9. Josh Smith, Wide Receiver
There’s little doubt Josh Smith will be a starting wide receiver for the Vols once the season starts barring injury. Smith was third on the team in receptions (23) and yards (307) last season, but his stats weren’t very impressive. None of the Vols’ receivers were, and Smith was just one of the faces in the crowd in a jumbled receiving corps last year. But with Von Pearson, Pig Howard (even though he played little last year) and Marquez North all gone, Smith needs to fill that void.
Smith needs to have a strong spring to finally establish himself as the No. 1 receiver for Josh Dobbs and the passing game in 2016. Smith has shown the most consistent hands of late for the Vols, and he needs to step up his leadership and play a bit more to take control of the go-to receiver spot in the passing game.
