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Vols' Neal wants SEC rushing crown

  • http://tennessee.247sports.com/Article/Tennessee-Vols-Rajion-Neal-wants-SEC-rushing-crown-93818

    Despite not yet securing the starting position for an offense that ran for 2.7 yards per carry in 2011, UT junior Rajion Neal had optimistic goals heading into this season.

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    Senior Writer, govols247 Email: wrucker@247sports.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/@wesrucker247 Facebook: www.facebook.com/wesrucker247

    Wes Rucker

  • IMO, there's no way Lane or Young are anywhere close to Neal.

    This post was edited by JohnWardStyle on 10/2/2012 at 9:00 PM

    JohnWardStyle

  • Neal is going to be a combine freak for the NFL.

    tmatthewsVFL

  • If you can get over 100 against Georgia, you should be able to do it against all the other teams we play, with the possible exception of Alabama.

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    RockytopATL

  • Now that's good stuff right there Wes. Unless you believe it in your heart and believe in yourself, it won't happen. Not only does Neal believe in those, he believes in the people around him. I'm really pleased with the rungame this season. Absolutely pounded the rock against Georgia. So if Neal said it, I'm taking him at his word. And the Oline, from what I'm seeing, has ever intention of making it happen. I think the second half of the season is gonna be special. These guys are growing up. Orange. GO VOLS!

    BUTCH IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. GO VOLS!

    OrangeNCarolina

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    givethemsix

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    memphischic

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    Senior Writer, govols247 Email: wrucker@247sports.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/@wesrucker247 Facebook: www.facebook.com/wesrucker247

    Wes Rucker

  • I love our Running game and the obvious improvements they've made every game. It'll be interesting now that we should be considered dangerous on the ground how that will affect teams Defensive schemes. GA kept their Safeties deep allowing our RB to be a little extra special and they made it tough for Hunter and CP to get open. What other teams will have the defensive ability to do the same? Bama, sure, but who else? GA was a top 5 D last season and we had far better success running than I thought we would.

    Tithulta

  • tmatthewsVFL said...

    Neal is going to be a combine freak for the NFL.

    WIth all his tangibles it's hard not to expect Neal might be an Arian Foster type selection in the NFL draft. (Either this year, or next) If he keeps this pace, he will finish much like Foster, a quiet contributer in a tough rushing conference. Probably be selected in late rounds, or picked up as a free agent.

    Some team will have to fall in love with those physical skills, like you said tmatthewsVFL.

    ~The Volunteer in Brooklyn~

    patspitzhotfire

  • I think Neal like me and someother people on here saw some holes and creases that for some reason didn't get hit last year, not saying the Oline isn't better this year because they are but alot of yards were left on the field last year. If and it's a big if this team comes back next year without any underclassmen leaving they could play for a championship.pray

    This post was edited by blue tick on 10/3/2012 at 11:23 AM

    blue tick

  • patspitzhotfire said...

    WIth all his tangibles it's hard not to expect Neal might be an Arian Foster type selection in the NFL draft. (Either this year, or next) If he keeps this pace, he will finish much like Foster, a quiet contributer in a tough rushing conference. Probably be selected in late rounds, or picked up as a free agent.

    Some team will have to fall in love with those physical skills, like you said tmatthewsVFL.

    Regarding Foster- If I recall he almost left for the draft after his junior year as he was projected to be a 2nd to 3rd round pick. He is 2nd all-time in rushing at UT and was expected to easily surpass Travis Henry before the "Clawfense" and injuries caused his draft stock to plummet after his senior year. His legacy at UT would be considerably different had he left after his junior year

    As for Neal - if he continues to improve like he has been - I think he could be poised for a remarkable and high profile senior season. Especially with the experienced O-line returning and likely departure of Hunter and Patterson. Also, another year under Jay's coaching should continue to reap benefits. Jay deserves alot of credit when it comes to Neal IMO

    This post was edited by memphischic on 10/3/2012 at 12:46 PM

    memphischic

  • RockytopATL said...

    If you can get over 100 against Georgia, you should be able to do it against all the other teams we play, with the possible exception of Alabama.

    No offense Buffalo ran for 199 yards on UGA. In fact all of UGA's opponents have run for over 100 yards. If Raijon and the O-line can put it together 2 weeks in a row then I will believe it, but I'm not sold yet.

    hdrizzle21

  • hdrizzle21 said...

    No offense Buffalo ran for 199 yards on UGA. In fact all of UGA's opponents have run for over 100 yards. If Raijon and the O-line can put it together 2 weeks in a row then I will believe it, but I'm not sold yet.

    Amenvols

    hounddog

  • I wish Neal well in his pursuit of "personal goals". What I'd really like to see is the Vols acheiving some team goals like beating an SEC team that we shouldn't.

    murrayvol

  • At what point do we start talking about Neal potentially leaving early for the NFL? I mean, if the guy leads the SEC in rushing and puts up silly combine numbers.. wouldn't he be considered in the 1st round?

    This post has been edited 2 times, most recently by volfan28 on 10/3/2012 at 2:53 PM

    volfan28

  • hdrizzle21 said...

    No offense Buffalo ran for 199 yards on UGA. In fact all of UGA's opponents have run for over 100 yards. If Raijon and the O-line can put it together 2 weeks in a row then I will believe it, but I'm not sold yet.

    Georgia got 4 of its defensive players back from suspension right before the game, so those other teams didn't have to play their whole D-unit. Just sayin.

    Vol_Nation_79

  • Vol_Nation_79 said...

    Georgia got 4 of its defensive players back from suspension right before the game, so those other teams didn't have to play their whole D-unit. Just sayin.

    Good point, but only 2 players not 4. Ogletree is a beast though. Thank god he dropped a pick 6

    hdrizzle21

  • It's nice to be talking about a decent running game again. thumbsup2

    ol dad

  • hdrizzle21 said...

    Good point, but only 2 players not 4. Ogletree is a beast though. Thank god he dropped a pick 6

    True, but think about what kind of overnight impact it would do for us or really any team if you got to, all of the sudden, add a Rambo or Ogletree type to your defense. And yea I also was RELEIVED when he dropped the pick 6! I still would like to see the run game succeed on 3rd and short without having to put our overgrown bully A.J. In to bull rush his way for a yard or two although I absolutely love it when he makes his way in for the wildcat package!

    Vol_Nation_79

  • murrayvol said...

    I wish Neal well in his pursuit of "personal goals". What I'd really like to see is the Vols acheiving some team goals like beating an SEC team that we shouldn't.

    I hear you, but his goals would help the team.

    Run more, win more.

    Neal's teammates love the guy, FWIW. Always have. There was some bickering in the past from guys who thought he should have been playing more the whole time.

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    Senior Writer, govols247 Email: wrucker@247sports.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/@wesrucker247 Facebook: www.facebook.com/wesrucker247

    Wes Rucker

  • hdrizzle21 said...

    Good point, but only 2 players not 4. Ogletree is a beast though. Thank god he dropped a pick 6

    Georgia doesn't win that game without Ogletree and Rambo. Those two led them in tackles in that game and make plenty of plays.

    And you're right: Ogletree is a stud. So is Shawn Williams, FWIW. Not just Jarvis Jones on that defense.

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    Senior Writer, govols247 Email: wrucker@247sports.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/@wesrucker247 Facebook: www.facebook.com/wesrucker247

    Wes Rucker

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