Tennessee Football: Which WRs Need to Step Up in Fall Camp?

When the Tennessee football team officially opens fall camp Tuesday, two talented wide receivers won't be among the Vols on the practice field.

As if the spotlight wasn't already burning a laser beam of scrutiny on a talented, but underachieving unit, it certainly will be as UT opens practice without senior starter Von Pearson and freshman prospect Preston Williams.

Vols coach Butch Jones confirmed their absences (both for an undetermined length of time) at Monday's press conference.

With a cloud of uncertainty hovering over the futures of Pearson and Williams, the Vols must prepare as if they'll be without them.

Williams—a former coveted 4-star recruit who was rehabbing a knee injury—was pulled off the field after the NCAA flagged his ACT score last week, and he must retake the test before regaining clearance to play, according to GoVols247's Ryan Callahan.

Pearson remains suspended indefinitely as a suspect in an ongoing sexual assault investigation. While there has been growing speculation on UT message boards that Pearson's situation would end favorably, Jones didn't exactly sprinkle sunshine on the situation Monday.

The news that neither receiver will open camp with the Vols isn't new information, but the tone surrounding Pearson's situation seemed dire. RockyTopInsider's Daniel Lewis caught up with Pearson's attorney, Chris Coffey, who had some interesting things to say concerning the investigation:

"

The question that I see as important in this situation is why Mr. Pearson, who has not been charged with any criminal offense, at this point, why he remains on interim suspension at the University when there are other student-athletes who are currently charged with very serious offenses and they are not suspended from school. They are listed as active students, and I’ve asked the question, but nobody will give me an answer, and certainly Mr. Pearson is interested in what the answer to that would be.

"

Even if Pearson is cleared as a suspect, the fact that he isn't in school further complicates matters on his eligibility this season, as he would have a pressed timetable to enroll this semester. Not to mention, he's missing valuable practice time as the investigation lingers.

In the meantime, UT must find viable options to go along with steady senior Alton "Pig" Howard, who has proven his ability and durability throughout his first three years in Knoxville.

The question remains: Who will step up to help him?

With Pearson and Williams out for the foreseeable future, that's two talented players and two bodies in a unit where three players are coming off season-ending injuries.

Marquez North

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Many Tennessee fans are in "show me" mode with North, the 6'4", 224-pound rising junior with the talent to be among the nation's elite pass-catchers.

During the past two seasons, North has shown flashes such as the helmet-pin catch to set up the game-winning field goal against South Carolina during his 2013 freshman year and last season's early four-touchdown start to the season.

But after that, injuries robbed North of the rest of the year, and he eventually had season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum. After missing the spring, it remains to be seen whether North will come back as good as new or with lingering rust.

With the size, speed and strength to go across the middle or stretch the field, North's ceiling continues to excite everybody around the program. But the time is now for him to put everything together.

Jason Croom

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Another world-class body, Croom stands 6'5" and weighs 235 pounds, and at times, he has used that massive frame to overpower smaller defensive backs.

Other times, he is nowhere to be found on the stat sheets and does not impact the game.

In two seasons, the redshirt junior has 39 catches for 574 yards and six touchdowns, and at times throughout the season, Jones praised his big-bodied receiver, including after a 35-32 loss to Georgia.

"Jason Croom really stepped up," Jones told the Knoxville News Sentinel's Ben Frederickson. "He played the ball well in the air."

That's the No. 1 key for Croom. He can't play timid with the size he has. Though he won't outrun many defensive backs, he has the ability to battle for balls in the air, especially in the red zone, and win.

He's a potential weapon, and he needs to stay healthy and consistent enough to be one now.

Josh Malone

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Back in the recruiting process, teams from around the country coveted Gallatin, Tennessee, receiver Josh Malone.

Standing 6'3", 198 pounds with silky, smooth route-running ability and good hands, Malone was the perfect receiver. He also could blaze past opponents on go routes.

But like most freshmen, Malone struggled last year to provide a consistent impact. There were times when he didn't battle. Other times, nagging injuries hindered his play. Still, in a crowded receiving corps, he finished with 23 catches for 231 yards and a touchdown.

Now that he knows what it takes, Malone enjoyed a strong offseason, according to Jones. He told a group of people in Hendersonville, Tennessee, near Malone's home:

"He's going through a process," Jones said, according to the Tennessean's Chris Brooks. "He's another individual who has really dedicated himself this offseason. When he came back from the month break, you could see that he dedicated himself. Josh is a very talented young man, and he's very driven right now. I'm very excited in what we see in him right now."

ESPN.com's Greg Ostendorf listed Malone among five SEC sophomore receivers who could break out.

There's no questioning Malone's ability. Once he puts things together, he has the skill set to be special. The Vols need that right away. Other than North, Malone may have the highest upside in the unit.

Josh Smith

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Last year, there was no doubt who the biggest early-season surprise on the team was. Sophomore receiver Josh Smith amassed 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown, and he was quarterback Justin Worley's go-to target through the season's first three games.

When Smith wasn't providing steady numbers, he was leaping over an Arkansas State defender for a highlight-reel play.

Then, the 6'1", 205-pound receiver suffered a nasty high ankle sprain against Oklahoma that necessitated season-ending surgery. Though Smith got that season back with a redshirt, he wasn't 100 percent this spring.

With Pearson out, Smith may have to provide some versatility as a guy who can play on the perimeter or in the slot. He has done both before, and UT needs him to get back to the player he was before the injury.

If he does, it will give new coordinator Mike DeBord another weapon to move around.

These issues will limit the quality of Tennessee's depth at the position, but there are still plenty of talented receivers in that group.

Senior Johnathon Johnson is a steady player who will play a key role. Junior Cody Blanc, freshman Vincent Perry and converted quarterback Jauan Jennings all could see meaningful snaps at the position.

After Jones noted last week that Jennings would try other positions, he said to the media Monday that he would start camp at receiver, according to GoVols247's Wes Rucker.

There are plenty of teams who would love to have that kind of depth, but subtracting a pair of potential playmakers from the equation is never a good thing. The Vols just need others to pick up the slack.

All statistics gathered from CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information obtained from 247Sports.

Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee lead writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.