Which Tennessee pass catchers are primed for a breakout season

Tennessee’s offense has always been the conversation starter in their three seasons under Josh Heupel. Now, a season after the passing aspect of their attack took a step back, what they do through the air this fall is a talking point, especially with an exciting young quarterback and a receiving corps like theirs.

VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs spoke with Kaiden Smith on the ‘On3 Roundtable’ about several topics, including the Vols’ receivers. The main focus of that was a transfer receiver for the team in Chris Brazzell. He has already generated a lot of interest on Rocky Top with his background and how he fits their scheme.

“The guy I’m kind of bullish on right now that I want to see is Chris Brazzell, who transferred in from Tulane,” said Hubbs. “He was highly productive at Tulane in a spread offense. He’s a guy who has got a huge basketball background in his family, grew up playing a lot of basketball. Grew late in high school so he was kind of that jitterbug receiver until he hit a growth spurt. So I think he knows how to run routes well in tight spaces. He runs a little bit like a little guy. He just happens to be longer.

“I’m curious to see what he looks like. He feels like a great fit in this offense,” Hubbs continued. “I think he has gotten off to a great start in fall camp. I’m really curious to see the relationship that he and Nico have and how much Tennessee can use him as a compliment to Bru on the other side.”

Brazzell spent a pair of seasons with the Green Wave as he arrives as a redshirt sophomore. All but one career catch came from the season prior as he broke out as a sophomore. In total, he posted 44 receptions for 711 yards and five touchdowns as Tulane’s leading receiver.

Brazzell comes in as the No. 16 WR and at No. 90 overall in On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players. That made him the second highest-rated additions for the Volunteers this offseason behind only Zalance Heard (LSU – No. 9 overall, No. 2 OT)

Tennessee will target more than just Brazzel, though. That’s especially so after losing their second and third-leading pass catchers in WR Ramel Keyton and TE McCallen Castles. That starts with the return of Squirrel White, last year’s leading receiver who is already Top-30 for them all-time. It also includes the return from injury by Bru McCoy.

“Well, you’ve got an old-steady in Bru McCoy who’s coming off a really tough injury. We’ll see what his snap count looks like or pitch count if you will,” said Hubbs. “Squirrel White, the slot receiver in this offense, is always going to catch a lot of balls. He’s on track to be the all-time receptions leader in Tennessee history before his career is over.”

White has caught 97 passes for 1,284 yards and four scores through two seasons at UT. That includes 67 receptions for 803 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2023.

As for McCoy, he has 69 catches for 884 yards and five scores in his pair of seasons in Knoxville. However, he had just 17 for 217 and a score through five games last fall before a season-ending injury where he broke his ankle.

This conversation didn’t even include WR Dont’e Thornton after his first season after transferring in himself last offseason. The former highly-rated receiver is back too after catching 13 passes for 224 yards and a score in nine games as their second-leading returning pass catcher.

Tennessee also brings in a pair of Top-100 overall, Top-20 WR prospects from their recruiting class with a five-star in Mike Matthews and a four-star in Braylon Staley.

Iamaleava is going to have his share of weapons to target in the pass game as a first-time starting quarterback. It’s now a wonder how productive they can all be, both individually and collectively, with how the recent receivers have played in the recent past for Tennessee.