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Tennessee football’s 15 safest starting spots on 2022 roster in fall camp

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) during a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Kns Tennessee Florida Football
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) during a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Kns Tennessee Florida Football /
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Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Utvtech0917
Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Utvtech0917 /

Cedric Tillman. Redshirt senior. Pick Analysis. Wide receiver. 2. player. Scouting Report. 839

6’3″ 215 pounds

Theoretically, Cedric Tillman should have competition. This time last year, many would have bet on Ramel Keyton being the go-to wideout for Tennessee football over Tillman. Add in USC Trojans transfer Bru McCoy, two fringe four-star freshmen in Kaleb Webb and Chas Nimrod and Walker Merrill, who could play wideout or slot, and there’s a lot of talent here.

However, it’s not a question as to who the starter is. All of those guys were fringe four-stars or better, while Tillman was a fringe three-star or two-star. Still, he caught 64 passes for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns, for fourth and tied for second respectively all time in a single season by a UT receiver. This is the first time since 2002 that UT has a 1,000-yard receiver back.

Combine that with the departures of Velus Jones Jr. in the slot and JaVonta Payton on the other side, and expectations for Tillman this year are through the roof. By every metric used to guarantee a go-to wideout holding onto his starting spot, Tillman is safe.

That’s good news for the Vols too, as they have tons of questions at receiver with those other two spots open and a new receivers coach in Kelsey Pope. Speaking of receivers, both tight ends, Princeton Fant and Jacob Warren, are safe as rotating tight ends, but since they are by-committee, neither is safe, which is why they didn’t make this list.

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