Tennessee football will have a new quarterback at the helm of the offense for the 2026 season, but the Vols return a lot of production elsewhere on that side of the ball. This includes at wide receiver, where Braylon Staley returns after winning SEC Freshman of the Year a season ago.
After spring camp, Tennessee’s players have retreated home to get personal work in before returning to campus next week. For Staley, he’s staying sharp in his route running, which helped him have the productive year he did in 2025.
On Saturday, Staley’s dad, Brian Staley, posted a video of him during a summer workout looking sharp.
Work 1️⃣4️⃣!!#PTDW #GBO pic.twitter.com/RFb9N3OpGs
— Brian Staley (@BrianStaley_12) May 24, 2026
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During the 2025 season, Staley caught 68 passes for 837 yards and six touchdowns. This was second on the team behind only Chris Brazzell, who was just selected in the NFL draft. Staley’s receiving yards mark was also good for eighth in the conference.
As a true freshman in 2024, Staley didn’t reach the game limit and earned a redshirt. He caught three passes for 21 yards and got some experience at Ohio State in the College Football Playoffs. He is from Johnston, South Carolina, where he was a highly-rated recruit. 247 considered him the No. 78 recruit in the country and No. 15 wide receiver.
Staley is expected to not just reprise his role as a starter in the slot for Tennessee, but also be one of the most productive receivers in the conference again. Behind him on the depth chart are expected to be Joakim Dodson, Tyreek King and Ian Duarte.
On the outside, Mike Matthews is slotted in as a returning starter. The other starting role in the wake of Brazzell’s departure will likely be manned by either second-year receivers Radarious Jackson or Travis Smith Jr., incoming five-star freshman TK Keys or, most likely, a rotation of each.
