Evaluating Tennessee Vols Recruiting Class at Dead Period: Wide Receivers

Oct 19, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Marquez North (8) catches a pass against South Carolina Gamecocks cornerback Ahmad Christian (4) setting up the game winning drive during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

With 12 commitments at the dead period, here is an evaluation of the 2016 Tennessee Vols Recruiting class so far and a look at other prospects they are pursuing. This post examines the wide receiver situation.

A trademark of Butch Jones’s first two recruiting classes has been restoring the title of Wide Receiver U to the Tennessee Volunteers.

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He already had “Pig” Howard as a sophomore, Jason Croom as a redshirt freshman, and Marquez North as a freshman in 2013, and then he brought in Josh Malone in 2014 and Preston Williams in 2015. Even with Vic Wharton gone and Von Pearson suspended indefinitely, the Vols are set at the position for now.

But Jones is still recruiting. And that is exactly what he needs to be doing.

With only one receiver and an athlete who could play receiver on the list so far, the receiving corp. could get much thinner otherwise if nothing changes. Consider that Howard is a senior, Pearson could be gone permanently, and North could leave early for the NFL Draft.

The Vols will still be left with a collection of elite receivers next year no matter what, but the depth and the future down the road would be in question.

This post will analyze the current situation for receivers for the 2016 class, starting with the two current commitments, and it will take a look at legitimate targets for the Vols going forward.

So let’s first take a look at who’s committed.

Next: 2016 Commitments