Tennessee football: Top 10 impact players for Vols 2019 season
![KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers takes a hand off from Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers takes a hand off from Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/c7534d1aeea7f21c9397e609ee8c63d9af9c83ff9a5b4fe3756ff2f8c9293952.jpg)
One of the ultimate gamers for Tennessee football, Jauan Jennings figures to be the go-to receiver in a very deep unit. After missing almost all of 2017, being dismissed from the team by the previous staff, coming back but being hurt in the spring and taking time to get back to himself, Jennings entered 2018 rusty.
As a result, he only had 30 receptions for 438 yards. But he got better as the season went on, and he had three touchdowns with those receptions. In typical Jennings fashion, one of them was the score to give the Vols the lead for good in their upset victory over the Auburn Tigers.
That’s similar to what he did in 2016, when his catches were all for big plays, including the go-ahead score over the Florida Gators and the Hail Mary to beat the Georgia Bulldogs. He has a knack for making his catches count in the biggest ways. Jeremy Pruitt clearly was willing to use Jennings more as he got better.
This year, he should enter fully healthy and in rhythm. And Jim Chaney is the type of guy who loves to utilize weapons like him. At 6’3′ 208 pounds, Jennings uses his size and positioning more than even his speed or athleticism to beat out opponents. He is also a vocal leader of the team, so he should be the top receiver on offense all season long.