Over the last few weeks, numerous Tennessee Vols fans on social media have suggested that UT head coach Josh Heupel should replace wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope this offseason. 

That's despite the fact that Alabama and Georgia attempted to swipe Pope from the Vols a year ago (that alone should be a huge endorsement for Pope). 

The biggest reason why Vols fans want Pope gone seems to be the fact that Tennessee hasn't had a 1,000 yard receiver since 2022 when Jalin Hyatt totaled 1,267 yards on his way to winning the Biletnikoff Award. 

2022 was Pope's first season as Tennessee's wide receivers coach. 

(Senior Dont'e Thornton led the Vols in receiving in 2024 with 661 yards.)

Another reason why Tennessee fans were unhappy with Pope is because true freshman wide receiver Mike Matthews, a former five-star recruit, requested transfer portal papers last weekend before the portal closed. 

On Friday, news broke that Matthews is staying at Tennessee for the 2025 season. 

With Matthews set to return, it's a no brainer that Heupel should keep Pope on staff for the 2025 season (for what it's worth, there's no indication that Heupel was seriously considering replacing Pope). 

Pope has done an excellent job on the recruiting trail. He landed Matthews over Georgia a year ago and he landed four-star wide receiver Braylon Staley out of South Carolina's backyard. Plus the Vols recently signed 2025 four-star wide receiver Travis Smith over the Bulldogs. Pope is undoubtedly doing his job as a recruiter. 

When it comes to on-field performance, there's certainly plenty of room for improvement. The Vols' receivers were good in 2024, but there were a lot of little details that prevented that group from putting up big numbers. There were times that receivers didn't get enough separation, there were some drops, there were missed throws, and there was poor protection by the offensive line (at times) that prevented quarterback Nico Iamaleava from being able to make throws down the field. All of those things combined for a frustrating year on offense for Tennessee. 

Coaching is part of that, but some of it falls on the players, too. Everyone has to take responsibility when production isn't meeting the standard. 

Firing Pope would force a reset in the wide receiver room. And despite the perception from a section of the fan base, the wide receiver room is in a good place. The Vols retained their most talented receivers during the winter transfer window. And they're in the mix for a couple of big fish (Alabama transfer wide receiver Amari Jefferson and USC transfer wide receiver Zachariah Branch). 

Additionally, the Vols are viewed as one of the teams to beat for 2026 wide receiver Tristen Keys (a player that could end up being the No. 1 wide receiver in the 2026 class when it's all said and done). 

Replacing Pope could lead to that room going in the wrong direction. And it could destroy Tennessee's chances of landing Keys. 

Just because the Vols didn't put up crazy numbers in the passing game last season doesn't mean Pope should be handed a pink slip. In fact, that could be a disastrous decision for Tennessee. 

Heupel needs to stay the course with Pope. There's nothing wrong with fans demanding better from Tennessee's wide receivers, but firing the guy who has had the most success recruiting wide receivers to Rocky Top in the last 15-20 years would be a massive mistake. 

Fortunately for the Vols, it doesn't appear that Heupel is seriously considering moving on from Pope. 

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Would be a big loss for the Vols