‘Built like DeSean Jackson’ – ESPN says Tennessee needs to find a way to get true freshman addition on the field early in 2026
The Tennessee Vols have one of the most talented wide receiver rooms in the nation.
The Tennessee Vols have an extremely talented wide receiver room heading into the 2026 season.
The Vols return two of the SEC’s top wide receivers from last season — Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley — to pair with a trio of second-year receivers who are ready to step into a bigger role: Joakim Dodson, Travis Smith, and Radarious Jackson.
Tennessee also signed a couple of elite wide receivers in Tristen Keys and Tyreek King.
Keys, a former five-star recruit, received most of the headlines during the recruiting process, but it’s King that ESPN believes Tennessee needs to get on the field early.
ESPN compares Tyreek King to former NFL wide receiver DeSean Jackson
ESPN’s Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill compared King, a former four-star recruit from Knoxville, to three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson, a speedster that finished his NFL career with over 11,000 receiving yards.
They suggested that Tennessee needs King’s speed on the field “early” on offense and in the return game.
“One of the fastest players in the 2026 class, King should spark Tennessee as a slot, deep threat and return specialist,” noted Hauber and Luginbill. “He has posted a 4.39 laser-timed 40 and a 21.5 mph max speed, numbers that match what the Vols have leaned on to stress defenses horizontally and vertically. King complements Tristen Keys but is a different type of weapon — built like DeSean Jackson: lean, agile and elite in a straight line.
“In Heupel’s up-tempo, spread passing game, where the ball is often snapped before defenses can adjust, King can take the top off the defense on choice routes and slot fades. He must get bigger and stronger to handle SEC traffic over the middle, but Tennessee needs his speed on the field early on offense and in the return game.”
Matthews and Staley are locked in as the Vols’ top two wide receivers. It’ll be interesting to see how the rotation shakes out from there. Jackson may have the inside track to being the No. 3 wide receiver based on the reps he received as a true freshman. Smith, however, is a big red zone target who could certainly factor in as well. And then we can’t forget about Keys, who has the talent to contribute as a true freshman.
The Vols certainly aren’t lacking for options at the wide receiver position.
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