Tennessee football: 10 Vols who should redshirt in 2019

We’re back to receivers. Jerrod Means should take a redshirt to develop. Tyler Byrd should take a redshirt just to have any chance at playing with Tennessee football after a tumultuous, inconsistent four-year career that wasn’t all his fault.

Byrd is going to be behind Josh Palmer, Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings in the depth chart this year. Being buried like that ruins his chances of starting in the slot, where he has always been destined to shine. However, Jeremy Pruitt and Jim Chaney are looking for the size mismatches and big playmakers this year.

As a result, Byrd should take a redshirt. He could then come back as a senior, with Callaway and Jennings gone and Palmer moving to wideout, and claim the slot position. With the little experience he has gained playing, he has proven himself to be a speedy threat and a solid player. A chance to start in a deep rotation is all he needs.

Byrd will be able to gain just that by taking a redshirt this year. Heck, he could take the redshirt this year, and Jordan Murphy could take it next year. That way, both players in 2020 and 2021 respectively would have a chance to start in the slot and be the guy to stretch the field.