In Josh Heupel’s first two seasons Tennessee has almost exclusively played three receivers within a game. In 2021, Cedric Tillman, Velus Jones Jr. and JaVonta Payton earned the vast majority of the receiver snaps.
Last season, Tillman, Bru McCoy and Jalin Hyatt were entrenched as Tennessee’s three receivers until Tillman injured his ankle against Akron. Ramel Keyton took advantage of his opportunity and earned a rotation spot even after Tillman returned.
Entering the 2023 season, Tennessee has a receiver rotation conundrum on its hands. The Vols have four very talented receivers on their roster. McCoy, Keyton, Squirrel White and Oregon transfer Dont’e Thornton are all demanding playing time.
How it will work itself out is unclear. It’s a good problem to have and I’m wagering Heupel and Tennessee will play four receivers extensively from the season’s offset for the first time in his tenure.
What makes playing four receivers more viable than in the past is that Thornton has the ability to play in the slot and out wide. While the media has only seen him practice in the slot during the short open portions of practice, he’s been working at both spots this fall.
“Right now I’m playing more so in the slot but I’ve been learning both so when the opportunity comes for me to go in outside receiver I’ll be able to know both but right now I’m more in the slot,” Thornton said.
“We’re working him in different spots,” receiver’s coach Kelsey Pope said. “We’re doing a good job of trying to use his skill set to put him in some different situations.”
Thornton has an extremely unique skillset. Despite his 6-foot-5, 214-pound frame, Thornton can fly. The junior claimed he was clocked at 24.3 mph in a game last season at Oregon. That speed makes him dangerous in the slot just like Hyatt was a season ago, but his size makes him a viable option to play out wide too.
More From RTI: Tennessee Freshman Defender Impressing His Veteran Teammates
While White is an extremely talented slot receiver— catching 30 passes for 481 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman— he is only 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Tennessee’s slot receivers catch a lot of short passes in the screen game causing them to take hits.
White’s small frame could make it difficult for him to hold up over the course of 12 game regular season if he’s playing every snap. That’s where Thornton comes in and gives Tennessee two electric playmakers in the slot. His versatility also means he won’t have to fully split snaps with White since he can play the other two receiver spots.
Early enrolling in January and going through spring practice gave Thornton time to learn both spots in Tennessee’s offense and before the start of the season.
“His growth the most was just getting in here and learning what we do. Learning how we operate on the field and in the building,” Pope said of Thornton. “There’s a work ethic that I think is brought itself on by the players and is expected here now. With him learning the playbook, with him getting in here creating habits he’s fit right in with these guys and has done a great job so far.”
A junior, Thornton played his first two seasons at Oregon where he combined to catch 26 passes for 541 yards and three touchdowns. Thornton averaged over 20 yards per reception and has the big play ability that makes him a perfect fit for Heupel’s offense which prides itself on stretching defenses vertically.
After two years in smaller roles at Oregon, Thornton believes his junior season will be his breakout season thanks to his move to Tennessee.
“Over my past two years I was gaining a lot of confidence in myself and my game,” Thornton said. “Now with me having a coaching staff (that) I feel really believes in me, that I’m actually great and can do it, that motivates me even harder so I feel like this is definitely the year.”
