 3-4 in the league?

I'm not trying to be a jerk about him, because I think he has potential, but he'll be lucky to get drafted.

I, personally, think he would have earned quite a few snaps next year. McCullers can't go every down. We are also going to drop a DE back a step, much like a jack linebacker in a 3-4, which essentially gives you a 3-4 front. He'd have his chances to improve his draft stock.

I hope it works out and he earns enough to go get a degree. I just think it would have definitely been in his favor to stay on scholarship and play his senior year. He needed to prove some things.