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Tennessee fall camp battles: What will the wide receiver pecking order look like?

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Tennessee fall camp battles: What will the wide receiver pecking order look like?


It’s about that time. In just a couple of weeks, Tennessee will hit the grass once again to open fall camp. That means new faces — and of course — camp battles.

The Volunteers have a couple of intriguing spots on the roster, one of which being wide receiver. The position disappointed last season, but they could be poised for an uptick with former five-star prospect Nico Iamaleava taking over at quarterback. Tennessee has returning experience, a couple of high-profile transfers along with a couple of top prospects entering the depth chart as true freshman.

How will it all look? That’s a big storyline we’ll be following during camp.

The Veterans: Bru McCoy, Squirrel White

There shouldn’t be much change here with these two. Their experience in this offense will be valuable once again for Heupel and Halzle, as both have clear roles and positions within this operation.

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Squirrel White will return to his slot position, handling pop screens and hopefully a little more downfield action. We know Joe Milton struggled down the field last season, but we’ve also seen White really able to get loose and make impact plays down the field. With Nico Iamaleava now running the show, it’s going to be interesting to see if this offense can look a little more like the 2022-Hendon-Hooker led attack. Nobody is expecting White to turn into Jalin Hyatt, but it would be nice to add that downfield element back into the offense right off the bat.

McCoy is perhaps a little bit of a wildcard coming off of a gruesome leg injury in the middle of last season. All reports to this point seem positive, however. Assuming that’s the case, McCoy will return to his power receiver role on the outside. He’s been a big part of Tennessee’s screen game, utilizing that big frame as a blocker and ball carrier. McCoy will also give Iamaleava a big-bodied pass catcher, maybe helping out with the losses of veteran tight ends Jacob Warren and McCallan Castles.

The Wildcards: Dont’e Thornton, Chris Brazzell

And now for the lesser known part of the depth chart — but maybe the group with the most immediate upside. Oregon transfer Dont’e Thornton returns after an injury-filled first season in Knoxville. Now the 6-5 speedster enters his senior season with the Volunteers with one last shot to make an impact.

Talent has never been the question here, but Thornton simply wasn’t able to settle in due to a couple of injuries — which included as season-ending one on a touchdown catch against Missouri.

Chris Brazzell, who has a similar skillset to Thornton, enters the picture after transferring in from Tulane. After being overlooked as a prospect, Brazzell emerged in a big way last season for the Green Wave. The 6-5, 200 pound receiver caught 44 passes for 711 yards and five touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. He now has three seasons of eligibility in Knoxville to develop, and he should be able to make an instant impact.

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Can Brazzell or Thornton solidify themself as the second outside option opposite of McCoy? Tennessee typically hasn’t done a lot of rotating at receiver, so that could be a big battle to monitor this fall. The staff does seem to have more depth than ever before though, so perhaps that lack of rotation changes in 2024.

The Experienced Depth: Kaleb Webb, Chas Nimrod

We saw both of these guys forced into action last season following injuries to McCoy and Thornton. Although the numbers weren’t there for either player, both gained some valuable experience heading into their redshirt sophomore seasons. At least on paper, these two should enter the season as key depth pieces as WR5/6. Once again, it remains to be seen if the staff goes with more of a rotation this season or simply sticks with a top three or four.

Should Webb and Nimrod stick around for 2025, both should have pretty large roles after Thornton and McCoy exit. Nathan Leacock could also find himself in a similar spot in 2025.

The Freshmen: Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley

Two of Tennessee’s top three signees from the class of 2024 enter the fray this fall and both have the ability to make instant impacts, though the depth chart is likely working against them. Mike Matthews, a five-star receiver, already flashed plenty of ability in the Orange and White Game. Staley, a four-star top 75 overall player in the class, seems like a natural fit to slot in behind Squirrel and learn this season.

Can either push for playing time without an injury or two? Based on recent history, that would be a bit of a surprise. It’s been difficult for freshman to find playing time under Heupel, however these are two of the higher-rated prospects that Tennessee has signed under this staff.

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Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig

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Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig


The Tennessee Volunteers have been one of the main teams when it comes to producing talent and sending talent to the NFL, which is something that has often been discovered as a standard for the football program. This is something that has been going on for quite some time and isn’t anything new to the news cycle, as the Vols have been able to produce plenty of talented prospects.

Tennessee is the home of many stars, including some of the best defensive players in SEC history. Guys like Eric Berry have found their way through the Tennessee program and onto the NFL, where they would have legendary careers. However, the defensive side of the football is the only side that has produced plenty of talent, as Tennessee has produced a lot of offensive talent as well. With the likes of Peyton Manning and company, the Vols have shown a great track record in getting talent drafted.

