One Tennessee Vols player deserves a lot more respect than he's received this season
There's one Tennessee Vols player who has flown under the radar this season that deserves a lot more respect/appreciation than he's received. Where would the Vols be without senior wide receiver Ramel Keyton? When star wide receiver Cedric Tillman was injured during the Akron game, there was concern that Tennessee's offense would struggle without him. […]
There's one Tennessee Vols player who has flown under the radar this season that deserves a lot more respect/appreciation than he's received.
Where would the Vols be without senior wide receiver Ramel Keyton?
When star wide receiver Cedric Tillman was injured during the Akron game, there was concern that Tennessee's offense would struggle without him.
Tillman, after all, entered the 2022 season as the SEC's leading returning receiver. While Jalin Hyatt received all the hype this season (deservedly so), it was Tillman that entered the season as a threat to win the Biletnikoff Award (which Hyatt ended up winning).
With Tillman sidelined, Keyton was pushed into a starting role and he rose to the occasion.
In fact, I think it's fair to say that Tennessee's offense didn't skip a beat with Keyton in the lineup.
And that doesn't come as a surprise to his teammates.
Redshirt senior tight end Jacob Warren, a Knoxville native, recently appeared on "Off the Hook Sports" and he spoke about Keyton.
Warren told host Dave Hooker that Keyton is possibly the quietest player on the team, but also one of the Vols' hardest workers.
"I don't even know that much about Ramel," said Warren when asked about Keyton. "I do know this — he's probably the quietest person in the building."
"A story today, when we work out, we do Vols jumping jacks. You do a jumping jack and you yell 'V-O-L-S, Vols' and then we all break it down. And everybody made him do it today, for some reason I don't know, but everyone made him do it today. And of course, he was real shy about it, real nervous. And then he opens up and starts yelling and everybody's all excited. Because we've never heard the guy yell before."
"He's kind of that guy, he's that guy that's super quiet," added Warren. "But also, he's always the last one in the building. Getting extra jugs, catching more balls, or working on the top of his routes."
"Truly one of the harder working guys and also probably the quietest guy in our building."
Keyton made some big-time catches this season in crucial moments. The diving catch against Florida, for example, set up a Princeton Fant touchdown run that gave the Vols the lead just before halftime.
The Georgia native also made a massive catch against Alabama on the game's final drive that helped set up Chase McGrath's game-winning 40-yard field goal.
Keyton quietly made clutch plays all season. The senior, who has one year of eligibility remaining, was used sparingly during his first three seasons on Rocky Top. Before this season, Keyton had a total of 20 receptions for 252 yards and no touchdowns. In 2022, Keyton caught 27 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns.
It would've been easy for Keyton to leave Tennessee after not receiving much playing time during his first three seasons. But he stayed the course and he was ready when his number was called.
Hyatt, Hendon Hooker, and others get most of the headlines, but it was players like Keyton who were just as important to the Vols' success this season.
Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
