By Vince Ferrara

Wide receivers at Tennessee is today’s early summer position focus as I look at the Tennessee football team.

This is the 3rd in a series of nine straight days of separate posts by position. Check my blog page daily here at SportsRadioWNML.com for the other positions.

My current projected starters are in bold. I’ve listed the average star rating entering college from the four major recruiting websites (Rivals, 247Sports, Scout and ESPN.)

Vince’s View

Wide Receivers
Z
15        Jauan Jennings                  JR       6’3       205     4*
17        Brandon Johnson               SO      6’2       180     3*
19        Jeff George                           R-SR  6’6       195     3*
5          Josh Palmer                          FR       6’2       200     3*
X
9          Marquez Callaway              SO      6’2       190     4*
25        Josh Smith                            R-SR  6’1       213     3*
11        Jordan Murphy                     FR       5’11     170     3*
18        Princeton Fant                     FR       6’2       200     3*
Slot
10        Tyler Byrd                            SO      6’0       195     4*
8          Latrell Williams                     R-FR  5’11     175     3*
–             Jacquez Jones                     FR       5’10     165     3*

Position summary:  I expect the positions within the wide receiver group to change a lot during camp and definitely during games where players will shift to different formations. They cross-train a lot at Tennessee, so I think that will happen, especially with the older guys like Jennings and Smith who have played all of the wide receiver spots. Callaway in the slot for example is something that you could see a fair amount because he has both quickness and size.

This is a 3-star heavy group after the projected starters. Has UT found some under-rated talent that will exceed the rating or will this group lack the elite ability to get back to “Wide Receiver U?” I like Kevin Beard as the new wide receivers coach. He’s young and has a very different personality and style from Zach Azzanni. He embraces cocky receivers with personality as long as you do your job. Coach Z was more about being in-line with everybody else, rolling guys through equally and could perhaps grind on some guys with his tough, demanding coaching. I think a fresh, different approach from Kevin Beard is really good for this group.

How does Jauan Jennings handle the extra attention in coverage? What’s the next level for exciting sophomore Tyler Byrd (15 rec, 209 yds in 2016) this season? Will Byrd or another young receiver bring the offense the run-after-catch playmaking Butch Jones wants and the offense needs? It would also be helpful, if for once, this group wasn’t hit with numerous injuries, especially because they are so young overall.

Hope you enjoyed my review of the University of Tennessee football wide receivers as we sit here in June. Go to my blog page for the rest of the position breakdowns. I have much more to say on UT football than this. Listen for me on Sports Radio WNML, call in and let’s talk some football. Thanks for reading and sharing.

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