Tennessee Position Group Deep Dive - WR

[tsweezy]

Been flying a lot, decided to plan out the future of each position group and planning our program's philosophy and decided to spin it into some media about the past-present-future of Tennessee football. Read on!

 

Next: the Wide Receivers

Honestly this may be the best position group in the program (or at least is neck and neck with QB). Tennessee had a 1st round draft pick the first two drafts and a 3rd rounder last draft along with plenty of good talent rising up.

2021:

Ray-Ray Thompson - Sr ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Maryland Heights, MO - A overall. A speed, A agility, A catching, B route running

Alex Henderson - Jr ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Red Zone Threat - Baltimore, MD - A overall. A speed, A agility, A catching, B route running

Garrit Kimbrel - Sr ⭐⭐⭐, Route Runner- South Lyon, MI - B overall. A speed, B agility, B catching, B route running

 

Ray-Ray was the alpha true number 1 target this year and by far Cedric's biggest boy. An astounding 1850 receiving yards with 19 TDs (7th most all time in a season), he lit up opposing defenses and constantly burned them deep. He was also a top-10 return man in the nation as a cherry on top

While Ray-Ray burned everyone deep, Henderson was the jump ball king and clear #2 option. He actually wound up with 1158 yards and 9 TDs himself which is not bad at all for the second option on the team

Gerrit was not that impressive, and didn't get near as much love as the blue chip guys in the room. He only saw 23 targets with 173 yards and 4 TDs (fewer than Aldrick and the TE1)

This was a top-tier room that frankly made Cedric look like a much better QB than he had any right to be.

Ray-Ray was Tennessee's first 1st round draft pick to the Washington Commanders and caught a key 3rd down conversion in the Super Bowl as a rookie. Very bright future ahead

 

2022:

Alex Henderson - Sr ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Red Zone Threat - Baltimore, MD - A overall. B speed, A agility, B+ catching, B+ route running

Matt Siri - (Jr) ⭐⭐⭐, Possession - Valley Central, CA - A- overall. B- speed, C+ agility, B catching, B route running

Hayes Edwards - (So) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Route Runner - Jasper, GA - B+ overall. B speed, B+ agility, C catching, B route running

 

Henderson didn't post nearly as gaudy statistics as Ray Ray, as the team shared the wealth a whole lot more. He wound up with 1368 catches and 10 TDs

Siri was the definite #2 with 718 yards (but somehow only 1 TD), while Hayes took ~500 yards and 3 TDs.

No other WRs caught a pass this season

Alex Henderson turned out to be a combine warrior and despite just a "good" year, was a 1st round NFL draft selection. Siri and Edwards would return

Overall this was a "good enough" room for the season that didn't let Savage down but didn't blow up on their own. Thank goodness for Aldrick taking so much attention

 

2023:

A muchhh deeper room here. Not as good at the top as 2021 but had the most options of any of the 4 teams. In addition, production-wise, Siri had a top-10 season of all time and both he and Hayes were top-5 this year

Matt Siri - (Sr) ⭐⭐⭐, Possession - Valley Central, CA - A overall. B speed, B agility, A catching, A route running

Hayes Edwards - (Jr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Route Runner - Jasper, GA - A overall. B+ speed, A agility, B- catching, A- route running

Will Jackson - Sr ⭐⭐⭐, Route Runner - Louisville, MS - B+ overall. B- speed, A- agility, C catching, B route running

Eric Barnhart - Jr ⭐⭐⭐, Red Zone Threat - Dixon Mills, AL - B overall. C speed, B agility, C catching, C route running

Francisco Robinson - Jr ⭐⭐⭐, Red Zone Threat - Norcross, GA - B- overall. C- speed, C+ agility, C catching, C- route running

 

Siri and Hayes went OFF when paired with Savage. Siri had 2145 yards (top 10 all time) with 15 TDs. Hayes also had 15 TDs with 40 fewer targets and a top-10 catch percentage (100/130). Also tacking on 1750 yards

Will Jackson was the original WR3, but missed 6 games due to injury and only wound up with 866 yards and 8 TDs.

