Looking back on the history of Tennessee football, you quickly find that most Volunteer football teams seem to have big play threats at Wide Receiver. C’mon, you know that this university did not obtain the moniker “Wide Receiver U†for turning out one or two greats. This is the institution that gave the world Stanley Morgan, Willie Gault, Anthony Miller, Carl Pickens, Alvin Harper, Marcus Nash, Peerless Price, Donte Stallworth, and a host of others who have contributed on Sunday’s in the NFL. Last season, Robert Meachem added his name to the list of Vols who became a big-time playmaker on the outside. Teammates Jayson Swain and Bret Smith served as productive guys who got open and made teams pay when teams decided to double Meachem.
Fast forward to 2007, as Meachem left school early to become a first round pick of the New Orleans Saints and Swain and Smith have both used up their eligibility. This has left a void of epic proportions in David Cutcliffe’s offensive scheme. There is no shortage of bodies to fulfill these slots, but there certainly is a shortage on the football experience of those bodies’. The only guys at wideout with any Division I game experience are Juniors Josh Briscoe and Lucas Taylor and Sophomores Austin Rogers and Quintin Hancock. Taylor and Briscoe have been inconsistent, Rogers has been injury-prone, and Hancock has had limited time, despite coaches raving on his potential.
This lack of proven playmakers led to the Vols coaching staff to make wide receiver a priority in recruiting and the haul they brought in was highly touted. One guy that was brought in to be a quick fix was junior college transfer Kenny O’Neal. O’Neal, who was initially a Florida State commitment out of high school, is a guy who the staff identified as a young man who could come in and contribute right away. O’Neal has struggled with a leg injury and was involved in a heated tussle in a scrimmage, but if he can grasp the offense and his emotions, he could make a play for a starting slot.
Another guy who the coaches hope can grasp things quickly is Brent Vinson. The lighting-quick Vinson, who was actually recruited in 2006, but had to make a one-year stop at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, brings the element of deep speed that has been missing since Donte Stallworth was in Knoxville.
Gerald Jones is a true freshman who is a phenomenal athlete. Jones, who played QB in the Oklahoma high school ranks, is a slippery guy who can make people look silly in the open-field. The only question with Jones is how quickly he can adapt to a new position.
Ahmad Paige is a kid who has great long-term potential, but is physically raw. The lanky Paige has the 6’3†height that teams covet, and when he fills out, he’ll be a great prospect. He is a prime candidate to redshirt in 2007.
Todd Campbell is a good in-state prospect, who is more of a technician than a pure burner. He is in the Joey Kent, T.D. Woods mold, and down the road, he could contribute, but looks like another redshirt at this point.
At this point, I believe that the coaching staff would love for at least two of these youngsters to work their way into the wide receiver rotation. O’Neal and Vinson seem like the two that are most likely to get into that mix, with Jones being the wild card. Wide Receivers coach Trooper Taylor seems to feel comfortable with what Rogers and Taylor can do, and if Hancock can re-acquire some of the magic he seemed to have last season, and Briscoe can get it together, Tennessee could have six quality wideouts to throw to.
With the indefinite suspension of versatile, big-play running back, LaMarcus Coker, a couple of these guys need to show that Meachem-like ability to turn a six yard hitch into a 70 yard touchdown. This would make the running game more effective and allow Erik Ainge to get the ball down the field. The progression at this position could be the difference between 8 or 9 wins this season or potentially bigger things.
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