Vols With No Players On Biletnikoff Award Watch List; Wide Receiver U Still In Good Shape

October 27, 2012; Columbia, SC, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Vincent Dallas (6) makes a touchdown reception against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

The Vols were shut out of the pre-season watch lists on Tuesday.

That should come as no surprise since the only list released on Tuesday was for the Biletnikoff Award, which honors the nation’s top wide receiver.

The Vols lost nearly all of their 2012 production at the wide receiver position, with Cordarrelle Patterson, Justin Hunter and Zach Rogers moving on to the NFL.

Despite the Vols lack of experience at wide receiver, the position is still in good hands.

First there’s wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni.

Azzanni is described as a tireless and relentless worker, dedicated to getting the most out of his receivers.

In 2009 Azzanni was named Wide Receivers Coach of the Year by FootballScoop.com. That same season his Central Michigan receiving corps was rated as the ninth best in the nation by Athlon Sports.

Zach Azzanni has a track record of success and fans should feel secure that he’ll continue the tradition of Wide Receiver U.

Azzanni definitely has his work cut out for him in 2013. He’ll have to deal with a very inexperienced group of receivers, but a group that has a lot of talent and upside.

Alton “Pig” Howard and Vincent Dallas will be the Vol’s top returning receivers. Both guys are a perfect fit for Butch Jones’ offense, in the mold of an Antonio Brown type receiver.

Incoming freshman Marquez North is the type of receiver that folks typically picture when thinking of Wide Receiver U. North is a 6’3″/205 lb receiver out of Charlotte, NC that can make an immediate impact as a physical receiver and vertical threat.

At 6’4″/185 Paul Harris is another prototypical Tennessee receiver. Harris could also make an impact as a true freshmen.

In addition to the above mentioned receivers, the Vols also have Drae Bowles, Jason Croom, Ryan Jenkins and Knoxville native Josh Smith on the roster.

Although the roster is loaded with youth, it’s loaded with talent for Zach Azzanni and head coach Butch Jones.

I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see the Vols with a couple of names on the Biletnikoff Award watch list next season.

Then again you never know, one of those aforementioned receivers could step up and be placed on the updated Biletnikoff Award watch list later this fall.

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit.

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