On3 Roundtable: Identifying which Tennessee wide receiver is ready for breakout season

Last year, Jalin Hyatt was the breakout star at wide receiver for Tennessee en route to a Biletnikoff Award. Now that he’s off to the NFL, along with Cedric Tillman, the Vols are searching for a new breakout star at receiver.

VolQuest publisher Brent Hubbs has logged his pick — and it’s someone who knows Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton well.

“I think the unheralded guy of that group is Joe Milton’s best friend on that team, the guy he’s most comfortable with,” Hubbs told J.D. PicKell on On3 Roundtable. “That’s Ramel Keyton.”

Keyton put together an impressive 2022 season, finishing third on the Tennessee roster with 562 receiving yards and his five touchdowns was second only to Hyatt. He also averaged 18.1 yards per reception, which also ranked second on the Vols.

He also had a marquee moment last year when Tennessee defeated Alabama at Neyland Stadium. Keyton’s 18-yard reception started the final drive, which saw a 27-yard pass from Hendon Hooker to Bru McCoy set up Chase McGrath’s game-winning field goal.

Now, Keyton is getting ready for his fifth and final year of college football. He’s part of a decorated wide receiver room which also includes McCoy and Squirrel White. But his familiarity with Milton will be key considering their time practicing together the last two years. Milton backed up Hooker after transferring from Michigan and Hubbs said they’ve developed a unique bond.

That’s why Hubbs said Vols fans should remember Keyton’s name in 2023.

“Keyton caught a big ball against Alabama on that final drive before McCoy’s catch,” Hubbs said. “He had a huge catch late in the first half against Florida. He stepped in very well last year for Tennessee with the absence of Cedric Tillman — he wasn’t Tillman, but he was certainly productive. Second … on the team in average yards per catch. A guy who can go get the ball down the field and a guy that Joe Milton is really comfortable with because they were kind of on the second team together two years ago running scout team and running with the 2s. I think they have a real rapport with each other.

“That’s a guy to keep an eye on who nobody talks about because he’s not got all the measurables of Thornton, he’s not Bru McCoy, Squirrel White — whose name obviously creates conversation all to its own. Ramel Keyton’s an un-talked about receiver to keep an eye on, for sure, for this team this fall.”