The Vols have produced someone who could be considered as one of the best players to play the Tide end position, as the Knoxville, Tennessee program is the home to Dallas Cowboys legend, Jason Witten. Witten is someone who made the most of his career and has been viewed as a top player at the Tide in position, and someone who is often referred to as a legend for the Cowboys, along with being a legend in the game of football as a whole.

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Jason Witten Accepts TE Coach Position For Oklahoma

Oct 10, 2010; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) on the phone in the bench area in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Cowboys Stadium. The Titans beat the Cowboys 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images | Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images
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Witten is now taking a new gig, which has him in a huge role inside the Southeastern Conference. The Vols legend is now the tight end coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners have had some success out of their tight ends in the past, but the sky is the limit with a guy like Witten coaching up the players. Witten has the opportunity to do really well, as coaching tight ends won’t be an issue, and you have to imagine that he will be able to recruit very well, considering he has a huge name around him, as this is something that we have seen from positional coaches as well as head coaches who have done great work in the league. You have to imagine that the Vols will now have stiff competition for his son, Cooper, who is a five-star recruit for the upcoming 2027 class at the linebacker position.


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Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival

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Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival


The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to land many of the nation’s best players in the transfer portal to replace the players who have already announced they are transferring away from Tennessee. One of the players they lost very early on to the portal, and his plans of entering the portal is Boo Carter.

Carter is someone who has quickly made a name for himself, as he played for the Vols as a freshman. He also played for the Tennessee Vols this past season before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Carter entered the portal and left an announcement on his X page for those interested. Here is what was said.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank The University of Tennessee Coaches, administrators and fans for a wonderful 2 years. Unfortunately my season has been cut short due to injury. I have decided to enter the transfer portal and I am excited about the opportunities going forward!-Boo Carter”

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Boo Carter Visits Vanderbilt

Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter (23) pulls on his jersey during Tennessee football preseason practice, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Aug. 6, 2025. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Now that the portal is here, he has started to hear from many teams, including a team many anticipated to be in the picture. The Vols DB heard from the Vanderbilt staff and is now reportedly visiting them. This is a school where many of his friends go currently, and a school that has been doing well, but it is no secret that this is one of the Vols’ biggest rivalries.

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He is undecided on a possible commitment somewhere, but the reports have started to indicate that the Commodores are a team to watch moving forward. This will be one to watch for the Vols, as there is a good chance they may see Carter next season.

“Dynamic athlete who quickly made an impact on defense and special teams as a true freshman … Earned the starting STAR position and shined while becoming a dangerous weapon as a punt returner as a true freshman in 2024 … Saw action as a slot receiver as well during 2025 spring practices … Early enrollee in January 2024 who participated in Citrus Bowl practices and spring practice before his true freshman season … Has compiled 63 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one interception on defense in his career … Dynamic punt returner who averages 16.0 yards per return in his career … Played in 21 career games and made five starts,” the Tennessee Vols athletics website stated.

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Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target

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Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target


The Tennessee Volunteers have been looking to land the best of the best when it comes to the transfer portal, and they have been targeting the best, but as of recently, all it has been is a bunch of swings and misses.

The Vols have missed yet again, as they have failed to land one of their top targets on their board when it comes to the college football transfer portal at a position that they currently need more than any. That position is the cornerback position, which is one that they need very badly.

The player that they failed to land in this go-around is Troy cornerback Jaquez White. White is one of the better players that the portal has seen at the position, as he was easily named as a top portal target for many. He was seriously looking at Tennessee, and the Vols were ready to bring him in, but instead, he has opted to commit to the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Hokies have done a decent job in the portal thus far, but their portal class has definitely improved following the addition of White.

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Whether this is a money thing or the Vols just couldn’t do enough convincing, the point is that they have missed on guys left and right recently. The vision isn’t clear, but fans are hopeful that it will be soon.

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Here is what White did in his 2025 season according to the Troy website.

Jaquez White’s 2025 Season

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Troy Trojans cornerback Jaquez White (8) tackles Clemson Tigers running back Adam Randall (8) Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 during the NCAA football game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“Earned All-Sun Belt Second Team honors … Ranked third in the league (seventh nationally) with 14 total passes defended and fourth (15th nationally) with 11 pass break ups … Started 12 games and played in all 14 contests … Returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Troy’s victory over Louisiana; added interceptions against Nicholls and in Sun Belt Championship Game at James Madison … Finished season with 67 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack … Sack came in Troy’s win over South Alabama; added five tackles, a quarterback hurry and a pass break up in the game … Season-best seven tackles against Memphis … Broke up four passes in win at ULM and had a pair at Southern Miss … Troy’s top-rated defender per PFF with an 87.6 rating … Played 879 defensive snaps, second most on the team … Third-rated cornerback in the country (min. 700 snaps) per PFF and fourth-rated cover corner … Held opponents to a 54.5 reception percentage (36-of-66).”

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