Tennessee football: 10 Vols who did not benefit from 2019 spring practice

Brandon Johnson is in a similar spot to Carlin Fils-Aime. Sure, he was a member of the first-team offense in Tennessee football’s spring game. And don’t forget that he actually led the Vols in receiving back in 2017.

However, he’s clearly the odd man out. Marquez Callaway is the best athlete at wideout, Jauan Jennings is the playmaker, and Josh Palmer was named most improved. With that three-receiver rotation, there’s very little room for Johnson to make his presence felt.

He did nothing in the spring game, and that continues a regression from last year, where he was the odd man out in Jeremy Pruitt’s new system. Now, as a rising senior, it’s going to be hard for him to get the touches he wants. Jim Chaney can only use so many guys in the passing game.

The thing is Johnson has proven himself to be a very good receiver at 6’2″ 190 pounds. So what he might want to do, with so many seniors on the roster this year, is take a redshirt. That could allow him to shine in 2019 as a wideout opposite Josh Palmer. He’d have the experience and skills necessary to be one of the starters. So if anybody could benefit from redshirting, he’s the guy.