Of the seven wide receivers on scholarship for Tennessee football, the age of the group averages out to around 19 years old.
Youth can be an advantage or a detriment, but Vols’ receivers coach Kelsey Pope is not shying away from the challenges it can present this season.
“You lack experience, but those guys are making up for it by the amount of reps they’re getting at practice,” Pope said.
Three of the receivers in the room are returnees, while one is a transfer and the other three are freshmen. It’s a large transition from a group last season that held three upperclassmen in the starting unit.
Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley are embracing that challenge heading into their second year. The two 2024 recruits did not have spotlight roles during their first campaign with Tennessee, but they are both students of the game — becoming mainstays in Pope’s office.
“Mike and Braylon are tied at the hip,” Pope said. They’re best friends, they’re always together.
“And both of those guys have had a ton of growth from last December until now. And I think it’s directly correlated to the time they spend in my office together and the time they spend with one another together. Extra catches, extra meetings. Those guys are doing things on their own in the summer.”
The pair combined for 10 catches last season, posting 111 yards and two touchdowns. Matthews earned more action in the tandem, but still didn’t see the playing time he would have wished. Meanwhile, Staley produced most of his stats in a two-catch, 11-yard effort against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.
That will have to change for the pair that is expected to assume starting roles this season. Matthews has attacked that responsibility head-on.
“I feel like wherever they put me in at, I just got to do my job the right way, and everything will be OK,” Matthews said.
Alongside all the changes, Pope credits his second-year receivers to the biggest change this season. The two came to Tennessee as reserved personalities. They were quiet individuals in a room full of veterans, but now they recognize they are the vets.”
“From the time they get to the meeting room this morning, those guys are setting the tone,” Pope said. “They’re already minding guys about coaching points and installs. So I see those guys taking jumps.”
Outside of Chris Brazzell’s 1,055 career receiving yards — who has missed time in fall camp — there is not another receiving yard accounted for from the rest of the guys. But that’s where the trio of freshmen that Pope recruited comes into play.
Radarious Jackson and Travis Smith Jr. stand out, mostly because of their statures at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds.
“They’re almost like man-child,” Matthews said. “They’re not your typical freshmen.”
“Both of those guys are light years ahead in terms of how we operate,” Pope added. “Also, just being familiar with what we’re doing on offense. They look like different people than they did in spring and April.”
While the room has to work to remain healthy as the season approaches, fall camp is dwindling down. Game week preparation is next on the practice schedule, as the Vols prepare for the season opener on August 30.
