Tennessee Vols have an impressive streak going that should help in recruiting
It wasn't that long ago that the Tennessee Vols were known as "wide receiver U". Tennessee is trying to regain that moniker under Josh Heupel after seeing it slip away over the last decade (LSU might be the program that claims it for now with Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase tearing up the NFL). While […]
It wasn't that long ago that the Tennessee Vols were known as "wide receiver U".
Tennessee is trying to regain that moniker under Josh Heupel after seeing it slip away over the last decade (LSU might be the program that claims it for now with Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase tearing up the NFL).
While the Vols have some work to do to bring WRU back to Rocky Top, there's at least a sign that the program is moving toward regaining the title.
On Friday, Vols wide receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman were selected with back-to-back picks in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Hyatt was selected No. 73 overall by the New York Giants while Tillman went to the Cleveland Browns with the No. 74 overall pick.
With Hyatt and Tillman officially off to the NFL, it means Tennessee's had a wide receiver selected in four straight drafts.
That's the longest active streak by an SEC program.
Here are the UT wide receivers that have been drafted over the last five seasons.
- 2023: Jalin Hyatt (Giants), Cedric Tillman (Browns)
- 2022: Velus Jones Jr (Bears)
- 2021: Josh Palmer (Chargers)
- 2020: Jauan Jennings (49ers)
Tennessee should have a good shot at having a wide receiver drafted in 2024, too. Bru McCoy, Ramel Keyton, and Dont'e Thornton could all be potential draft picks next spring.
The Vols are back to consistently getting players to the NFL and that's something that always plays well on the recruiting trail. Tennessee will need a player like Jefferson or Chase to step up to truly have a chance to bring WRU back to Rocky Top. But if they keep producing wide receivers at this rate, it won't be long before a Tennessee wide receiver is viewed as a superstar in the NFL.
And who knows, that might be Hyatt or Tillman in the not-so-distant future.
