Tennessee football: Top 15 dark-horse Vols for 2022
Wide receiver. 7. Pick Analysis. Sophomore. Walker Merrill. player. 839. Scouting Report
6’1″ 195 pounds
We keep sticking with highly touted recruits in Tennessee football’s 2021 recruiting class. However, Walker Merrill is competing to fill a void in which he is the only player who has the exact same profile of the player who left that void. Although he’s not a favorite to start, that probably makes him the top dark-horse receiver in the system this year.
Merrill’s size makes him a guy who could move between the slot and the No. 2 wideout spot. That’s exactly what JaVonta Payton was last year, and Payton ended up occupying the No. 2 wideout position opposite Cedric Tillman. He also became the most productive receiver per touch in the process, so Josh Heupel may want to repeat that formula.
Last year, Merrill had five catches, just like Jimmy Calloway, although he only gained 52 yards in the process. Still, he was in on just as many plays. All of this makes him more than just a dark-horse guy. He’s got as legitimate a shot at starting as anybody competing.
Now, there’s one curveball here. New wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope is a lot more seasoned coaching true wideouts, which favors Ramel Keyton and USC Trojans transfer Bru McCoy to start opposite Tillman. That’s why Keyton was listed as a breakout Vol. However, Merrill could still bring a lot to Tennessee football this year.