It has been a busy week for Tennessee football. We have had a coach fired, a coach reportedly hired, potential transfer portal entrants, and much more. Some good news for Vols fans is that a rising Tennessee star has won a major SEC Award.
The SEC Freshman of the Year Award has been won by plenty of great players from all different generations of SEC football. Emmitt Smith, Peyton Manning, Darren McFadden, and Brock Bowers have all held up the award.
On Wednesday afternoon, it was announced that Tennessee Freshman wide receiver Braylon Staley has won the SEC Freshman of the Year Award.
Braylon Staley has been named the @SEC Freshman of the Year.
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) December 10, 2025
He's the third Vol in program history to win the award, joining Jamal Lewis (1997) and Peyton Manning (1994).
📰 » https://t.co/KucBR5kktf#GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/ZBxSmOlijP
Brandon Staley wins the SEC Freshman of the Year Award
Staley is the first Vol to win the award since Peyton Manning and just the third to win it in school history. He posted 64 catches for 806 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. Tennessee football found an absolute star when they beat out Clemson and Miami for the South Carolina product last recruiting cycle.
Staley is a big-time athlete who makes plays with the ball after the catch. He's a fast-twitch, explosive receiver, and can line up in the slot or on the outside. Josh Heupel and wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope should be fired up at this development.
What fans should really be excited about is how Staley was just a freshman this year. Tennessee football has at least two more years with Staley running routes for them. Imagine 2027 with 5-star quarterback Faizon Brandon throwing touchdown passes to Staley. Plus, the Vols bring back Mike Mathews, who had a very good 2025, and 5-star Tristen Keys will be on campus next fall. This wide receiver room is scary good.
This Freshman of the Year Award tells us what we already knew. Staley is a stud and is one of the biggest rising stars in the sport. Vols fans have watched Staley tear up defenses all last season, so this really isn't much of a surprise. This might sound bold, but Staley might be a round one pick in a couple of years.
All of this sets the stage for Staley to have an even better 2026 season and potentially become an All-American.