All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Top 10 breakout Vols from 2021 season

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 2, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Bowling Green Falcons during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Bowling Green Falcons during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 10
Next
Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) points to a South Carolina defender as he runs downfield in the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, October 9, 2021.Utvsc1007
Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) points to a South Carolina defender as he runs downfield in the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, October 9, 2021.Utvsc1007 /

Pick Analysis. Wide receiver. Redshirt senior. Velus Jones Jr.. 839. Scouting Report. 6. player

6’0″ 200 pounds

Yes, there are a couple of players who actually started at times last year but still made the list this year. Matthew Butler was another guy like this, but Butler started every game in 2020 while Velus Jones Jr. only started late in the season, and while he more than doubled his sacks and tackles for a loss, butler’s total tackles only went up from 43 to 47.

Simply put, Butler’s greatness wasn’t really a breakout season. The same holds true for two receiving tight ends on Tennessee football’s offense. Princeton Fant, went from 103 to 220 yards and had one touchdown, just like last year. Jacob Warren took a bigger leap, going from 73 to 179 yards and one to three touchdowns, but again, it wasn’t anything too special.

Jones, though, went from showing flashes to being the best speedy receiver in the SEC. His offensive production went up from 280 to 807 yards, his catches went from 22 to 62, and his touchdowns went from three to seven.

On special teams, Jones went from 22.1 yards per kickoff return to 27.3 yards, and he became the punt returner, averaging 15.1 yards per return there. Oh, and he ran a kickoff back for a touchdown. As a result, he was a star specialist in numerous ways, and that puts him on the list.

Home/Vols Football