We now get to the critical guys on the list. After four years, three of which he was a major go-to option, Marquez Callaway has left for the pros. Tennessee football will have a very hard time replacing Callaway, as he wasn’t just the No. 2 wideout. He was also the punt returner, and he had a punt return for a touchdown three times in his career.
Simply put, the guy makes things happen with the ball in his hands. He did lead the team in receiving in 2018, and last year, as the No. 2 guy, he still had 30 receptions for 636 yards and six touchdowns. Also, he was a guy who came through in critical moments, as four of his seven total touchdowns last year resulted in lead changes.
Another one of Callaway’s touchdowns was against the Kentucky Wildcats to cut UK’s lead down to 13-10, and that was critical in the Vols winning the game 17-13. Then there’s his touchdown to put UT up by two scores against the South Carolina Gamecocks, which he caught from third-string quarterback JT Shrout.
Callaway was just a baller, and it’s going to be very hard for the Vols to continue their passing game without him. Now, as the No. 2 guy and with players like Josh Palmer still on the roster along with Eric Gray to replace him on special teams, Callaway is still not the toughest guy to replace. But he was critical.