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Tennessee football: Five surprises from Vols’ first depth chart of 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee Herd Coach Josh Heupel at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Kns Tennessee Purdue
Tennessee Herd Coach Josh Heupel at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Kns Tennessee Purdue /
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Tennessee’s Bru McCoy (15)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’s Bru McCoy (15)during the first day of Tennessee football practice at Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022.Kns Tennessee Football Practice /

3. Walker Merrill or Bru McCoy to start opposite Cedric Tillman at wide receiver

This was possible, but it wasn’t confirmed. Tennessee football first needed USC Trojans transfer Bru McCoy to be eligible, and he was given that by the NCAA over the weekend. Anyway, McCoy and Walker Merrill competing for the other wideout role is shocking because of who was relegated behind them as a result.

Ramel Keyton, who practiced with the first team to begin fall camp, is firmly a second-teamer behind Cedric Tillman. It seemed as if all three were going to compete in the other spot, as Josh Heupel said he wanted to go deeper at receiver this year, and we know Tillman’s role will stay the same no matter what.

Jalin Hyatt winning the slot position is another move that was to be expected, as he was the favorite all fall camp, but this battle at the other wideout spot is a surprise. What stands out the most is that it involves players with two very different profiles if you look at their size.

Walker Merrill is more the profile of JaVonta Payton, who left the void at that wideout spot to begin with. He stands at 6’1″ 195 pounds and could play in the slot if needed. McCoy, meanwhile, is 6’3″ 220 pounds, even slightly bigger than Tillman. Those two having that side on lock is definitely going to be interesting.

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