re: USA Today releases 'Way Too Early' Preseason Top 25 rankings....8 SEC teams ranked

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Other than Hadden not a single one was worth a damn and Hadden only had half a year. The young ones showed promise but the secondary was notoriously dreadful - bottom of the rankings. IDK how you can get worse given that. Worst case scenario is they're the same as they were minus Hadden which isn't the deal it would be since he was another one we lost early/mid season.

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If you want to be dishonest with yourself, that's fine, but it won't change the results. Best case scenario is the new guys are more talented and much less experienced. Worst case scenario is they're less talented and much less experienced.

I know you're struggling to admit that latter part, but I have a good memory and I can remember when Tennessee fans were really excited about guys like Jaylen McCullough (The Tank), Warren Burrell (cover guy), Doneiko Slaughter, Tamarion McDonald, Brandon Turnage, Kamal Hadden, etc. Now, several years later, you say none were worth a damn except Hadden, who was heavily criticized like the others until the 2023 season. This is the eternal cycle of fan rationalization; the new guys are better than the old guys, never mind that the old guys were supposed to be better than the older guys. In reality, the only given is that college players generally improve with experience.

I'm not even saying your secondary will be worse than 2023, just noting that it's quite possible when you have a complete turnover and lots of inexperience.