Tennessee football had two receivers taken before any other school in last week’s NFL Draft with Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman going in back-to-back picks in the third round.
With its top two receivers off to the NFL, Tennessee has to replace an abundance of production and talent ahead of the 2023 season. While Tennessee’s receiver unit is short on proven production, they aren’t on talent and that could lead to another big season for the Vols’ offense.
On3’s Jesse Simonton ranked the top 10 receiver units across the country entering the 2023 season with Tennessee landing at No. 7.
“The Vols lost their best two wideouts from the best passing attack in the country last season, but their receiver room remains quite talented with second-year system guys like Bru McCoy , a former 5-star transfer from USC, and sophomore speedster Squirrel White,” Simonton wrote.
“The offseason addition of Oregon’s Dont’e Thornton could be one of the home run additions from the transfer portal. The Vols have nice depth options too in senior Ramel Keyton and a couple redshirt freshmen like Chas Nimrod and Kaleb Webb.”
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Ranking seventh in the nation, Tennessee’s receiving unit ranks third in the SEC behind LSU (No. 3) and Georgia (No. 6) and ahead of Texas A&M (No. 8) and Alabama (No. 10),
Super senior Bru McCoy is the returning leader in Tennessee’s receiver room after catching 52 passes for 667 yards and four touchdowns in his first season in Knoxville.
Squirell White flashed his potential early in his freshman season and then took off when he got starting opportunities due to injury late in the season. White caught nine passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in the Orange Bowl on his way to a 481 yard season.
The competition between senior Ramel Keyton and Oregon transfer Dont’e Thornton is one of the most intriguing storylines entering the Vols’ fall practice. Keyton capitalized on Cedric Tillman’s unavailability due to injury and made plays throughout the season on his way to a 562 yard, five touchdown season.
Thornton is a 6-foot-5 speedster who could also slide inside to the slot if White is out and caught 17 passes for 366 yards and a touchdown last season at Oregon.
One Response
“Tennessee football had two receivers taken before any other school in last week’s NFL Draft with Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman going in back-to-back picks in the third round.”
Did I watch a different draft?