Tennessee football lost four receivers to the transfer portal before its College Football Playoff loss against Ohio State. The lack of depth it created was on display during the game when both Dont’e Thornton and Squirrel White suffered injuries in the first half.
The Vols finished the game with just four scholarship receivers. Combine that with the lack of success throwing the football during the 2024 season and that status of Tennessee’s receiver room is one of the key things to watch this offseason.
Taking a look at that room here.
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Who’s Gone?
Tennessee is already down the four receivers that entered the portal earlier this month— Chas Nimrod, Kaleb Webb, Nathan Leacock and Nate Spillman.
Leacock and Spillman never played meaningful snaps at Tennessee while Nimrod and Webb were backups. They combined for 16 catches and 171 yards during the 2024 season.
The Vols also lose both Dont’e Thornton and Bru McCoy as the seniors are out of eligibility. Thornton and McCoy were Tennessee’s top two receivers last season, combining to catch 65 passes for 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns.
McCoy led the team in receptions and was second in yards. Thornton led the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Those are the six receivers that are definitively gone. We’ll see if any more receivers jump in the portal over the next week.
Who’s Back?
This section could still change if players decide to enter the transfer portal but at the moment, Tennessee has four receivers poised to return.
Two-year slot receiver starter Squirrel White, former Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell, rising sophomore Mike Matthews and rising redshirt freshman Braylon Staley.
White was a productive starter in 2023 but struggled in 2024 while battling injuries. Brazzell was a massive disappointment in his first season in Knoxville, catching just 29 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns.
Matthews and Staley are both talented young players but are not overly proven at this point. The former five-star Matthews’ role increase as the season developed but Staley did not play any meaningful snaps until the Ohio State game.
The four returning receivers combined for 73 catches, 825 yards and six touchdowns.
Incoming Freshmen
Tennessee signed three prep receivers earlier this month in Travis Smith, Radarious Jackson and Joakim Dodson.
Smith is a top 150 recruit from Georgia and as a 6-foot-3 receiver, he could push for playing time outside as a freshman.
Jackson is a low four-star outside receiver and Dodson is a three-star slot receiver. It seems unlikely that either will push for major playing time as true freshmen.
Needs In Portal?
Tennessee is in a spot where they need both quality starters and depth pieces in the transfer portal. Both White and Staley are slot receivers so I think the Vols can gamble there and role with that duo going into next year.
Staley has speed that Tennessee hasn’t had in that spot since Jalin Hyatt and White was productive in 2023. It’s not going to be an elite duo in 2025 but Tennessee can probably get by.
Outside is another story. Tennessee should spend heavy on a productive outside receiver in the transfer portal. Someone that can come in and be a difference maker from the second he steps on campus. Tennessee needs that type of playmaker badly and it should be the top priority in the portal. However, the Vols haven’t seemed overly active pursuing receivers in the portal to this point.
The Vols also need to add at least a second body for depth purposes. Probably as an outside receiver as well but maybe as a slot guy. That probably depends on the staff’s confidence in White to stay healthy and whether they think Staley can take a big step forward next season.
