ESPN recently detailed the biggest weakness for each team in their way-too-early top 25 college football rankings and their choice for the Tennessee Vols could actually end up being the program’s biggest strength in 2025.
According to ESPN, the Vols’ biggest weakness going into the 2025 season is the wide receiver position, due to the lack of experience on the roster.
From ESPN: Proven playmakers at receiver. As quarterback Nico Iamaleava steps into his second season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback, he’ll do so without four of his top five pass catchers from a year ago. The Vols were lacking when it came to explosive plays in the passing game last season, which means it’s time for former five-star prospect Mike Matthews to step up and be a bona fide downfield threat after catching just seven passes last season. The same goes for holdovers Chris Brazzell II and Braylon Staley, Alabama transfer Amari Jefferson and maybe even Carter, who’s planning to pull double duty at safety and receiver.
I think this is a valid take by ESPN. But I also think that the wide receiver group will prove be a strength for the Volunteers by the end of the season.
While Tennessee is losing quite a bit of experience at the wide receiver position (Bru McCoy, Dont’e Thornton, Squirrel White, Kaleb Webb, and Chas Nimrod all departed Knoxville after the 2024 season), the Vols will undoubtedly be more talented at wide receiver in 2025.
Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley, Amari Jefferson, Travis Smith, Boo Carter, and Radarious Jackson are all first or second year players that were all rated highly as recruits that will have opportunities to shine this fall. Additionally, Chris Brazzell, the Vols’ lone returning starter at wide receiver, should take a big step forward in his second season in Tennessee’s offense.
Those guys obviously have to go out and prove it this fall, but the potential is there for this group to be one of the best in the SEC. And I’m of the belief that that’s exactly what we’ll see from Tennessee’s wide receivers in 2025.
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