Vols Football: Projecting Depth Chart at Start of Fall Camp

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Sep 6, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Pig Howard (2) catches a pass out of bounds against the Arkansas State Red Wolves during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Starters: Marquez North, Pig Howard, Josh Smith, Ethan Wolf

Backups: Jason Croom, Josh Malone, Johnathon Johnson, A.J. Branisel

The indefinite suspension of senior Von Pearson amidst an alleged rape investigation makes this unit a little murkier and even thinner than it already was.

Entering the 2014 season, the Vols appeared stacked at wide receiver. After a somewhat disappointing 2014 campaign and spotty spring, however, and this unit has taken a lot of criticism.

North was extremely limited during the spring, and Pig Howard ended up wearing a green non-contact jersey for a large portion of the spring as well. Jason Croom sat out the entire spring, and Josh Smith was slow to rebuild his strength and conditioning after missing most of 2014 with with a leg injury.

Josh Malone came in as a highly-touted 5-star receiver in 2014 but largely failed to deliver on expectations as a freshman. After a slightly better spring, Malone still looks to be solidly behind more experienced players on the depth chart. The only real reinforcement this unit will receive in the fall is the arrival of 5-star Preston Williams, but he’s recovering from surgery himself.

Ethan Wolf is about as bonafide a starter a coach could as for in a tight end. He’ll keep his starting spot he earned as a freshman last year, and redshirt sophomore A.J. Branisel should be able to ride a strong spring into a backup role. Neiko Creamer is being converted to tight end from linebacker, and if he can improve his mechanics, he should be able to pair up with Alex Ellis as viable third string options.