Tennessee Football has been criticized at times for not fully preparing wide receivers for the NFL with their route-running capabilities. You aren’t going to be able to sell Chris Brazzell on that narrative, though. In fact, the rising NFL rookie has been one of the most outspoken players throughout his draft process about how he believes Tennessee’s offense has indeed set him up well for the league.
While speaking to the Carolina Panthers’ media this week, Brazzell went to bat for Josh Heupel’s evolved Tennessee offense. He made it clear that there’s plenty of overlap between what he did in Knoxville and what he’s starting to see in Carolina.
“Everybody knows Tennessee has the run-and-gun, which they’re right, I’m not going to sit here and lie,” Brazzell said. “2024 year, I’ve said it a lot, that was a lot of run-and-gun. But this year, if you really watch my film, you know I was running dang near every route in the playbook. Every route I’ve ran here (at Carolina), I ran at Tennessee. There’s not a route here that I have not ran. Tennessee is definitely evolving the playbook, they’re getting more pro style, more friendly. So, yeah, I haven’t really ran a route here that I hadn’t ran at Tennessee.”
While speaking to the media at Tennessee Pro Day back in March, Brazzell was asked whether the noise, and some doubt, around the Tennessee offense has died down. Brazzell said that there are still traces of that conversation, but that he feels confident in what he – and Tennessee – have shown on the tape.
“Nah, it’s still up in the air, to be honest,” Brazzell said about the noise. “But, what I tell them is, if you really watch the film, this year, 2025, it was completely different from the past Tennessee offense. We’re running real routes. We’ve got a lot of stuff on film. I’m running pro routes. At my 30 visits, I’m telling scouts, if you watch my film, I’m running real routes. And they agree. Tennessee offense is definitely changing. I know (wide receivers coach Kelsey) Pope and them are still changing the offense to where it’s more pro-style.”
Brazzell has only just begun rookie minicamp with the Panthers, but he’s already putting on a show. The 6-foot-5 receiver is showing off his huge catch radius, tall frame, and strong hands.
👀 Brazzell pic.twitter.com/9lHditfVya
— Carolina Blitz (@KeepBlitzin) May 9, 2026
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Brazzell played his first two seasons at Tulane before transferring to Tennessee ahead of the 2024 season. He only produced 333 yards and two touchdowns during his first season in Knoxville, but then broke out as one of the SEC’s best pass-catchers in 2025. With Joey Aguilar as the Vols’ quarterback, Brazzell racked up 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns on 62 receptions. He had the second-most receiving yards in the SEC last season.
Brazzell didn’t just produce against lower-tier competition, either. His best game of the season came against No. 6 Georgia, when he recorded 177 yards and three touchdowns on six catches. He also posted 125 yards against ETSU, 138 yards against Kentucky, and 105 yards against Mississippi State.
The Texas native now gives the Carolina a solid longball threat down the field. Brazzell had already been known for his deep threat prowess and contested catch ability, but he also flashed his straight-line speed with an impressive 40-yard dash mark at the NFL Combine in March.
Brazzell is a great pick for Carolina and will be part of the Panthers’ young, revamped offense.
