With spring practice underway throughout most of the SEC, we’re taking a closer look this week at the league’s most interesting position battles. The series continues today with a preview of Tennessee’s wide receivers.
Departed: Josh Malone
Spring contenders: Sophomore Tyler Byrd, sophomore Marquez Callaway, redshirt senior Jeff George, junior Jauan Jennings and sophomore Latrell Williams
Summer contenders: Injured redshirt senior Josh Smith and sophomore Brandon Johnson, and incoming freshmen Jacquez Jones, Jordan Murphy and Joshua Palmer
The skinny: After years of stability, Tennessee’s passing game is under new management. Longtime starting quarterback Joshua Dobbs is gone, along with Malone, the team’s leading receiver who turned pro early. There’s even a new offensive coordinator and a new receivers coach.
Kevin Beard, who accepted the receivers job after a year at Georgia as a quality control coach, will lead a group fighting for at least two starting jobs. The only one on solid footing is Jennings, who finished second on the team with 40 catches, 580 yards and seven touchdowns last season. (And even then, he’s off to a rocky start with a misdemeanor drug charge that was ultimately dismissed).
What’s more, veteran Smith is out for the spring recovering from injury, along with sophomore Johnson.
That leaves Byrd as the only name a casual Tennessee fan might know. Byrd was the highest-rated player in last year’s signing class, and he impressed at time as a true freshman, catching 15 passes for 209 yards.
The hope for coach Butch Jones and Beard is that one or more of a second tier of receivers, including Callaway, Williams, Johnson and George, develops into player worthy of competing for starting reps during fall camp.
Prediction: Jennings is a sure thing barring any more off-field drama. Byrd, given his upside and experience, is a good bet to start in the slot as well. That leaves a third position open, which could break down along the lines of experience (Smith) vs. upside (Callaway). Callaway had just one catch last season, but he showed big-play ability with two punt returns totaling 114 yards and a touchdown.
