Comment from NFL WRs coach shows why playing in Tennessee Vols' offense is a positive
If there's one way that opposing programs are negatively recruiting against the Tennessee Vols, it's by criticizing Josh Heupel's scheme as an offense that will hurt a recruit's chances of being drafted by an NFL franchise. The idea is that Heupel's offense doesn't fully prepare players for the NFL. It's a narrative that's mostly been […]
If there's one way that opposing programs are negatively recruiting against the Tennessee Vols, it's by criticizing Josh Heupel's scheme as an offense that will hurt a recruit's chances of being drafted by an NFL franchise.
The idea is that Heupel's offense doesn't fully prepare players for the NFL. It's a narrative that's mostly been pushed by writers/analysts, making it easy for opposing coaches to use it as a weapon on the recruiting trail.
Draft analysts also use the narrative to explain why certain players — such as former Vols wide receiver Jalin Hyatt — might not thrive in the NFL.
Hyatt faced a significant amount of criticism during the draft process because he played in Heupel's system for two seasons. Analysts seemed to think Hyatt, who was selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, was incapable of running routes because of what he was asked to do in Tennessee's offense (reading the defender's leverage and running his route based on what the defender was showing).
NFL coaches, however, seem to appreciate that Hyatt had to often improvise on the fly during his time at Tennessee.
Giants wide receivers coach Mike Groh explained earlier this offseason that Hyatt's ability to "think on his feet" is something the team loves about the former Vol.
“We’re not surprised with his skill set as a route-runner,” said Groh earlier this summer while discussing Hyatt. "He’s instinctive. He can really think on his feet. He really does make good decisions in the passing game, down the field when the picture is changing on him, and not every guy can do that.”
Groh went on to explain that wide receivers in the NFL need to be able to adapt quickly during a play when the defense does something that the offense isn't expecting.
“Whatever the defense does this, what’s the adjustment that I gotta make?" said Groh. "You know, there’s a process to that that you can’t really force-feed it. You only get so much time out here on the field and in meetings.”
There's no college offense that's going to fully prepare players for the NFL — there's always going to be an adjustment period. But Heupel's offense prepares players — specifically wide receivers — for the NFL better than the certain folks in the media would lead you to believe.
The comments from Groh should erase any concerns that top recruits have about playing in Tennessee's up-tempo offense.
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Featured image via Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
