Tennessee Wide Receivers 2026 | Football Position Previews
Talent abounds, but who becomes the X-factor?
The receiver position was a huge question mark for Tennessee going into the 2025 season. The Vols lost nearly every contributor from the 2024 squad to graduation or the transfer portal. Only Chris Brazzell II returned, and was only bringing 331 yards of production back with him—barely more than TE Miles Kitzelman’s 311 yards, and with fewer yards per catch than Kitzelman, too.
Thankfully for UT, Brazzell was ready to take a step into the spotlight in ’25. With him came two blue-chip recruits from the 2024 class: Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews. Together, the trio made Tennessee the only SEC school with three 800+ yard receivers, and Brazzell himself went north of 1000 yards on the year.
For 2026, Matthews and Staley return. Staley is the prototypical slot guy, and that’s a position that has produced UT’s leading receiver a couple of times (Jalin Hyatt in ’22, Squirrel White in ’23). The question is can Matthews or another WR fully step into the “X” receiver spot? Tennessee needs a guy that can reliably win 1-on-1 battles against the opposing corner, both as a deep ball threat and as a pressure valve for the slot WR.
Additionally, Tennessee loses Kitzelman and his 253 yards receiving—and his run blocking, which is key in Tennessee’s ground game. Former 4* Jack Van Doreslaer portaled out to Oklahoma. But Ethan Davis (the Vols 4th-leading receiver last year) returns as does blue-chipper DaSaahn Brame.
Nega Vol’n
The lack of a prototypical X receiver could limit the passing game, which is already being handcuffed by having to start a raw QB. In the past, Tennessee has had big-bodied WRs that could go win a 50/50 ball—think Cedric Tillman (6’3, 215), Bru McCoy (6’3, 230), and Dont’e Thornton (6’5, 214). Even Chris Brazzell, who was relatively skinny at just 200 lbs., is a rangy target at 6’5. Mike Matthews’ program height is 6’1, meaning he’s probably 6-feet tall. Radarious Jackson is closer to traditional X-receiver height at 6’2, but had just 9 catches last year. Incoming freshman T.K. Keys is 6’2 and highly-touted, but will the coaching staff trust a true frosh to step into the role of clutch-time target?
Sunshine Pumpin’
This is easily the most talented WR room Josh Heupel has had at UT. Matthews, Staley, Jackson, Keys, and Travis Smith are all blue-chippers, as are Davis and Brame at TE. Also telling is the fact that Heupel & Co. didn’t really go portal hunting this offseason for the WR/TE rooms. They added WR transfer Ian Duarte (95 rec/1035 yds/6 TDs last 3 years at Idaho State) and tE Trent Thomas from South Alabama, likely as more of a blocker. Compare that to Tennessee’s portal approach in years past, bringing in guys like Bru McCoy, Donte Thornton, Chris Brazzell, and Miles Kitselman, who all became major pieces of the offense. It seems UT is happy with what they have on campus already.
Add in the fact that Tennessee’s offense changed in substantial ways in 2025 to fit the strengths of the personnel, and imagine that the same happens in 2026. As long as UT has a QB with a pulse, it would be pretty shocking for this unit to not be highly productive this season.
