2017 Vol Football Preview: Wide Receivers

Seth Raborn
Aug 29, 2017 · 4 min read
Photo Credit: Brad Matthews / Orange & White Report

Orange & White Report is previewing every position group for the Vols in anticipation of the 2017 season. Click here to check out all of our position breakdowns.

Projected Depth Chart

WR1: Jauan Jennings (6–3/ 209 lbs, Jr.)

WR2: Marquez Callaway (6–2/ 199 lbs, So.)

WR3: Jeff George (6–6/ 198 lbs, RS Sr.)

WR4: Brandon Johnson (6–2/ 193 lbs, So.)

S1: Tyler Byrd (6–0/ 195 lbs, So.)

S2: Josh Smith* (6–1/ 206 lbs, RS Sr.)

*Smith injured his collarbone during fall camp and is currently projected to return in the first 3–4 weeks of the season

Tennessee lost their leader in receiving yards and touchdowns from 2017 in Josh Malone, as well as tight end Jason Croom to the NFL Draft in April. Only two of the receivers on the Vols’ current roster had over 100 total receiving yards in the 2016 season: Jauan Jennings and Tyler Byrd. Will UT get enough valuable contributions from the new starters to makeup for the loss of their veterans?

Wide Receivers

Outside of the top wide receiver spot that belongs to Jauan Jennings, the battle for starters is wide open. Jennings is the clear leader of the receiving corps after notching 40 catches for 580 yards and seven touchdowns. Along with losing Malone to the big leagues, the Vols also lost former wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni to the NFL as well. Kevin Beard will step in for Azzanni after spending the 2016 season with Georgia as an offensive quality control assistant.

Marquez Callaway is the favorite for the number two spot, his athleticism and speed make him dominant. Fans saw flashes of his potential for excellence last year against Tennessee Tech when he averaged 57 yards on two punt returns and took a 64-yard punt back for a touchdown.

Jeff George and Brandon Johnson are both question marks for Tennessee, nobody has really seen what they can do quite yet but they’ve looked promising. George was offered by Auburn, Arizona State and Mississippi State coming out of community college. Johnson had offers from Miami, Louisville, LSU and Clemson. Both were three-star prospects and they had just eight combined receptions last year. As we already mentioned, the wide receiver competition is completely open, and it will be interesting to see who steps up.

Check out a full video of the Vols’ wide receivers practicing during fall camp…

Slot Receivers

The most solid part of the Vols’ set of receivers is easily at the slot position. Or at least it was until redshirt senior Josh Smith went down with a shoulder injury during fall camp. His diagnosis is a sprained AC joint and he’s expected to return within the first three to five weeks of the season. Smith had a down season in 2016 with just 97 yards receiving on the year but he has still proven in the past that he has some of the best hands on the team.

Obviously, a return sooner would be better than later. Specifically, he’ll be very useful if he’s back by UT’s trip to Gainesville in week three.

Sophomore Tyler Byrd is primed to have a breakout year and is one of the speediest, most versatile players that the Vols have. There have also been hints that Byrd may have a presence in the running game. So, keep an eye out for him when an end-around is called.

Byrd will be desperately needed by whoever the starting quarterback ends up being to make check down passes and turn short passes into big plays. He definitely has a chance to be the second option behind Jennings if he continues to improve. Undoubtedly, having an athletic playmaker like Byrd on offense will help take the load off of the rest of the developing receivers.

Conclusion

The Tennessee receiving corps may have taken a blow with the departure of their leading receiver and a major injury during the offseason, but there is still no shortage of talent. Jennings and Byrd have proven they can play at a high level but the real question marks arise with rest of the receivers.

Callaway has shown streaks of brilliance but has not gotten the playing time and targets to truly prove himself. The same goes for Johnson and George, neither of them have gotten the opportunity to show who they really are. If the Vols manage to get solid contributions from their unproven receivers, they could match or even top the offensive firepower they had last season.

Orange & White Report is previewing every position group for the Vols in anticipation of the 2017 season. Click here to check out all of our position breakdowns.

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