Tennessee football receives some positive news on a five-star wide receiver the Vols are pursuing
The Tennessee Vols have been on a recruiting heater the last couple of years when it comes to landing elite wide receivers. That’s in large part because of wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope.
This shouldn’t surprise anyone on Rocky Top, but the Tennessee Vols are in the mix for another five-star wide receiver.
According to On3’s Chad Simmons, Tennessee is one of the current frontrunners for 2028 five-star wide receiver Braylon Clark.
“Ohio State and Tennessee are definitely standing out to me right now,” said Clark to On3. “Both of them are high on my list.”
“Tennessee has been showing me a lot of love,” added Clark of his interest in the Vols. “The energy there, the way they recruit me and how they see me in the offense — I really like that. I’ve built a strong connection with their coaches. That’s big for me.”
Clark, 6-foot-2/188 pounds from Charlotte, NC, is rated in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 3 wide receiver in the nation and the No. 1 player in the state of North Carolina. He’s also rated as the No. 8 overall player in the 2028 recruiting class.
Tennessee has had plenty of success in recent years when it comes to landing elite wide receivers. The Vols signed five-star wide receiver Mike Matthews and high four-star wide receiver Braylon Staley during the 2024 recruiting cycle. Tennessee then added a couple of high four-star wide receivers during the 2025 recruiting cycle in Travis Smith and Radarious Jackson.
The Vols also signed five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys and high four-star wide receiver Tyreek King during the 2026 cycle.
Most of the credit for landing those players belongs to Vols wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope, who has developed into one of the top recruiters in college football.
“The growth of Kelsey Pope as a coach and as a recruiter continues to impress me — just how much he grasps it all,” said VolQuest’s Austin Price earlier this month. “He understands all the nuances that come with recruiting. I think he continues to get better. I think the sky’s the limit for him. I think he is Tennessee’s best recruiter currently. I do think (secondary coach) Anthony Poindexter could give him a run for his money on the defensive side for best recruiter on staff.”
There’s a long way to go in Clark’s recruitment, but it’s no surprise that Tennessee is an early favorite.