Tennessee football: Cedric Tillman makes another preseason All-American team
Over three weeks after it was revealed that he was named a third-team All-American for 2022 by Phil Steele, Tennessee football wide receiver Cedric Tillman earned preseason All-American recognition from another outlet. Once again, he was third-team.
Steve Lassan of Athlon Sports named Tillman a preseason All-American on his list, revealed Monday. There were four teams overall, and Tillman was the only player from Rocky Top to make any of the teams, just like he was on Steele’s lists.
Last year, in a breakout season as Tennessee football’s go-to receiver, Tillman caught caught 64 passes for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns. The latter two numbers were fourth and tied for second in UT single-season history.
Given those facts, while there’s a ton of hype behind Josh Heupel and Hendon Hooker, as there should be, Tillman is the player most destined to generate national recognition this year. He’s the first 1,000-yard receiver since Kelley Washington to be returning with the same quarterback.
Washington did it in 2002 and played just four games due to injury. As a result, a more accurate comparison for Tillman would actually be Joey Kent returning to be Peyton Manning’s go-to receiver in 1996 after a 1,000-yard season in 1995.
One huge feather in Tillman’s cap, though, that could make him have an even greater season is the turnover at receiver for the Vols. Velus Jones Jr., their No. 1 slot receiver, and JaVonta Payton, the No. 2 wideout opposite Tillman, are both gone.
As a result, out of necessity, Tillman could end up seeing lots more targets this year. There’s also the factor that he’s expected to play the whole season with Hooker, who didn’t become a starter until Week 3 last year.
Next. 10 records Vols will break in 2022. dark
Taking all this into account, it’s easy to see Tillman possibly breaking every Tennessee football receiving record out there this year, at least from a single season perspective. Kent is so far ahead in yards that he likely won’t break that one, but he can break lots of others.