In his absence, Barnhart became the #3 and had a pretty good 976 yards with 7 more TDs.

At WR5, Francisco saw only 23 targets for 162 yards and 3 TDs

Overall, an insanely productive year for the room. Siri is going pro and despite a bad draft grade hopes the production propels him to a slot in the first 3 rounds (he did wind up going in the third round). Hayes returns to be a true #1 in his last year of college ball with a deep supporting cast

 

2024:

A little bit more muddied this year. Lots of talent on the roster but much if it is still "a year away" per coaches

Hayes Edwards - (Sr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Route Runner - Jasper, GA - A overall. A speed, A+ agility, B catching, A route running

Eric Barnhart - Sr ⭐⭐⭐, Red Zone Threat - Dixon Mills, AL - A- overall. B- speed, A- agility, B- catching, B- route running

Alex Smith-Schuster - (So) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Pahokee, FL - B+ overall. C speed, C agility, B catching, C route running

Quincy Stanton - (So) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Merritt Island, FL - B+ overall. C speed, B+ agility, C catching, B route running

Francisco Robinson - Sr ⭐⭐⭐, Red Zone Threat - Norcross, GA - B+ overall. C speed, B agility, B- catching, C route running

B.J. Flash - Fr ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Washington, DC - B+ overall. B speed, C agility, C catching, D route running

Joseph Kleen - Fr ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Reserve, LA - B overall. D speed, C agility, C catching, D route running

George Simpson - (Fr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Salisbury, NC - B overall. D speed, D agility, C catching, D route running

 

Hugeee stable this year. 8 guys on the roster at B overall or better who would be potentially start-able.

Obviously Hayes gets WR #1 slot and is going to make a push to be Tennessee's 3rd 1st round WR selection along with setting some career records

Beyond that it's less clear. Barnhart definitely gets the #2 slot. Smith-Schuster and Stanton probably get the 3/4 slots as next year presumed starters. The order of them, I have no idea which is best.

WR5 probably goes to Francisco once again.

Flash and Kleen despite being double 5-star signees are almost certainly redshirting. They'l, be in the starting line-up with Simpson starting next year though

I'm anticipating a year where Hayes goes for 2k receiving yards and 600-900 for another 3 players while Joe Williams siphons off a lot of targets

 

2025:

Alex Smith-Schuster - (Jr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Pahokee, FL - A overall.

Quincy Stanton - (Jr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Merritt Island, FL - A- overall.

B.J. Flash - (Fr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Washington, DC - B+ overall.

Joseph Kleen - (Fr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Reserve, LA - B+ overall.

George Simpson - (So) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Salisbury, NC - B+ overall.

 

As the target Natty date, this years progressions are going to be huge. All genned players are basically gone and Alex and Quincy will need to show they can run the show. Flash and Kleen should be very good but are still young and likely quite error-prone. Savage will elevate everyone around him, but this may be a more running-focused squad than you'd expect

 

2026:

Alex Smith-Schuster - (Sr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Pahokee, FL - A overall.

Quincy Stanton - (Sr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Merritt Island, FL - A overall.

B.J. Flash - (So) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Washington, DC - A overall.

Joseph Kleen - (So) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Reserve, LA - A- overall.

George Simpson - (Jr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Salisbury, NC - A- overall.

 

As we transition to #JOC, he gets the best receiving crop in Tennessee history. On paper even if he's a huge downgrade from senior year Savage, the passing attack may actually be at its peak this year as you just can't defend 5 guys of this caliber (plus an S-tier Receiving RB in Joe Williams)

 

2027:

B.J. Flash - (Jr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Washington, DC - A overall.

Joseph Kleen - (Jr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Reserve, LA - A overall.

George Simpson - (Sr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Speed - Salisbury, NC - A overall.

 

Not sure who fills in the back end of this room by '27, this recruiting cycle will show who those guys are. Still, a triple A overall (projected) room should be at or near the top of the nation