2020 Position group.. WR’s a Strength or Weakness?

#26
#26
Brandon Johnson will help Palmer if our QBs can get them the ball. They are probably option 1 and 2.
 
#27
#27
LittleVol's Projected Depth Chart:

Sr. Josh Palmer 6'2 202
So. Ramel Keyton 6'3 191
Jr. DeAngelo Gibbs 6'2 215


What's leaving:
Because of graduation, The Vols lose considerable talents in the ultra competitive Jauan Jennings and big play Marquez Callaway. Stats don't tell the full story of their impact. Callaway had 91 career receptions for 1,543 yards and 13 tds. To go along with 3 career punt returns for tds. His big ability is evident by his 17 yards per catch average and explosives return abilities.

Yet it was Jennings who was regarded as the Alpha of the WR corp and offense period. The Hailmary over UGA in 2016. Him dominating Florida the same year to help snap an 11 game losing streak to the Gators. He leaves UT with accumulating 146 career receptions, 2,153 yards and 19 total total TDs. Impressive stats, but Vols fans will remember him by his gutsy and clutch plays over his career. Not to mention he was probably the toughest guy on the team.
Tyler Byrd showed super star potential as a freshman, but never really progressed after that. His blocking ability was always consistent however.

What's returning:
Josh Palmer and Brandon Johnson (6'1 200) will be the two senior Wrs leading the way in 2020. With the uncertainty at QB, this experience is crucial. Palmer has flashed speed, acrobatic type ability and more consistent hands as his career has progressed. However he may not be the most talented of the upper classmen.

DeAngelo Gibbs was a highly recruited and hyped recruit all throughout high school. He played with powerhouse Grayson his senior season and ended up signing with the Georgia Bulldogs. He has since transferred to Tennessee and has his sights set on making a big splash at WR. He was possibly the most most dominant WR in Georgia his senior season. Also hailing from Georgia is Ramel Keyton who showed great overall ability as a true freshman in 2019- Long and fast he knows how to attack the ball. Cedric Tillman ( 6'3 217) out of another high school powerhouse Bishop Gorman has really improved in his two seasons with the Vols.
He will have a say so.

So far so good? It gets better.
The 2020 class inked 3 explosive playmakers in Jalin Hyatt (6'1 170), WR/ATH Jimmy Calloway (6'0 180), and QB/ ATH Jimmy Holiday (6'1 185).
Hyatt was the most explosive player in South Carolina. He used his 10.4 100 meter speed to wrack up 2,000 yards receiving and 27 Tds during his senior year. He also played for an emerging national powerhouse in Dutch Fork high school who has won 4 straight state championships. Calloway - another Georgia product- was discovered by the Vols and absolutely blew up his senior season! Florida and Auburn came after his signature. He's dynamic with the ball in his hands but is possibly a star at Cornerback if he were put there. Also a dynamic return man. Holiday signed as a QB but his 4.39 speed and prior experience at WR lend many to believe he will be lead right back there. Speed was the need indeed in 2020.

Transfers:
Velus Jones (6'0 195) and Miles Jones (5'8 180) both bring speed to the lineup. They transferred from Southern Cal, and Nebraska respectively.

Summary:
The success of this group obviously depends much on how the QB room develops. What can't be denied is the considerable talent at disposal in 2020. Its It's a great blend of size and speed that will make Tennessee dangerous next season!
 
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#28
#28
HuntlandVolinColo said:
They will be good possibly great.

Palmer should continue to get better.

What I'm hearing about Gibbs is that he is super talented.

Brandon Johnson didn't show anything last season but two years before he led the team in receiving.

Keyton showed us what he could do in bowl game.

Tillman, Hyatt, Holiday (I think), and the Joneses will give us good depth.

Velus Jones was a great return man for USC.

Miles Jones hasn't shown much in his short college career at Nebraska but he has been compared to Pig Howard with size, and elusiveness. Could be a matchup problem in the slot.

With the OL and running game looking to be vastly better, LBs will have to place more focus on those areas. I expect that to help receivers get open more easily and for TEs to catch a whole lot more passes next season. TEs have been virtually non-existent the last two seasons and that should change drastically next season.
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Good point about BJ. I had basically written him off but you make a good point. Attached image is 2017 stats.
 

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#32
#32
One or two injuries and we’re screwed. First they must know the offensive plays. Secondly they must be good blockers. Oh got to be able to run the route and catch the ball.
 
#36
#36
HuntlandVolinColo said:
They will be good possibly great.

Palmer should continue to get better.

What I'm hearing about Gibbs is that he is super talented.

Brandon Johnson didn't show anything last season but two years before he led the team in receiving.

