Following a breakout season for Tennessee football, redshirt freshman Braylon Staley is bringing home a prestigious honor. He has been named SEC Freshman of the Year.
Staley is the third Vol to ever win the award, and joins some elite company. In 1994, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning earned the honor. Just a few years later, running back Jamal Lewis earned it in 1997.
Staley snagged it due to a dominant year in the slot for Tennessee. With limited depth at the position, he stepped up to play the overwhelming majority of snaps there while staying healthy. The result was 64 receptions for 806 yards and six touchdowns.
Staley’s 806 yards marked the sixth-most of any wide receiver in the SEC this season. He was joined by a pair of teammates in the top ten, with Chris Brazzell posting a conference-high 1,017 and Mike Matthews coming in at seventh with 770. His six touchdowns tied for eighth in the SEC, as well, with Brazzell tied for first at nine.
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In 2025, Staley finished with over 90 yards five times. This included eclipsing the 100-yard mark in SEC wins over Arkansas and Kentucky. He had one game with multiple scores, finding the end zone twice vs. Oklahoma while posting five receptions for 75 yards.
The slot receiver is a redshirt freshman after appearing in just four games as a true freshman. He also saw time in the College Football Playoff game at Ohio State due to limited options at the position. He recorded three receptions for 21 yards on the year, including two for 11 against the Buckeyes.
Staley is from Aiken, South Carolina, where he played for Strom Thurmond. He was a four-star recruit out of high school, according to 247, and ranked as the No. 78 player in the 2024 class and No. 15 receiver.
