GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Marquez Callaway #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts to a play against the Florida Gators during the second half of their game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Tennessee football 2019 preview by position: Vols WRs
Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images
Starting wideouts
Jauan Jennings
Redshirt senior; 6’3″ 208 lbs; Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Tennessee football’s most proven playmaker, Jauan Jennings has never gotten to break out after becoming the No. 1 player in 2017. he suffered a season-ending injury that year, then was dismissed by the previous coaching staff, and returned only to be held out of spring ball. As a result, he’s coming off a year with only 30 receptions for 438 yards and two touchdowns.
However, Jennings is a loyal Vol and an elite playmaker. He still caught the go-ahead touchdown against the Florida Gators and the game-winning Hail Mar against the Georgia Bulldogs in 2016. And he caught last year’s go-ahead touchdown against the Auburn Tigers. So with a full offseason of being healthy and in a pro-style offense, this is his year to explode.
Marquez Callaway
Senior; 6’4″ 204 lbs; Warner Robins, Ga.
Marquez Callaway is the perfect complement to Jauan Jennings. He is more of an elite player with the ball in his hands and has amazing skills at winning one-on-one matchups. UT’s only Preseason All-SEC player, as a returner, it’s clear that Callaway is one of the best athletes on the Vols.
As UT’s leading receiver last year with 37 receptions for 592 yards and two touchdowns, Callaway also proved himself to be a playmaker by catching that Hail Mary at halftime against the Kentucky Wildcats last year. He is also looking for a season to put it all together, and fully healthy he and Jennings could be a deadly combo.
Slot receiver
Josh Palmer
Junior; 6’2″ 195 lbs; Brampton, Ontario (Canada)
It was surprising for many to see Josh Palmer finish second on the team in receiving last year with 23 receptions for 484 yards and three touchdowns. Coming from Canada, he needed time to learn the system. Well, he has picked things up under Jeremy Pruitt now.
Pruitt and Jim Chaney loved him in the spring, as he became Tennessee football’s most improved offensive player. As a result, they are clearly going to put him on the field too and just go big at receiver. That worked for Chaney his last time on Rocky Top, so he can do it again.
