Tennessee lost catches and receiving yards from last year’s team. The Vols also lost a ton of leadership.
There is no question that former Tennessee wideout Bru McCoy directed the Vols’ crew of receivers last season. McCoy was widely thought of as one of the overall leaders of the team and, certainly, was the alpha among the receivers last season. Now, McCoy is gone, along with Dont’e Thornton, who is out of eligibility, and Squirrel White, who transferred to Florida State.
Thornton led the Vols with 661 receiving yards. McCoy had the most catches (39) last season. Along with White, the trio accounted for 99 catches and 1,514 yards. How does Tennessee replace that production? Now, it’s Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley and Chris Brazzell’s turn.
“In year two, it’s true for every player; in what we do offensively, the understanding of what we’re doing, the decisions that they have to make and being on the same page,” Heupel said. Fundamentals and techniques continue to improve, but they have a great understanding having played in it—what it looks like, what it feels like, and how they have to operate within it.”
The Vols have other options as well. Tight end Ethan Davis is bigger and stronger so he should be able to handle the rigors of the season better than he did last season, when he exploded out of the gate then stumbled down the stretch. After transferring from Alabama, tight end Miles Kitselman was one of the major positive surprises from last season.
“Ethan has done an elite job just growing through our winter,” Heupel said. “He’s done a great job with his body. He’s just continued to mature as a man, just how he approaches every single day. He has been really consistent. We have great understanding of what we’re getting from him every single day, and that’s a credit to him just continuing to grow as a man.”
If that continues, perhaps will be discussing Davis’ leadership skills one day. There’s certainly no time like the present.
