'Those are guys that I don’t have to ask them to come back in the building' – Vols coach drops positive update on key true freshmen
The Tennessee Vols' wide receiver room is thin on experience entering the 2025 season, which means there will be plenty of opportunities for a couple of young players on UT's roster. Sophomore Mike Matthews and redshirt freshman Braylon Staley, along with returning starter Chris Brazzell, are expected to be the focal point of the passing […]
The Tennessee Vols' wide receiver room is thin on experience entering the 2025 season, which means there will be plenty of opportunities for a couple of young players on UT's roster.
Sophomore Mike Matthews and redshirt freshman Braylon Staley, along with returning starter Chris Brazzell, are expected to be the focal point of the passing game for the Vols in 2025.
True freshmen wide receivers Travis Smith and Radarious Jackson, however, are also expected to receive significant reps this fall.
On Wednesday, Tennessee wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope was asked what he's seen from Smith and Jackson during spring practice.
And the fourth year Vols wide receivers coach had plenty of encouraging things to say — specifically pointing out that Smith and Jackson are often putting in extra time in the facility.
“The first thing that stands out is those guys want to be good," said Pope. "Those guys, even when they don’t always do things right on the field, they’re back in the building trying to correct things before we get to meetings. They’re constantly with our GA (graduate assistants) and our QC (quality control) asking questions on their own. Those are guys that I don’t have to ask them to come back in the building. They’re in the building on their own. I think that’s an important quality. Because even when I need to get better, typically kids like that, they’ll find a way to develop. You can develop them because it’s important to them and they show that by being in the building and wanting to correct things every single day.
"So those are two freshmen that I think are very headstrong, because even when they have tough days, they keep the same approach. They’re not letting their emotions and feelings and ego get in the way of them getting better and developing. So when I think about those two guys, that’s the first thing that stands out. And they’re pushing each other — which is always good.”
Smith and Jackson are both dynamic talents who have a chance to be elite players in the SEC. And it's clear that they're both putting in the work so that they can contribute to Tennessee's success as a soon as possible.
Fortunately for both players, they should get a chance to shine this fall thanks to Tennessee's light depth at wide receiver.
