Since the days of Johnny Majors, Tennessee Football has always been known as Wide Receiver U. Here are the top 10 single seasons in school history by a Vols receiver.
10. Kelley Washington – 2001
Kelley Washington exploded onto the scene in late September of 2001 with a school record 256 receiving yards against the LSU Tigers that still stands. Washington finished with 64 catches for 1,010 yards and five touchdowns. Donte’ Stallworth had 41 catches for 821 yards and 10 TDs and would’ve made this list had he not missed three games due to injury, but those 10 scores warrants a mention.
9. Larry Seivers – 1975
Other receivers have had more productive years, but Larry Seivers set the tradition of Wide Receiver U. Seivers caught 41 passes for 840 yards and four touchdowns en route to the first All-American season in history for a Tennessee Football wide receiver. Being an All-American alone puts you on this list unless it’s due in part to your work as a return specialist, like Willie Gault in 1982 or Carl Pickens in 1991.
8. Tim McGee – 1985
Another All-American, Tim McGee had 50 catches for 947 yards and seven touchdowns. McGee had to deal with a season-ending injury to Tony Robinson midway through this year and still put up these numbers, helping UT to the SEC title and playing a huge role in their Sugar Bowl win over the Miami Hurricanes. That team success helps put him on here.
7. Joey Kent – 1995
The only player to have back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in Tennessee Football history, Joey Kent was Peyton Manning’s favorite target. His 1995 campaign gets the nod over 1996 because he scored two more touchdowns despite having 25 fewer yards. Kent had 69 catches for 1,055 yards and nine touchdowns.
6. Justin Hunter – 2012
There were numerous elite receivers who had memorable years in the dark days of UT under Derek Dooley, notably Da’Rick Rogers in 2011 and Cordarrelle Patterson as a return specialist. None did what Justin Hunter did, though. Coming off a season-ending injury, Hunter caught 73 passes for 1,083 yards and nine touchdowns from Tyler Bray. If he had any defensive help, he’d have been an All-American.
5. Peerless Price – 1998
He’s not an All-American, and he didn’t have 1,000 yards. However, Peerless Price was the No. 1 receiver on the 1998 national championship team, catching 61 passes for 920 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had a score against every ranked team UT played that year, and the bigger the moment, the more he stepped up, evidenced by his 199 yards and score in the national title game.
4. Cedric Tillman – 2021
Once a two-star prospect, Cedric Tillman never figured to be the No. 1 receiver for the Vols. However, he emerged in that role just as Josh Heupel’s offense took off, and in 2021, he caught 64 passes for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns. Tillman helped bring Hendon Hooker along as a quarterback and was a huge reason the Vols built momentum early under Heupel.
3. Marcus Nash – 1997
It would seem difficult to replace Kent as Manning’s No. 1 target, but Marcus Nash had no issue doing it. All he did his one year as Manning’s go-to guy was set the school record for receiving yards and touchdowns in a season. Nash caught 76 passes for 1,170 yards and 13 touchdowns, helping the Vols to the SEC Championship Manning’s final season.
2. Robert Meachem – 2006
David Cutcliffe took back over as offensive coordinator for the Vols this year and is famous for resurrecting Erik Ainge’s career. However, what he did at receiver is just as noteworthy. Cutcliffe shortened the rotation and made Meachem the go-to guy. Meachem broke Nash’s receiving yards record en route to an All-American campaign, catching 71 passes for 1,298 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Honorable Mentions
Jauan Jennings – 2019
The Vols’ emotional leader in Jeremy Pruitt’s one decent season, Jauan Jennings had 59 catches for 969 yards and eight touchdowns.
Josh Malone – 2016
Joshua Dobbs’ favorite target, Josh Malone had 50 catches for 972 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2016.
Lucas Taylor – 2007
Taking over for Meachem, Taylor had 73 catches for 1,000 yards and five scores, helping the Vols to win the East.
Cedrick Wilson – 2000
As the Vols were rebuilding at quarterback, Cedrick Wilson was their one constant. He had 12 touchdowns this year.
Cory Fleming – 1993
Starting alongside Craig Faulkner in one of the Vols’ greatest offenses ever, Cory Fleming caught 11 touchdowns passes.
1. Jalin Hyatt – 2022
This isn’t any prisoner of the moment move. Jalin Hyatt is the only Biletnikoff Award winner in Tennessee Football history. He set the school record for touchdowns in a season with 15 and caught 67 passes for 1,267 yards. If he played in the Orange Bowl, he would’ve set the receiving yards record too. Simply put, this is easily the best season by a receiver in school history.
