Tennessee football: Five key 2019 Vols who were three-stars or lower

Just like Shawn Shamburger, Josh Palmer was a three-star recruit to Butch Jones’s 2017 class. And he was another guy who wasn’t in the top 60 at his position or coming out of his state, which was Florida at the time. However, Palmer initially came from Canada, so the potential was there for the 6’2″ 190 pound prospect at the time. He was just raw.

Now, though, he has emerged into an explosive wideout. In 2018, Palmer, already having to adjust to the game, had to switch from the spread to the pro-style. However, he still managed 23 catches for 484 yards and two touchdowns, and he also had five rushes for 27 yards and a touchdown. Then he became Tennessee football’s most improved offensive player in the spring.

So now the Vols have an elite weapon who, despite his size and frame, may start in the slot to complement Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings on the outside. Jim Chaney has shown a desire to go big in the past.

And speaking of Chaney, despite another change at offensive coordinator, Palmer could be even more explosive be cause he at least is staying in the same system, the pro-style, for two years in a row. Taking all of this into account, there is plenty of reason to believe this three-star could play like a five-star this year.