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Tennessee football: Top 10 position battles in Vols 2019 fall camp

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: Deandre Johnson #13 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts after forcing a fumble during the second half of the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: Deandre Johnson #13 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts after forcing a fumble during the second half of the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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10. Slot receiver

Candidates:

Josh Palmer; Jordan Murphy; Tyler Byrd; Brandon Johnson

Tennessee football appears set at the wideout position. Jauan Jennings is the most proven playmaker the Vols have, and Marquez Callaway is the best athlete at receiver with solid size to go with it at 6’2″ and 204 pounds.

However, slot receiver is a bit open. Now, in the spring, Josh Palmer emerged as the top guy. Sure, he’s more of a wideout at 6’2″ and 195 pounds. But he was second on the team in receiving last year with 23 receptions for 484 yards along with two touchdowns. Then he was named the most improved player in the spring.

As a result, Palmer seems like the guy to beat, and Jim Chaney has shown in the past he’s willing to use a wideout in the slot and go for the size advantage as opposed to the speed advantage. Palmer, who just needed time to develop in the pro-style after coming from Canada and spending a year in the spread, has deadly potential.

Still, a speedy slot guy is always helpful. And Jordan Murphy and Tyler Byrd could both compete for that. Tee Martin praised Murphy specifically, and Murphy did show speed on trick plays along with receiving yards last year.

Byrd has and ton of potential and has been with the program for a while. He and Brandon Johnson are both looking to make a splash of a senior season. Johnson is also more of a wideout, but again, he did lead the team in receiving in 2017. So he has some promise.

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