Patterson may deserve a separate category unto himself, perhaps Best All-Purpose Offensive Playmaker, but he never came close to mastering his craft as a wide receiver at Tennessee and he has not done so thus far in the NFL. Playing only one year at Tennessee also works against him in my mind. For the sake of argument, however, lets compare Pattersons numbers, strictly as a receiver, with those of Robert Meachem, who also was a starter for only one year. Patterson compiled 46 receptions for 778 yards and five touchdowns. If you want to throw in his runs from scrimmage, that adds 308 yards on 25 carries for three more touchdowns. Meachem, by contrast, set a school record for receiving yards in a season and [earned] All-America honors from three different publications. He caught 71 passes for 1,298 yards in 2006 and finished the season leading the SEC in receiving yards per game with 99.8" (
UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football). Advantage goes to Meachem, purely as a wide receiver and in terms of national recognition.
I would also have to second the nomination of Carl Pickens, who may well have been the most complete receiver in Tennessee history, factoring in size, speed, and pure athletic ability. He also won All-American honors in 1991.
Tim McGee always struck me as the Tennessee equivalent of Lynn Swann, a precise route runner who moved with great fluidity and grace. "McGee caught 50 passes for 947 yards and seven touchdowns while leading the Vols to the 1985 SEC title. His 18.9-yard average that year stands as the peak and wasn't touched in more than 20 years. He also earned All-American honors as a senior in 1985 (
UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football).
Although he technically predated the parameters of this thread, Larry Sievers has been cited previously for his extraordinary hands and leaping ability. More importantly, Larry was a two-time All-American (1975, 1976).
I give priority to these four, based in no small part on the fact that they achieved All-American status. It should be noted, however, that Willie Gault was also so honored in 1982.