Most national college football analysts shared many of the same concerns about the Tennessee Vols ahead of the 2025 season (quarterback play, offensive line, wide receivers, defensive line depth).

The most common concern surrounding Tennessee centered on the wide receiver position.

Tennessee lost several wide receivers to the portal, and Dont’e Thrornton — the Vols’ leading wide receiver from last season — was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft.

UT entered the season with a talented, albeit inexperienced, group of wide receivers.

So far this season, Tennessee’s starting wide receivers — Chris Brazzell, Mike Matthews, and Braylon Staley — had performed at an elite level.

Through the first five games of the season, Brazzell leads the Volunteers with 531 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Matthews has 370 receiving yards and two touchdowns, and Staley has 322 yards and two touchdowns.

Not bad for a group of players that was doubted all offseason.

On3’s Ari Wasserman admits he was wrong about Tennessee’s wide receivers

On3’s Ari Wasserman took a moment this week during Andy and Ari to point out that he was wrong about Tennessee’s wide receivers coming into the season.

“Our number one Tennessee talking point in the offseason — you want to talk about things that we were wrong about — was their question mark at receiver,” said Wasserman. “It’s working out great (for the Vols at wide receiver). They’ve got two guys that are producing at a pretty high level.

“Obviously, Mike Matthews was somebody that we were really going to watch. He has 22 receptions for 370 yards, two touchdowns, and is averaging 16.8 yards per reception. And then Brazzell, of course, it goes without saying. They have two legitimate studs at receiver that are getting open downfield, and a quarterback delivering them the ball — which wasn’t happening a year ago.”

Credit to Wasserman for going back (unprompted I might add) and revisiting his take on Tennessee’s wide receivers. Then again, it’s not like there’s anything harmful about Wasserman being “wrong” about UT’s wide receivers — no one ever bats 1.000 when it comes to preseason college football takes. This sport consistently keeps everyone on their toes.

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Zach Ragan