Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell isn’t just flying up the stat sheets in his second year on Rocky Top. It also looks like he’s soaring up NFL Draft big boards after putting together some monster performances in the first three weeks of the season.
In 2024, his first year with the Vols after transferring from Tulane, Brazzell caught 29 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns with Nico Iamaleava as the quarterback. Through 12 quarters in 2025, with a revamped offense featuring Joey Aguilar, Brazzell has already caught 20 passes for 364 yards and five touchdowns.
It’s clear to see that he’s more comfortable in the offense with a better quarterback, leading him to really showcase his skillset in Josh Heupel’s offense. What’s been most standout about his play is his ability to locate, jump for, and haul in the deep ball over defensive backs.
Todd McShay is taking notice. The NFL Draft expert went so far as to put out a video on social media highlighting why Brazzell could make the leap to WR1 for the 2026 NFL Draft class.
“I’m going to make an early prediction,” McShay said. “This guy is going to be in the mix come April, for the first receiver off the board. Do you see that in and out of his break? Talking about 6′ 3″, 6′ 4″, just fluid hips and then the acrobatic catch. The other thing is, this guy can fly. Watch him get on top of this Georgia defensive back. And then coming back to the football – adjust, make the play on the ball, and then that balance after the catch. I don’t know, man. A lot of good receivers in the 2026 class, none I’ve seen so far that have this guy’s talent.”
Those are huge words from a draft expert with over 20 years of experience.
Saturday Tape on Sunday…
Will “CBII” be WR1 next April? Chris Brazzell II has my full attention now. pic.twitter.com/6Vm6afNdA7
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) September 14, 2025
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In his first game with Tennessee this year, Brazzell caught five passes for 62 yards. He then topped that with a nine-catch, two-touchdown, 125-yard night against ETSU in the home opener during Week 2. Those were big numbers, but people wanted to see him do it against SEC competition, too. How about Georgia?
In the Vols’ overtime loss to the Bulldogs on Saturday, he was a major difference maker in the game. He caught six passes for a career-high 177 yards with three touchdowns, each playing a major factor on the scoreboard and with the momentum of the game. He wasn’t just getting schemed wide open; he was making tough catches over and around UGA defenders to give Tennessee some massive explosive plays.
Brazzell said after the ETSU game that he felt more comfortable in the offense in his second year on Rocky Top. That clearly looks to be the case with how good of numbers he’s putting up through the first 12 quarters of the season. It’s also a testament to quarterback Joey Aguilar and his willingness to put trust in his receivers down the field… and simply just throwing a good deep ball.
Other projected wide receivers in the 2026 NFL draft class include Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, Southern Cal’s Makai Lemon, Washington’s Denzel Boston, Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, and Auburn’s Eric Singleton Jr.
“I’ll take that!”
And with that, Tennessee retakes the lead on No. 6 Georgia.
Watch the finish on ABC and the ESPN App! pic.twitter.com/ajriIVqf4m
— ESPN (@espn) September 13, 2025