Keyton showed us what he could do in bowl game.

Tillman, Hyatt, Holiday (I think), and the Joneses will give us good depth.

Velus Jones was a great return man for USC.

Miles Jones hasn't shown much in his short college career at Nebraska but he has been compared to Pig Howard with size, and elusiveness. Could be a matchup problem in the slot.

With the OL and running game looking to be vastly better, LBs will have to place more focus on those areas. I expect that to help receivers get open more easily and for TEs to catch a whole lot more passes next season. TEs have been virtually non-existent the last two seasons and that should change drastically next season.
Click to expand...

Johnson didn't show anything last year because he had decided to redshirt.
 
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#40
#40
You don't lose guys like Jennings and Callaway and get better. However, we have some talent coming up, Palmer, Keyton, Jones is going to surprise, and so is Hyatt. The running game will be better, the OL will be elite, and QB play won't be worse and may even be better. I think the offense could be better next year, primarily because of the running game and the OL play. How nice is it going to be for teams to have to bring an extra guy up to stop the running game!
 
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#41
#41
I think our group of WR will struggle against physical corners, especially if Palmer turns out to be our only SEC type guy. Whoever plays the slot is going to be key. If that player can get open and not have drops I think we'll be fine. Right now only Keyton and Palmer look like avg to above avg guys at the WR spot.
 
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#42
#42
PulaskiVolFan said:
I think our group of WR will struggle against physical corners, especially if Palmer turns out to be our only SEC type guy. Whoever plays the slot is going to be key. If that player can get open and not have drops I think we'll be fine. Right now only Keyton and Palmer look like avg to above avg guys at the WR spot.
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Gibbs is more talented than both imo.
He's going to show it too.

Then there's Beckwith, Hyatt, and Calloway.
 
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#43
#43
gnm53108 said:
Coach Martin has got this.
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This is where I'm at. They are definitely a question mark due to lack of experience (even with BJ and Palmer), and I would have been pessimistic in the past, but the tiebreaker for me is that we have great talent/potential and coaches I trust in Chaney and Tee. I think our WRs will turn out just fine
 
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#46
#46
So if I’m reading correctly, the two WR’s with the most returning production are J Palmer and B Johnson. Palmer shows 66 catches and 3 TD’s for his career, B Johnson shows 60 catches and 1 TD for his career (37 of those catches back in 2017). So I think Palmer is the only true returning threat at WR, it seems he’ll be the main weapon for UT. Nobody else, unless I’m missing someone, has shown any actual production at all on the field.

While Palmer is a good player and will be a threat for UT, overall, it looks like an unproven group. I realize UT, like just about every team in the SEC, has promising young guys who have been waiting their turn and developing within the program, but overall, this appears to be a position of weakness.

UT’s strength on offense will be the o-line, a couple good RB’s and (conventional wisdom) an experienced, senior QB. Someone will need to develop and step up at WR alongside Palmer.
 
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#48
#48
LittleVol said:
Gibbs is more talented than both imo.
He's going to show it too.

Then there's Beckwith, Hyatt, and Calloway.
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I think all 4 of those guys can become good receivers and I believe Beckwith could contribute early if we get him. Gibbs, Hyatt and Calloway are not ready to go against Florida's, Ga and Bama's physical style just yet. I think Hyatt has a chance to be really good but he's thinner than Hunter was when he came in as a Fr, If he can add weight and maintain his burner speed he'll be a weapon down the road.
 
#49
#49
VolMack——————$ said:
One or two injuries and we’re screwed. First they must know the offensive plays. Secondly they must be good blockers. Oh got to be able to run the route and catch the ball.
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Only if the injuries are at QB or CB. positions. We can absorb an injury at all other positions. with a little help from the incoming Freshman group.
 
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#50
#50
Jaws said:
So if I’m reading correctly, the two WR’s with the most returning production are J Palmer and B Johnson. Palmer shows 66 catches and 3 TD’s for his career, B Johnson shows 60 catches and 1 TD for his career (37 of those catches back in 2017). So I think Palmer is the only true returning threat at WR, it seems he’ll be the main weapon for UT. Nobody else, unless I’m missing someone, has shown any actual production at all on the field.

While Palmer is a good player and will be a threat for UT, overall, it looks like an unproven group. I realize UT, like just about every team in the SEC, has promising young guys who have been waiting their turn and developing within the program, but overall, this appears to be a position of weakness.

UT’s strength on offense will be the o-line, a couple good RB’s and (conventional wisdom) an experienced, senior QB. Someone will need to develop and step up at WR alongside Palmer.
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Is it possible that the lack of production was a result of 2 very good WRs ahead of them and an average to below average passing game?
 
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