On3 Roundtable: Landing elite pass-catchers in 2024 class a must for Tennessee

In his second year at Tennessee, Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel landed one of the biggest wins of the 2023 recruiting cycle signing On3 No. 1 prospect Nico Iamaleava. The quarterback of the future for the Volunteers, Heupel can turn his focus on landing some weapons for Iamaleave to work with going forward.

That project starts with the 2024 recruiting class as the Vols are in the mix for several of the nation’s top uncommitted pass-catchers. Austin Price of VolQuest pointed out on the On3 Roundtable four particular names high on the Vols board.

“When you’re looking for people to catch the ball, I would throw Jaden Reddell in that mix,” Price said. “With receivers it’s Mike Matthews, Ryan Wingo and Amari Jefferson, a four-star receiver but is equally as important.”

While the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) has each of the four favored to go somewhere else, Heupel has the Vols involved with each so far.

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Tennessee’s need for more offensive weapons

Landing a pledge from any of the above pass-catchers would be a massive win for the Vols. While they currently have the No. 9 class in the country, only two of their commitments fill that role.

Four-star tight end Jonathan Echols is the second-highest ranked players in the Vols 2024 class and announced his pledge to Tennessee last July. Aside from Echols, four-star receiver JJ Harrell is the only other offensive skill commit the Volunteers have so far.

A pledge from players like Matthews, Reddell, Wingo or Jefferson would instantly be a win for Heupel as he continues to build upon the Volunteers’ high-powered attack.

“Talking to people in Georgia, Matthews feels like one that will leave the state,” Price added on. “Georgia is such a talent-rich so they can’t keep everyone home each year. Clemson, USC and Tennessee are heavily in the mix for Matthews.

“Ryan Wingo, that one’s gonna be a thrill a minute. I always get, ‘hey, who’s gonna be that guy that takes 10 or 11 official visits?’. That to me is Ryan Wingo baby. I think he’s gonna be an official visit machine over the next several months and why not?  They passed that rule so let the kid go have some fun.”