Tennessee Football is gearing up for the 2023 football season, and all eyes are on their fire-powered wide receivers.
As the 2023 college football season approaches, fans are already speculating about which team will have the strongest wide receiver room in the SEC. Tennessee Football is expected to make waves in the SEC this year, but they’ll have to do it without their two top wide receivers, Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman, who were both drafted into the NFL.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the SEC’s top wide receiver rooms for 2023 and see how Tennessee Football stacks up.
My Top 5 – 2023 SEC Wide Reciever Power Rankings
No. 5 – Alabama Crimson Tide:
- WR1: Ja’Corey Brooks (674 yards, 8 TDs)
- WR2: Jermaine Burton (677 yards, 7 TDs)
- WR3: Malik Benson (5-star transfer)
Ja’Corey Brooks had a strong 2022 season for the Crimson Tide, with 674 yards and 8 touchdowns. He was a reliable target for Bryce Young, and his ability to make contested catches helped move the chains. His size and athleticism made him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, and he was a key contributor to Alabama’s success. Jermaine Burton also had a solid 2022 season for Alabama, with 677 yards and 7 touchdowns. He was a consistent performer and made several clutch catches in key moments. His speed and route-running ability helped him get open. Malik Benson is a 5-star transfer who has yet to play a game for Alabama. However, his high school stats and recruiting ranking suggest that he has the potential to be a star player. He has the size, speed, and athleticism to excel at the college level, and he could be an impact player from day one.
No. 4 – Texas A&M Aggies:
- WR1: Ainas Smith (291 yards, 2 TDs, Suffered a season-ending injury last year)
- WR2: Evan Stewart (649 yards, 2 TDs)
- WR3: Moose Muhammad (610 yards, 4 TDs)
Ainas Smith had a shortened 2022 season for the Texas A&M Aggies due to a season-ending injury, but he still managed to put up 291 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was a dynamic playmaker when healthy, with the speed and agility to make defenders miss in the open field. He was a valuable part of the offense and his contributions were missed after his injury. Evan Stewart had a strong 2022 season for the Texas A&M Aggies, with 649 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was a deep threat who could stretch the field and make big plays. His speed and athleticism made him a tough matchup for opposing defenses, and his contributions helped win games. Moose Muhammad also had a solid 2022 season for the Texas A&M Aggies, with 610 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was a consistent performer who could make tough catches in traffic.
No. 3 – Georgia Bulldogs:
- WR1: Dominic Lovett (846 yards, 3 TDs)
- WR2: Ladd McConkey (762 yards, 7 TDs)
- WR3: Rara Thomas (626 yards, 7 TDs)
The Bulldogs have a talented receiving corps led by Dominic Lovett, who had an impressive 846 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2022. Lovett is a speedy and tough receiver who can make big plays happen. Ladd McConkey also had a strong season with 762 yards and 7 touchdowns. McConkey is a reliable receiver with good route-running ability. Rara Thomas had a solid year as well, with 626 yards and 7 touchdowns. Thomas is a big-play threat and can make defenders miss in the open field. He has good hands and is a reliable target.
No. 2 – LSU Tigers:
- WR1: Malik Nabers (1,017 yards, 3 TDs)
- WR2: Brian Thomas (361 yards, 5 TDs)
- WR3: Kyren Lacy (freshman transfer)
The Tigers have a talented group of receivers, led by Malik Nabers, who had a breakout season with 1,017 yards and 3 touchdowns. Nabers is a speedy receiver who can make big plays happen. He has great athleticism and is a tough matchup for opposing defenses. Brian Thomas had a solid year as well, with 361 yards and 5 touchdowns. Thomas is a reliable receiver with good hands. He has good route-running ability and can make tough catches in traffic. Kyren Lacy is a freshman transfer from Alabama and is expected to contribute right away. Lacy is a big, physical receiver who can win jump balls and make tough catches in traffic. The Tigers have a lot of talent at the receiver position and their passing game should be a strength this season.
No. 1 – Tennessee Volunteers:
- WR1: Bru McCoy (667 yards, 4 TDs)
- WR2: Squirrel White (481 yards, 2 TDs)
- WR3: Dont’e Thornton (366 yards, 1 TDs)
The 6’3 Junior transfer from USC, Bru McCoy, will return to the Volunteers for his senior year as the likely WR1. Bru had 52 receptions, 667 yards, and four touchdowns last season for the Volunteers. His role will continue to grow as he enters a second year under head coach Josh Heupel and the Tennessee offense. Next, we move on to the WR2 spot. Last year for the Vols, when Jalin Hyatt declared for the draft and opted out of the Orange Bowl, the freshman Squirrel White made a name for himself; he tallied up nine receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown. It looked like Squirrel White and Joe Milton had been playing together for years. That’s enough to secure him at the No. 2 spot. I see the rising sophomore becoming a significant role for this Tennessee offense. Furthermore, According to 247 Sports, the rising sophomore wide receiver is listed as a “potential rising superstar.” There is nothing but good things coming from Squirrel, and I am excited to see him play to his full potential. Finally, we get to the transfer WR from Oregon Dont’e Thornton. Dont’e will be coming to the Vols next year as a 6’5, 200-pound Junior. As a Sophomore this past season, Dont’e had a good season with 17 receptions, 366 yards, and 1 touchdown. He will be an excellent addition to the Volunteer wide receiver room. Dont’e is an incredible deep threat, and if we have learned one thing from Joe Milton, it’s that he can certainly throw the ball far. Dont’e was a 4-star in the class of 2021 and ranked 57th nationally. He is, by far, one of the most talented players in the portal.
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