Tennessee football Smokey points: Top five Vols in 24-20 Missouri win

All season long, Tennessee football has needed a third receiver to step up. Josh Palmer was always supposed to be that receiver. Well, in recent weeks, he has been just that, catching the go-ahead touchdown to beat the Kentucky Wildcats and then coming through in a huge way for the Vols at the Missouri Tigers.

Palmer led all the receivers with six catches for 124 yards. He didn’t have a touchdown, but he was a consistent playmaker and go-to weapon for Jarrett Guarantano. He was the guy who caught two passes for 44 yards on the Vols’ late drive in the first half to set up a field goal, the only one they were able to convert in the game.

Then he continued to come through in the second half. Most notably, Palmer had the catch for the first third down conversion on the Vols’ final drive to secure the victory. It was a 3rd and 9, and they didn’t want to give the ball back to the Missouri Tigers. So Palmer caught the ball and got just enough to secure the first down.

Since he’s likely to be back next year, Palmer provides Vol fans with lots of hope for their passing game when their two key wideouts leave. This guy has clearly shown he can be a No. 1 option, and he has begun to prove that in a big way over the past few weeks.