Tennessee football adds Mississippi St. transfer WR JaVonta Payton

Josh Heupel keeps adding talent from the transfer portal. On Wednesday, he added another weapon at a key position for Tennessee football that has lots of talent but is wide open for somebody to rise to the top.

JaVonta Payton, a wide receiver from the Mississippi State Bulldogs, is now joining the Vols. Payton, who stands at 6’1″ 180 pounds, committed to MSU out of junior college in 2019. He initially committed to the Ole Miss Rebels out of Hillsboro High School in Nashville, Tenn. but ultimately went to Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Miss.

Over the last two years with Mississippi State, Payton has caught 28 passes for 372 yards and a touchdown while returning 10 kickoffs for 203 yards. Last year alone, he 19 catches for 225 yards and a touchdown to go along with six kickoff returns for 121 yards. He announced his decision to join Tennessee football on Twitter.

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With Josh Palmer gone and Brandon Johnson having transferred to the UCF Knights, the Vols certainly could use a bit more proven depth at receiver. Of everybody coming back, only Velus Jones Jr. and Jalin Hyatt had more receiving yards than Payton last year.

Obviously, even in Heupel’s new up-tempo system, Payton won’t be in as pass-heavy of an offense as he was with Mike Leach in Starkville last year. However, it could be balanced the way it was when he played for Joe Moorhead in 2019.

SEC experience is a huge benefit for Payton going to Rocky Top, and moving over to the SEC East could give him a chance to shine. Don’t sleep on his potential to become the No. 2 or even No. 1 receiver at some point this year.

Although the unit is wide open for a go-to guy, there is plenty of talent, including Hyatt and Jones. Ramel Keyton, Malachi Wideman, Cedric Tillman, Jimmy Calloway and Jimmy Holiday are all among the returning talent that could rise to the top. Early enrollees Walker Merrill and Andison Coby along with signee Julian Nixon could all also help with that.

Adding Payton gives the Vols another option for a go-to target. Payton is Tennessee football’s sixth transfer pickup, following linebacker Juwan Mitchell from the Texas Longhorns, quarterback Joe Milton from the Michigan Wolverines, quarterback Hendon Hooker from the Virginia Tech Hokies and kicker Chase McGrath and defensive lineman Caleb Tremblay from the USC Trojans.