Vols OC Joey Halzle says forgotten Vols player could be a 'big time playmaker'
The Tennessee Vols are losing two extremely talented wide receivers from their 11-2 2022 squad. Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman, the Vols' most recent wide receivers to total over 1,000 receiving yards in a season, are both heading to the NFL. But despite losing those two elite players, Tennessee still has one of the most […]
The Tennessee Vols are losing two extremely talented wide receivers from their 11-2 2022 squad.
Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman, the Vols' most recent wide receivers to total over 1,000 receiving yards in a season, are both heading to the NFL.
But despite losing those two elite players, Tennessee still has one of the most impressive wide receiver groups in the nation.
Currently, the Vols are expected to go into the 2023 season with Bru McCoy, Squirrel White, and Ramel Keyton as their three starting wide receivers. There's also a strong chance they could add Oregon transfer wide receiver Dont'e Thornton, who is checking out UT this weekend.
Thornton is a 6-foot-5 wide receiver that is a big play waiting to happen.
There's another wide receiver in Knoxville that some folks are forgetting about that could also play a big role for the Vols in 2023.
Chas Nimrod signed with Tennessee during the 2022 recruiting cycle as an under-the-radar three-star recruit from Arkansas.
Nimrod, who appeared in just two games for the Vols this season after battling an injury earlier this fall, was rated as the No. 79 wide receiver in the nation. His only SEC offers were from Arkansas and Tennessee.
Despite not being highly recruited, Nimrod has become a player that UT's coaching staff loves.
"Chas is explosive," said recently promoted Vols offensive coordinator Joey Halzle before the Orange Bowl. "He's explosive, he's long, he tracks the ball really well. Really excited about his future. He's a guy that has a chance to be a big-time playmaker for us."
It's easy to see why Tennessee loves Nimrod so much. He has elite size at 6-foot-3 and he reportedly runs the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds.
That's obviously not Jalin Hyatt-type speed (very few people on this planet run a 40-yard dash in the 4.2 range), but Nimrod is more than fast enough to stretch the field vertically in the SEC (remember, NFL superstar Justin Jefferson ran a 4.44 40-yard dash, so Nimrod is in that range).
It's hard right now to see how Nimrod fits into the Vols' 2023 plans. If Tennessee lands Thornton, he'll likely start alongside Squirrel and either Keyton/McCoy.
One thing to remember, however, is that injuries can happen at any time. That's why having this depth is important. Where would the Vols have been without Keyton this season? He stepped up in a big way when Tillman went down with an ankle injury that caused him to miss a large chunk of the season.
There's also the possibility that Tennessee could rotate wide receivers more this season. The Vols' tempo makes it tough to rotate during drives. And it seems like Heupel really likes going with the same three wide receivers during games for rhythm purposes.
Of course, this is also a coach who is constantly adapting his offense. There will undoubtedly be some new wrinkles in the offense in 2023 and that could mean more four wide receiver sets or rotating more wide receivers.
Either way, it's a good problem for the Vols to have. The coveted "Wide Receiver U" moniker might be on its way back to Rocky Top.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
