‘I don’t know if that’s exactly true’ – NFL Draft analyst has some strong thoughts on Vols WR Chris Brazzell’s combine performance
Former Tennessee Vols wide receiver Chris Brazzell put up an impressive time in the 40 at the NFL scouting combine.
Tennessee Vols wide receiver Chris Brazzell II didn’t participate in all of the on-field workouts at the NFL scouting combine this week in Indianapolis, but he did enough to help improve his draft stock.
Brazzell, who is expected to be drafted on day one or day two, ran a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash — an elite time for a wide receiver that’s 6-foot-4/198 pounds with an 80 1/8 inch wingspan (the biggest among wide receivers that were measured at the combine).
The Texas native declared for the 2026 NFL Draft after catching 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns as a redshirt junior in 2025.
NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay shares thoughts on Chris Brazzell
Longtime NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay shared some thoughts on Brazzell’s combine performance, as well as the criticism of Tennessee’s offense under Josh Heupel, on The Todd McShay Show.
“Chris Brazzell didn’t do a ton of stuff,” said McShay. “But the Tennessee wide receiver, who I just love the way he operates — I love how he gets in and out of his breaks. You saw that Georgia game [how] he single handedly took over. People in the league are afraid of Tennessee wide receivers, so everyone in the media will tell you. I don’t know if that’s exactly true, but I do think there’s some things there with the wide splits and some of the route concepts that they do, and then the track record of some guys who have gone early from Tennessee, that makes it a little concerning.
“But I see in him 6-foot-4/198 pounds, a long but lean frame. He didn’t do the vertical, the broad, and any of those other things. But what he did do, he absolutely nailed with a 4.37 40 yard dash. I want you to think about the difference in speed when we talk about a Malachi Fields at 4.61, or even a Carnell Tate at 4.54. And we talk about those numbers in the 10 yard split that are in the 1.6 range — [Brazzell] had a 10 yard split of 1.52, which is elite for his length.”
There’s a real chance that Brazzell could work himself into being a first round pick — especially if teams are comfortable with his route running.
The Vols ran more pro style routes last season, which should help Brazzell’s case.
“This last year was a completely different offense than what y’all think Tennessee’s offense is,” said Brazzell this week. “2024 and 2025 were almost two different offenses with Nico (Iamaleava) and Joey (Aguilar). So I was really playing in a more regular, traditional offense this last year versus any other year at Tennessee.”
Former Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar made similar comments about the Vols’ offense at the combine this week.
“Honestly, I think the offense in general, if you go back and watch film, we went a little less option game (in 2025),” said Aguilar. “A lot more pro-style offense [with] pure progression reads and things like that. So, I think the offense that we ran this year was different from the past few years. And I’m excited for this journey and these next steps. And [I’m] prepared [because of] the way they threw me in there, in this offense, and kind of switched it all around.”
Brazzell is the son of former NFL wide receiver Chris Brazzell I.
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