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Tennessee football: Five roster observations from start of 2022 fall camp

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel during the first day of Tennessee football practice at Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022.Kns Tennessee Football Practice
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel during the first day of Tennessee football practice at Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022.Kns Tennessee Football Practice /
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Wide Reciever Walker Merrill catches the ball during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee on Saturday, March 26, 2022.Kns Ut Spring Fball 5 0720
Wide Reciever Walker Merrill catches the ball during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee on Saturday, March 26, 2022.Kns Ut Spring Fball 5 0720 /

3. Slot/Wideout receivers are a bit more defined

We weren’t sure of this going in, but with Tennessee football’s open spots at slot and No. 2 wideout opposite Cedric Tillman, it was going to be interesting to see how Josh Heupel and Alex Golesh mixed and matched everybody. Having a new receivers coach in Kelsey Pope was also going to make that intriguing.

Of course, glimpses of this were shown in the spring, but they weren’t clear. Well, it is clear now. Jalin Hyatt and Jimmy Calloway are obviously the two main guys to play in the slot, and that means Hyatt is the favorite there since he has clearly been a favorite to start all season.

At the wideout spot, Ramel Keyton and USC Trojans transfer Bru McCoy are competing to start opposite Tillman. Freshmen Chas Nimrod and Kaleb Webb are also playing there. Speaking of freshmen, Squirrel White is a speedy athlete who can do damage with the ball in his hands at 5’10”, so he’s getting work in at slot as well.

Now, Walker Merrill is the hybrid. He’s got the size most similar to JaVonta Payton, meaning he could play wideout, but he’s also got the frame to line up in the slot, and indeed, he seems to be working in both roles early on in spring ball. Another player who fit that mold leads to our next takeaway as well.

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