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Evaluating Tennessee football’s 2023 class at dead period: WRs

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 13, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Power T on the field before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Power T on the field before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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With a 1,000-yard receiver and a quarterback emerging into a dark-horse Heisman contender after his first year on the job, Josh Heupel may be in the process of restoring the Wide Receiver U title to Tennessee football. Adding an elite collection of commitments in the Vols’ 2022 recruiting class certainly helped with that.

Most of what’s in store for the future at this position for Rocky Top depends on what new receivers coach Kelsey Pope does with the talent. Heupel has brought it in, and he and Alex Golesh have the schemes to make it work. However, you can always add more talent.

Despite the number of bodies on the roster, there isn’t a lot of proven talent. As a result, UT can always add more. Looking at the 2023 recruiting class during the dead period, Rocky Top already has some talent added, but what else could it do? Let’s look at that here in our evaluation of Tennessee football’s recruiting of 2023 receives.

Here’s a look at wide receivers for Josh Heupel and the Tennessee football Volunteers in their 2023 class.

Tennessee wide receiver Grant Frerking (0) and Tennessee defensive lineman Amari McNeill (93) greet loved ones following during a game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.Kns Tennessee Bowling Green Football
Tennessee wide receiver Grant Frerking (0) and Tennessee defensive lineman Amari McNeill (93) greet loved ones following during a game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.Kns Tennessee Bowling Green Football /

WRs on roster who will be out of eligibility 2023

Grant Frerking

The only receiver the Vols 100 percent won’t have next year is a walk-on who has played sparingly over the past four years. Grant Frerking has been with UT since 2017, when he redshirted, and he didn’t see any action in 2018. In 2019 and 2020, he appeared in three games total, but he didn’t make any catches.

Last year, Frerking had one five-yard catch against the Bowling Green Falcons, his first and only of his career. Because of the NCAA’s COVID eligibility ruling, 2020 didn’t count against him, and that’s why he’s back for a final year on the roster now. It’s good news for UT that he’s the only one in his final year of eligibility.

However, that doesn’t mean Frerking is the only player Tennessee football will lose. Cedric Tillman could easily leave for the NFL after this year if he repeats last year’s season, and other players who emerge could do the same thing. Add in likely transfers, and Frerking won’t be the only one who is gone next year.

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