Tennessee Volunteers: Wide Receiver Breakdown

Original Article from SEC Sports Hub:

SEC Sports Hub - Tennessee Wide Receiver Breakdown

The Volunteers enter the 2008 season with arguably the most underrated receiving corps in the country.

Tennessee returns the only 1,000 yard receiver in the SEC in senior Lucas Taylor. Fellow senior Josh Briscoe also had a great year in 2007, accounting for over 500 passing yards for the Vols. Throw junior Austin Rodgers, who had over 600 yards, into the mix and you have the SEC’s most productive receiving trio. 

The three combined for 185 catches in 2007. Briscoe and Taylor will be the unquestioned leaders of the receiving corps. Briscoe is one of the team’s best possession receivers and route runners, and Taylor provides a speedy option that can make big plays after the catch.

Expect new quarterback Jonathan Crompton to rely on these two very heavily throughout the 2008 campaign. 

Austin Rodgers had a very promising season as a sophomore last year and should emerge as a third go-to receiver for Crompton next season. Rodgers has exceptional speed and is another player that the Vols will try to utilize on screens and short routes into space. Rodgers has the potential to have a breakout junior season. 

The talent for the Volunteers doesn’t drop off after the talented trio, either. Sophomore Gerald Jones might be the most talented athlete on the Volunteer team aside from Eric Berry. Jones made an acrobatic catch in overtime against Kentucky last season that helped the Vols make it to the SEC Championship Game. 

He has breathtaking speed and a knack for making guys miss in the open field. Coach Phillip Fulmer will likely utilize Jones in a number of different ways in 2008 and Jones could see touches at running back and quarterback, as well as receiver. 

Junior Quintin Hancock and sophomore Denarius Moore should also contribute in the passing game for the Vols, and redshirt freshman Ahmad Paige could emerge as Tennessee’s best deep threat. 

The Vols are loaded at wide receiver and Crompton’s transition as the starter will likely go very smoothly as a result.

You can read more position breakdowns like this for Tennessee and every other SEC team at SEC Sports Hub.

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