Tennessee football: Brandon Johnson catch a reminder that Vols have offensive playmakers

Tennessee football wide receiver Brandon Johnson made an amazing catch in spring practice. It reminds us that the Volunteers do have offensive playmakers.

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Last year’s horrific offense has us assuming that Tennessee football is entering this spring practice without any playmakers. After all, how else could you explain a drought of 14 straight quarters without an offensive touchdown last year?

Well, you could explain it by the worst offensive coaching and playcalling ever seen in a century. They were playing under a staff, after all, that didn’t know you can run the ball on short-yardage situations when you have a running back averaging 7 yards a carry.

Now, though, with spring practice under a new staff, we are reminded that the Vols do have talent. And Johnson helped put that on display Thursday with this amazing one-handed catch.

Johnson, we should remember, was a four-star wide receiver. He also had two 100-yard receiving games last year. Oh, and he caught that pass from Jarrett Guarantano, a four-star quarterback.

Simply put, those two players alone show that there is talent on the roster. Amidst all the talk of the coaching staff, the horrible 4-8 season and the injuries, we seem to have forgotten that. Johnson hasn’t generated any buzz this offseason.

But he’s clearly a receiver with talent, and he’s not the only one. Marquez Callaway is also on the team, and we all know about his playmaking abilities. When Jauan Jennings rejoins the team, Tennessee football will have three receivers who have proven themselves to be playmakers.

Add in Josh Palmer, who has a ton of potential, and there is reason to believe that the Vols can be a force with the right coaching. We haven’t even mentioned LaTrell Williams or the tight ends, all of whom haven’t had the chance to prove themselves thanks to the horrific offensive playcalling last year. By the way, this is just in the passing game.

Ty Chandler has proven he can be solid at running back as well, and Jeremy Pruitt has a four-star commitment and a graduate transfer coming at the position. Sure, this will still be a rebuilding year for Tennessee football.

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But with that catch on Thursday, we are reminded that the Vols have talent. And if a few things break their way, they could surprise some teams next year. So don’t overlook what they can do in Jeremy Pruitt’s first season just yet.